Midgets post dual win over Jays

Jamestown’s Josh Dockter and Donovan Zuck both made quick work of their Dickinson counterparts Thursday night on the mat. But a pair of first-period pins weren’t enough to notch a West Region dual win over the Midgets.

Dickinson’s Damien Berger (140 pounds), Ethan Ladbury (189) and Colton Couch (285) all produced pins of their own as the Midgets rolled 40-25 over the Blue Jays.

“On paper, this is probably how it was supposed to work out,” Blue Jays coach Greg White said. “We came in as the underdog, but we were hoping to pull out a couple upsets and maybe come away with a win.”

The dual began on a high note for the Blue Jays in the 130-pound tilt. Jamestown’s Blake Bossingham worked the right leg of Dickinson’s Alex Brown from the start, dropping the sophomore to the mat twice to go up 4-0 early in the first period.

Bossingham controlled the match from there and cruised to a 13-5 major decision over Brown.

But immediately following the win, the Blue Jays handed Dickinson the first of two Jamestown forfeits on the night. Jamestown hasn’t been able to fill the 135-pound slot all season, and junior Shane Gallagher is still absent at 215 with an injured shoulder.

Dickinson’s Tyrell Andersen picked up the six-point forfeit at 135 pounds, while Emerson Marsh was later awarded the forfeit at 215 for the Midgets.

Berger got the Midgets rolling in the 140-pound clash. Leading 4-1 in the first period, the senior put Jamestown’s Mason Krumweide on his back for the pin with nine seconds left.

Jamestown’s Johnny Schmitz followed with a 3-0 decision over Patrick Tangen at 145. Schmitz is currently ranked No. 3 in the state.

Matt Brooke won a hard-fought contest for Dickinson at 152 pounds. The junior was leading Jamestown’s Jerimiah Dockter 7-6 after two periods, but Dockter quickly recorded a one-point escape to start the third to tie the score at 7-7.

In the final 1:17, the two wrestlers squared-off in the neutral position three times until Brooke finally got Dockter on his knees and circled for the two points with 37 seconds remaining. Brooke held on for the 9-7 victory.

“Overall, I’m pleased with the win. Some of the guys wrestled really well, but there were some places where we got a little sloppy,” said Dickinson coach Cody Wolf. “Our senior leadership really came through for us tonight.”

Josh Dockter (160) and Zuck (171) gave the Blue Jays a brief 19-15 lead in the dual with a pair of lightning-fast pins. Josh Dockter pinned Dickinson’s Thomas McCarty in just 10 seconds, while Zuck got Adam Grimsley on his back only 53 seconds into their bout.

But pins by Ladbury and Couch over Jamestown’s Landon Swangler and Tyler Mielke, combined with Jamestown’s second forfeit at 215, gave the Midgets the lead for good at 33-19.

“We got a nice win at 171 with Donovan Zuck. It was one of those tossups and he got the pin,” White said. “Jerimiah Dockter lost at 152, but he put up a great effort. We were a little disappointed with the two pins we gave away up top, where we have our most experienced guys.”

Dickinson’s Seth O’Donnell (103) went on to record a 13-2 major decision over Triston Shipley, and the Midgets’ Justin Brown (112) followed with a 7-2 decision over Zach Bossingham.

Jamestown’s Dustin Mittleider (119) and Brent Mittleider (125) ended the dual with a pair of decisions for the Blue Jays. Dustin Mittleider defeated Colton Schaeffer 9-6, while Brent Mittleider decisioned Jaren Haugen 6-1.

“Dustin wrestled a nice match. That was a match with two guys who both wanted to win, until the third period,” White said. “Dustin just outhustled him and got the win.”

“We were hoping to get the 119-pound match,” Wolf added. “Colton was just gassed in the last few minutes.”

The win improves the Midgets’ dual record to 3-2 and 2-1 in West Region competition. Jamestown falls to 5-6 overall and 2-4 in the West Region.

The Blue Jays have a busy weekend of wrestling planned ahead of them. Starting today, Jamestown will be on the road competing in the Grand Forks Multiple Dual Tournament at Red River High School.

At 3 p.m, Jamestown will face East Grand Forks (Minn.), and will later take on Mayville at 4:30 p.m. and will wrestle a conference dual against Williston at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the Blue Jays will face Grand Forks Central at 9 p.m. and Devils Lake at 1:30 p.m.

“Every match we are going to wrestle we could win,” White said. “Against Williston we’re probably the underdog, but it will be similar to tonight. If we pull off an upset or two and do what were are supposed to in the other matches, we could get the win.

“All of the other matches we’re probably favored in.”

Dickinson 40, Jamestown 25

130: Blake Bossingham, JHS, major decision over Alex Brown, 13-5.

135: Tyrell Andersen, DHS, won by forfeit.

140: Damien Berger, DHS, pinned Mason Krumweide, :51.

145: Johnny Schmitz, JHS, dec. Patrick Tangen, 3-0.

152: Matt Brooke, DHS, dec. Jerimiah Dockter, 9-7.

160: Josh Dockter, JHS, pinned Thomas McCarty, :10.

171: Donovan Zuck, JHS, pinned Adam Grimsley, :53.

189: Ethan Ladbury, DHS, pinned Landon Swangler, 1:10.

215: Emerson Marsh, DHS, won by forfeit.

285: Colton Couch, DHS, pinned Tyler Mielke, 4:48.

103: Seth O’Donnell, DHS, major decision over Triston Shipley, 13-2.

112: Justin Brown, DHS, dec. Zach Bossingham, 7-2.

119: Dustin Mittleider, JHS, dec. Colton Schaeffer, 9-6.

125: Brent Mittleider, JHS, dec. Jaren Haugen, 6-1.

Dual records: Dickinson 3-2, 2-1 West Region; Jamestown 5-6, 2-4 West Region.

Sun sports writer Michael Savaloja can be reached at (701) 952-8461 or by email at mikes@jamestownsun.com

Tags: sports, bluejays, wrestling, dickinson