MONTAGUE — A couple of empty spots in the lineup kept Hesperia from coming away victorious in Friday's Assembly Dual at Montague, as the Panthers lost a 43-36 decision. However, the experience was unique and valuable - so much so that the two schools informally agreed to reprise the dual next year at Hesperia. The Panthers are also hosting one of their own later this season, Jan. 12 against Sparta.
Assembly Duals - midday meets students are able to attend during the school day - are one of high school sports' fastest-growing trends. Friday's wasn't the first time Hesperia has wrestled in one, said coach Mark Arbogast, as the Panthers faced Chippewa Hills in a previous season.
The Panthers led the entire match until the final bouts, when Montague was able to pick up two forfeit wins at 190 and 215 pounds. Hesperia was unfortunately down George Goodrich, who was sick throughout the week and was unable to go Friday, and Logan Kammer, who missed the match with an injury.
Hesperia enjoyed a lot of success early in the dual at the lower weights - the match started at the lowest one, 106 pounds - which is maybe the strongest part of the Panther lineup. Freshman Grayson Gould, who's the younger brother of former Hesperia star Skyler Stalbaum, kicked things off with a pin victory, followed by veterans Carter Fuentes and Paul Winchel adding pins of their own.
Hesperia's Brant Hutson gets instruction from his coaches while battling Montague's Mason Bassett during Friday's Assembly Dual match at Montague. The Wildcats won, 43-36.
"They were dynamite, ready to go," Arbogast said. "They were chomping at the bit the whole
week. They were excited to wrestle. We were really excited for those
guys."
Even Montague's first win wasn't one Arbogast was displeased with, saying first-year wrestler Raymond Vega, who fell to Montague freshman Chayse Maddox, "had a great match" in defeat.
Hesperia responded to the first few Montague efforts to cut into its lead, as Dain Kraus picked up a pin at 138 and Ryan Fuentes added one at 157 to make the score 30-22. The 'Cats scored another pin at 165, but Brant Hutson answered with one at 175 for Hesperia's last win of the dual.
The final bout saw heavyweight Noah Walker matched up with Montague's Maverick Osborne with the team down four points. Walker needed a technical fall or pin to win, but Osborne wrestled conservatively and didn't allow his Panther foe any openings to get one in what turned out to be a 3-2 win.
The match isn't part of the West Michigan Conference season, Arbogast said, though the two teams were clearly evenly matched.
Despite the outcome, Arbogast said he's really enjoyed working with this team early in the season, as there's been a willing focus on getting better every day.
"The room's atmosphere has been wonderful," Arbogast said. "Not that I've ever
really had a bad year in the room, but the guys are just willing to
work, and they're eager to learn, and they want to get better. There's a little more hunger to get better. I'm
super pumped to work with them all year. It makes it very much a
delight to come into the room."
