FREDERICKTOWN — The freshmen-laden Fredericktown Freddies are beginning to emerge as a force in MBC wrestling this season.
The Freddies received good grades in an important home tri-match on Wednesday night. Not only did they defeat Centerburg rather handily, they held their own against the area’s other up-and-coming team — East Knox.
The Bulldogs performed as expected, defeating the Trojans, 54-15, after edging the Freddies, 43-32.
“I saw some of our kids use some moves the we’ve been working on,” said East Knox coach Keith Kaufmann. “We’re trying to get them to get more aggressive and a little meaner out there when we are on the mat with their opponent.”
The Freddies finished the night by knocking off Centerburg, 45-27.
“We had a good meet against East Knox. It was a good battle,” said Fredericktown coach Steve Herbst. “We matched up pretty well against them. We lost some that we would like to have won, but I am really pleased with how they did tonight.”
East Knox dominated the middle weight classes as Trente Simmons (135) took down Fredericktown’s Taylor Nantola. The Bulldogs’ Caleb Byrd (152) pinned Keith Cockrell.
“In the lower weight classes, we are fairly strong,” said Kauffman. “In the upper weights, we’ve got three guys that have never wrestled before. Trying to get them up to speed in technique is a slow process.”
Except for the heavyweight class, where they had to forfeit, the Freddies swept the upper weight classes against the Bulldogs. Fredericktown’s Cody McGuire planted East Knox’s Josh Neely at 160 pounds. McGuire’s teammate, Scott Hinkle (171), pinned the Bulldogs’ Brian Gallagher.
“I like the way that our conditioning is coming on,” said Herbst. “Our guys are wrestling better in the third period. We are winning matches in the third period. Before, we weren’t even making it to the third period.”
“Fredericktown beat us in a couple of wieght classes that I didn’t think that they would get us in, but that’s the way this sport is,” said Kauffmann.
The Freddies, who came in third at the Highland Invitational last week, are pleased with their performance, despite only gaining a split.
“We are kind of starting to get our style,” said Herbst. “What I am teaching them is starting to come through. We’re starting to see it now through the weight classes rather than just one or two kids. I’m finally getting things to gel here.”
“We just need to work on speed and technique,” said Kauffman. “Basically, all of the aspects of wrestling. We just need to perfect them a little bit more and be more aggressive.”
