Spoofhounds split contested matches in Clarinda
JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Maryville senior Dayn Henderson celebrates with coach Justin Wright on Thursday in Clarinda, Iowa.
CLARINDA, Iowa — Maryville wrestling is playing a numbers game currently and it is a game that makes winning duals nearly impossible right now with the Spoofhounds only filling about half of the weight classes.
Those numbers caused Maryville to lose to Clarinda, 46-30, and Griswold, 39-36 Wednesday night in Clarinda. But in the 10 contested matches for the day, Maryville won five of them — 2-of-4 against Griswold and 3-of-6 against Clarinda.
“Tonight was a great night,” Maryville coach Justin Wright said. “When we are missing guys like Sadler (Viau) and Kade (Watkins), it is hard when you take opens in the lineup especially against teams that have full lineups. … The guys that we did send out on the mat tonight did a fantastic job.”
Sophomore Bryce Bennett was the star of the day for Maryville, winning both his matches via pin. Both matches ended in the first period.
“We are just improving, improving,” Bennett said.
In his first match against Griswold’s Wyatt Silk, Bennett displayed his ability to rack up points quickly with a takedown and two 4-point near falls building a 11-0 lead before sticking Silk for the pin in a minute and 32 seconds.
Against Clarinda’s Emmett Comer, Bennett scored another quick takedown and put Comer right on his back for a 28-second fall.
“It is all about offense,” Bennett said. “Keep working the stuff we do in practice. Keep pushing the intensity.”
Bennett is undefeated so far this season at 4-0.
“He might have the highest ceiling out of everybody, and I say that with the utmost respect for the other other guys on the team who I think can make some noise in February,” Wright said. “… He is super strong. He is super quick. He is a great athlete. … You combine his fast learning on the mat with the level of athleticism that he has — the sky is the limit for him. I really have high hopes for him.”
The other win against Griswold was earned by junior Cash Dew. Dew also stayed perfect this season — going to 3-0 — with a 5:32 pin over Nollan Smith.
Dew also showcased his offense with a 12-0 lead before finishing the match off.
“I just had to get in a rhythm and once I found that, it was just what I know I have on my tool belt — pulling them out and getting the job done,” Dew said. “… I just kept working the seatbelt tilts and went from there.”
Junior Brody White earned a win over Clarinda’s Stephen Hamilton. Like his teammates, White was able to work his offense with two first-period takedowns.
White finished the match off with a pin with five seconds left in the first period.
“He hasn’t been wrestling his whole life, but he is a super nice kid,” Wright said. “He wants to learn, wants to get better.”
The team’s lone senior Dayn Henderson went with the same sequence — two takedowns for a 6-1 lead and a pin with a second left in the first period.
“The whole process was to be aggressive and get it over with,” Henderson said. “Basically work him out, get him tired and look for those openings. Wrestling teaches you a lot about life — you have to work hard to succeed. Finding those openings, you got to take those risks.”
Henderson is looking forward to what the Spoofhounds can do the rest of the season.
“I like to think of us as a family,” Henderson said. “We are growing. We are teaching each other. We are going through the emotions. It is wonderful.”
Maryville’s roster is set to have a pair of big additions next week as Sadler Viau and Kade Watkins will make their initial appearance on the mats this season. Both are working their way back after football season.
“I’m excited,” Dew said. “We’ve got some hammers who were on the football team and still working their way down to get to their weight. With a full lineup, we should be looking a lot better.”
Maryville’s boys season with continue Tuesday with a triangular at Van Horn. The girls team wrestles Friday in a tournament at St. Joseph Central.
