Wrestling: Centennial 33, David Douglas 27
By Darby Cave
OregonLive.com
Wedgies … I’m learning they’re hard to evade when wearing a singlet. With all that pre-match fidgeting, jumping around and shadow wrestling, I’d say the warm-up move to wedgie ratio for the average high school wrestler is 1:1.
The ratio was in full effect Thursday night as the David Douglas Scots lunged, ducked and dove on mats opposite the Centennial Eagles, preparing for a Mt. Hood Conference dual. Both teams entered Thursday night’s dual with identical 3-2 league records, and both were ranked in the Top 25 by the Oregon Wrestling Forum.
The Eagles, however, were clearly the better team on this night as they flew to a 33-3 lead after 10 matches. The Scots’ heavyweights made up some of the difference, but Centennial finished with a 33-27 victory.
Both teams wrestled their hearts out. While some of the matchups turned out to be a little lopsided, the close ones were worth the wait. The fans came with incredible energy and the two teams were pumped up and focused.
The first three matches were a little slow. At 103, Centennial’s Zach Murpy pinned Kyle Fung in 3:55. At 112, Centennial’s Kyle Wirkuty (ranked 5th at 103) beat No. 10-ranked Matt Anderson by decision. Wirkuty owned this match. The Scots battled back during the third match as Derrick Brown won by decision over Kenny McKinney, making the score 9-3, Eagles.
The fourth match was more fun to watch. David Douglas’ Brian Singhai, ranked No. 11 at 119, took on Centennial’s Logan Wirkuty, who’s No. 8 at 125, so it was his territory. They smacked their thighs and arms with their hands, which sent whip-cracking noises throughout the gym, before meeting at center circle.
Singhai had so much energy and controlled the tempo in bursts. He was like one of those Ground Bloom Flower fireworks on the 4th of July. You never know if they’re going to malfunction and fly at your head. Singhai kept Wirkuty guessing.
Wirkuty scored first, on a three-point move, but Singhai came right back with a two. Wirkuty made a two-point move and it looked as though one of Singhai’s sudden powerful drives could take the cake, but Wirkuty held out for a 5-4 final in his favor.
This started a string of seven consecutive losses for the Scots. The next six matches were a technical fall, four decisions and one major decision. Eagles’ Nathan Shay and Jake Chezik, ranked 12th and 10th in their weight classes, took care of business during the Centennial run.
However, the 140 match was definitely something to speak of. David Douglas’ Na’tasha Umemoto was up against Centennial’s Fred Marlow.
I know female high school wrestlers are becoming more common, but seeing Umemoto out on that mat, fighting the good fight, was inspiring. It reminded me of my middle school days, taking sixth grade boys to the rack on recess, blocking shots and taking names. However, I have to take into consideration that I was six inches taller than most of them with a voice half an octave lower.
Anyhow, enough reveling … Umemoto jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the first two minutes of the match. The David Douglas crowd cheered five times louder for her than any other wrestler. Marlow tied it up at 4-4 by the end of the next two minutes.
They locked up like elk antlers for the fifth minute, and Umemoto gained a point with 50 seconds to go to take a 5-4 lead. But Marlow quickly responded by flipping her with 30 seconds left for two points. Marlow tacked on another two points late to make the final 8-5.
At 160, Centennial’s Ian Pero proved he deserves his No. 5 ranking as he took it to No. 19, Tyler Sander. Pero won by major decision and pretty much had Sander on the mat the whole match.
David Douglas finally found its upswing for the last four matches of the night. Heath Parker and Luis Aguilar pinned Jason Bitney and Jason Johnson for some quick pointage.
At 215, David Douglas’ Dan Harvey (who looks uncannily like one Napoleon Dynamite) won by forfeit. David Douglas’ Ryan Beal and Centennial’s Omar Obid went at it for the 275 match. Once Beal got Obid down, it was obvious he wasn’t coming back up. Beal got the pin in 1:07.
Centennial locked up second place in the MHC standings with the win and now has a week to prepare for the district meet, which will be held Feb. 11-12 at Reynolds High School.
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