Grapplers win the battle but lose the war

REARDAN – The Screaming Eagles's wrestling team hosted Kettle Falls Thursday, Jan. 2 and Okanogan Friday, Jan. 3. Without wrestlers competing in many weight classes, Reardan forfeited several matches that resulted in losses to both schools.

In Reardan's meet with Kettle Falls, the Bulldogs won 49-27. Kettle Falls won eight matches via forfeit, earning them 48 points. They earned their other point after Reardan was penalized one point after one of its wrestlers removed his singlet prior to stepping off of the mat.

In matches contested on the mat, the Screaming Eagles dominated.

Owen Pendell pinned Ezekiel Evans in 49 seconds, Parker Gralapp defeated Nathan Thurman, Avdil Pozdeev defeated Liamm Goodman, Cody Bretz pinned Tanner Schumacher and Alex Matusik pinned Francis Jolley.

"We beat them on the mat," Reardan assistant coach Wayne Terry said. "The matches we actually wrestled; we won."

In Reardan's Jan. 3 meet with Okanogan, the Bulldogs won 54-18. Okanogan won nine matches by forfeit, which accounted for all of their points.

In contested matches, Reardan's Joey Matusik pinned Kyle Bruland in 50 seconds and Carson Kline pinned Joseph Kruse in 5:54.

In non-scoring exhibition matches, the Bulldogs' Tanner Grooms defeated Joey Matusik, E.K.S. Camel defeated Owen Pendell and Joseph Kruse beat Cody Bretz.

"We have such a small team that we can't compete with schools with full teams," Terry said. "Our kids are working hard and wrestling tough, we just can't overcome the point spreads on the forfeits."

Reardan's next home meet is Wednesday, Jan. 15, against Jenkins (Chewelah). Matches start at 6:00 p.m.