Post by Alumni on Jan 22, 2007 17:52:30 GMT -5
STEVE RANSON
January 22, 2007
Fallon wrestler Clint Riggins celebrated senior day with a win he will never forget.
Neither will his teammates or coach as Fallon edged Spanish Springs, 38-36, Saturday in a High Desert League match at the Elmo Dericco Gym. Fallon finishes league at 6-0
With Fallon's 36-match HDL streak on the line, Riggins had to defeat his opponent for Fallon to edge Spanish Springs. Fallon trailed the Cougars, 36-37. Riggins and Trevor Dall battled like two gladiators. Dall almost put an end to Fallon's comeback as he tied up Riggins with a reverse and near fall as the first period ended.
Riggins then took over the match and began to add points on an escape and takedown. Midway through the third period with a 10-6 lead, Riggins rolled Dall on his back, trying to pin the Spanish Springs grappler. Instead, Riggins picked up three points for a near fall and 13-6 decision.
"In the third period I could take him down ... he was running out of energy," said Riggins, one of five seniors recognized by the high school.
Riggins said he could sense the crowd's cheering, and that made him work harder for the win.
"Clint did a great job, and he wasn't making the same mistakes," Fallon coach Mitch Overlie said. "Being a senior and put in that situation, he had a good experience."
Cougars first-year coach Joe Imelli said he switched his 189- and 215-pound wrestlers hoping to pick up a win in one of the weight classes.
Instead, Riggins defeated Dall.
Imelli said the overall outcome between the two teams is what he expected.
"I would draw it up no other way," he said.
For Fallon to have a chance against Spanish Springs, Tyler Reibsamen and Zack Hicks had to pin their opponents.
Reibsamen won at 152 pounds by pinning Brandon Waters in 1:09, and Hicks pinned Kevin Schaffer in 1:26.
"Reibsamen had to do what he had to, and so did the kid at 171," Imelli said.
Fallon coach Mitch Overlie said Imelli has done a good job with the Cougars.
"I knew going in it would be close," Overlie said. "They were very aggressive in four to five weight classes."
Overlie said he was worried about his team being focused. Earlier in the day, Athletic Director Brad Daum suspended two starting wrestlers for violation of school district and Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association policies.
Fallon and Spanish Springs split the first two bouts. The Cougars James Gardner pinned senior Ronnie Scharmann at 215, but the Greenwave's Lyle Gardner won his 38th match of the season by pinning Clint Robison in the first period.
Fallon then encountered a tailspin, losing four of the next five matches.
Colin Merkley (103), Jon Gregory (112) and Matt Quist (125) were pinned, while Cody Kapphahn lost a 13-3 decision.
Sam Anderson (119) recorded a 17-2 technical decision against Dyllan Ogden.
"Sam stopped the bleeding, and he was an inspiration for us," Overlie said.
With Fallon trailing 26-11, Overlie said he felt Fallon was in "big" trouble.
Trent de Braga, though, started Fallon's comeback at 140 pounds. The Fallon sophomore pinned Anthony Acosta in the first period, but Josh Gregory suffered a pin to the Cougars' Elias Coleman. Trevor de Braga (145) won on a forfeit to cut Spanish Springs' lead to 32-23.
Fallon's Greg Heck stepped in at 160, but he lost a 10-2 decision to Chris White.
January 22, 2007
Fallon wrestler Clint Riggins celebrated senior day with a win he will never forget.
Neither will his teammates or coach as Fallon edged Spanish Springs, 38-36, Saturday in a High Desert League match at the Elmo Dericco Gym. Fallon finishes league at 6-0
With Fallon's 36-match HDL streak on the line, Riggins had to defeat his opponent for Fallon to edge Spanish Springs. Fallon trailed the Cougars, 36-37. Riggins and Trevor Dall battled like two gladiators. Dall almost put an end to Fallon's comeback as he tied up Riggins with a reverse and near fall as the first period ended.
Riggins then took over the match and began to add points on an escape and takedown. Midway through the third period with a 10-6 lead, Riggins rolled Dall on his back, trying to pin the Spanish Springs grappler. Instead, Riggins picked up three points for a near fall and 13-6 decision.
"In the third period I could take him down ... he was running out of energy," said Riggins, one of five seniors recognized by the high school.
Riggins said he could sense the crowd's cheering, and that made him work harder for the win.
"Clint did a great job, and he wasn't making the same mistakes," Fallon coach Mitch Overlie said. "Being a senior and put in that situation, he had a good experience."
Cougars first-year coach Joe Imelli said he switched his 189- and 215-pound wrestlers hoping to pick up a win in one of the weight classes.
Instead, Riggins defeated Dall.
Imelli said the overall outcome between the two teams is what he expected.
"I would draw it up no other way," he said.
For Fallon to have a chance against Spanish Springs, Tyler Reibsamen and Zack Hicks had to pin their opponents.
Reibsamen won at 152 pounds by pinning Brandon Waters in 1:09, and Hicks pinned Kevin Schaffer in 1:26.
"Reibsamen had to do what he had to, and so did the kid at 171," Imelli said.
Fallon coach Mitch Overlie said Imelli has done a good job with the Cougars.
"I knew going in it would be close," Overlie said. "They were very aggressive in four to five weight classes."
Overlie said he was worried about his team being focused. Earlier in the day, Athletic Director Brad Daum suspended two starting wrestlers for violation of school district and Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association policies.
Fallon and Spanish Springs split the first two bouts. The Cougars James Gardner pinned senior Ronnie Scharmann at 215, but the Greenwave's Lyle Gardner won his 38th match of the season by pinning Clint Robison in the first period.
Fallon then encountered a tailspin, losing four of the next five matches.
Colin Merkley (103), Jon Gregory (112) and Matt Quist (125) were pinned, while Cody Kapphahn lost a 13-3 decision.
Sam Anderson (119) recorded a 17-2 technical decision against Dyllan Ogden.
"Sam stopped the bleeding, and he was an inspiration for us," Overlie said.
With Fallon trailing 26-11, Overlie said he felt Fallon was in "big" trouble.
Trent de Braga, though, started Fallon's comeback at 140 pounds. The Fallon sophomore pinned Anthony Acosta in the first period, but Josh Gregory suffered a pin to the Cougars' Elias Coleman. Trevor de Braga (145) won on a forfeit to cut Spanish Springs' lead to 32-23.
Fallon's Greg Heck stepped in at 160, but he lost a 10-2 decision to Chris White.