The Bulldog wrestling team suffered its first dual meet loss of the season at home Tuesday, falling to  Hwy. 10 rivals Big Lake by a 34-16 score.

 

Difference in the match was Big Lake’s superiority in the middle and upper weights, where they ran off seven wins in eight matches to come back from an early deficit.   

 

Twelve of the 14 matches went the distance, with two wins by pin fall recorded by Big Lake. In winning, Big Lake got revenge for a 38-18 dual meet loss to the Bulldogs last year.

 

Ethan Anderson (106) and Jake Nelson (113) lost at the outset of the match to Christian Noble and Rocco Visci.

 

But then the Bulldogs reeled off three wins, by Lukas Paulson (120), Kylen Rish (126) and Jacob Jurek (132) to assume 10-6 lead.

 

Jurek had a wild encounter with his Big Lake opponent, Josh Ginther. Ginther held a 3-2 lead before Jurek reversed him on the last second of the match for a 4-3 victory and a 13-6 match lead.

 

Then, the Bulldogs’ fortunes changed as seven of the next eight matches went the visitors’ way.

 

Kevin Andres suffered a 6-4 decision at the hands of Ben Morris at 138.

 

Blake Paulson (145) was composed and performed without a glitch in a 5-1 decision over Lance Christensen of Big Lake.

 

Vince Dailey (152) of the Hornets managed a 4-2 decision over Jacob Berning, then Ryan Helgoe (160) major decisioned Logan Jurek, 12-2 to give Big Lake the lead at 15-13.

 

Joe Morris (170) followed with a 9-5 decision over Connor Eickhoff. It was close until Morris registered a third period reversal and near-pin.

 

Will Gomez of Big Lake (182) had a tight match with Lincoln Carlson, winning 5-4 on a third period escape.

 

Then, the Big Lakers put the hammer down with a Ben Beckers (195) 1:04 pin over Reid Tripp. Steven Lloyd (220) at 220 pinned Nick Goth just as the second period bell was to ring, and Big Lake had the lead at 32-13.

 

Nick Radunz of the Bulldogs got the locals’ final points with a 4-2 decision over Jackson Gardner.

 

The Bulldogs travelled to Foley for a dual Thursday, losing by a 56-6 score. No details were provided. They hosted three teams Friday. Details on that tournament in next week’s Citizen-Tribune.