CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – For Robert D. Edgren’s 168- and 180-pound wrestlers, Cheston Nurial-Dacalio and Allen Russell, the situation was as dire as it was simple: Win, or else.
And win they did, scoring first-period pins to help the Eagles break open a close battle with Daegu American and bag a school-first Class A title sweep in the Far East High School Wrestling Tournament. Edgren beat Daegu 35-28 in Thursday’s Class A dual-meet tournament final.
“It looked a little shaky for awhile,” coach Justin Edmonds said. “But they stuck together as a team and did what they had to do. We’re happy about it. We’re elated about it. I’m proud of those guys.”
Meanwhile, Kadena won its third straight Class AA dual-meet title, outlasting individual-freestyle champion Nile C. Kinnick 32-26 at Camp Humphreys’ Super Gym.
Edgren led the Class A final by three points, 23-20, entering Nurial-Dacalio’s 168-pound bout. Had Daegu won at 168 and 180, the outcome would have been reversed – and Russell said he knew just what he was up against.
“I knew I had to win. That’s all. I had to win it or we would have lost,” Russell said moments after his 28-second pin over Ryan White clinched the title for Edgren.
The victory came on the heels of Edgren securing the Class A individual-freestyle tournament banner Wednesday by outpointing defending champion Osan American 22-18.
“It’s amazing, an amazing feeling,” Nurial-Dacalio said after pinning Ayrton Hilton of Daegu in 26 seconds.
Pins by Takayuki McDougal (108 pounds) and Jonathan Easterbrook (122) put Daegu ahead 15-5 before Edgren rallied. Darnell Roberson (148) and Cody Scherrer (135) each won decisions, Tim Pounds (141) a superior decision and Keith Johnson (129) by pin, making it 23-15 Eagles.
But Chandler Severns’ pin at 158 put the Warriors within striking distance before Nurial-Dacalio and Russell dropped the hammer.
White, a first-year wrestler, made a classic rookie mistake in attempting a head-and-arm throw, Daegu coach Bill Riggs said. “He had the kid going to his back and let the head slip out, reversed it and he got him,” Riggs said.
Just as it did for Edgren, Kadena’s title hopes came down to the last two bouts. Kinnick’s Chris Santos (180) pinned Tyler Broome to put the Red Devils ahead 25-24 with two bouts left.
Aaron Ahner edged Kinnick’s David de los Santos on a two-period decision, then Kadena heavyweight Gabe Ahner clinched it by pinning Donavan Whitehead with a head-and-arm hold in 21 seconds.
“I just put all my strength into it,” Gabe Ahner said. “It was like second nature, almost. I didn’t even realize it happened until I was on the ground. It was a great feeling.”
Kinnick went up immediately 13-0 thanks to two walkovers and Triston Barnet’s two-period decision at 115. Key to Kadena’s turnaround was Tae Hon Paschal (129) decisioning Far East champion Marlowe Gonzales in three periods.
“We wanted this banner so badly, especially after yesterday [when Kinnick beat out Kadena for the individual freestyle crown],” Paschal said.
Kadena’s comeback continued as Jacob Bishop (141) and tournament Outstanding Wrestler Harry Bloom (158) each won by pin. But Kinnick didn’t quit, getting decisions from Dereck Youngblood (148) and Nick Gibbons (168) to set the stage for the crucial final three bouts.
“These guys flipped the switch, kind of like last year,” coach Steve Schrock said, referring to the way Kadena beat Kinnick for the dual-meet title after the Panthers failed to win the individual-freestyle crown in 2009. “The guys rose up and did what they had to do. I’m really proud of them. We’re going home with another banner.”
Kinnick gave up the 135-pound weight class in the final after Far East champ Elijah Gamble dislocated his elbow in the semifinals.
Although coach Gary Wilson said that might have made a difference, “the bottom line is, the guys really wrestled hard, Kadena really wrestled hard, it was a great battle.”
