Wiesbaden's Jacob Lane tries to flip Ramstein's Kydan Echard during the 144-pound semifinal at the Warrior Wraggle on Jan. 13, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany – If wrestles harbored any thoughts of an easy return to the mats at Saturday’s Warrior Wrangle, they were squashed quickly.
The five-team event at Wiesbaden High School featured DODEA-Europe’s top programs in Ramstein and Stuttgart, and many individual athletes came in with spotless or nearly perfect records before the winter break.
Many could be potential European title-match previews.
One such matchup came in the 132-pound final. Both Stuttgart’s Aidan Morgan and Wiesbaden’s Munro Davis entered the meet with undefeated records. They also boasted podium placements in last year’s European championships – Davis won at 120 and Morgan fell just short of a title at 126.
Morgan pulled out the victory on Saturday, 7-1, which has him excited about taking the next step next month in Wiesbaden.
“I know he’s (Davis) is one of the hardest and toughest people in my weight class,” Morgan said. “I’m really happy that I got to see how he wrestles, and now I know what to practice.”
It was a close match until the final period, when the Panther junior managed to pull away. Morgan credited his conditioning to get him through the match, but he also mentioned he’s maintaining the mentality that he must prove himself continuously.
“I was proud of my work ethic, not getting gassed,” said Morgan, who improved to 8-0 on the season. “I definitely need to work more on technique, set-up shots, finishes, all that good stuff.”
Another wrestler who found himself in a potential title-bout sneak peak was teammate Zach Call at 144.
Coming off a European crown in 2023, the Stuttgart senior tried moving up to 150 heading into the campaign. After checking out the competition, however, he decided to return to the weight class he already conquered.
Call faced a tough test in Ramstein’s Kydan Echard in the final. The Royal transfer entered the tournament with a 6-1 record and defeated last year’s runner-up, Wiesbaden’s Jacob Lane, in the semifinal.
A slow start couldn’t stop Call, though. He pulled away and eventually clinched a major decision over Echard, 16-1.
It marked the second time Call has defeated the Royal junior this season. And Call used that first experience to dominate in Wiesbaden.
“He’s a really strong guy, so I can’t outmuscle him,” Call said of Echard. “I was trying to focus more on technique, trying to go around him instead of focusing on his strength.”
Wiesbaden's Wyatt Massey tries to pin teammate Samia Calloway during a second-round 157-pound match at the Warrior Wraggle on Jan. 13, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein's Genesis Esparza puts Stuttgart's Preston Schneider into a headlock during a 120-pound match at the Warrior Wraggle on Jan. 13, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Rota's Quen Kirkconnell and Ramstein's Jonah Hancock hand-fight during the 106-pound third-place match at the Warrior Wraggle on Jan. 13, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Spangdahlem's Eli Hulet keeps Stuttgart's Cyrus Montandon against the ground during the 285-pound title-bout at the Warrior Wraggle on Jan. 13, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Like Call, Ramstein’s Cole Santos dropped down to a familiar weight class. The Royal won at 106 last year but this year is trying to work his way up at 113, as he looks toward his future – possibly wrestling in college.
On Saturday, though, he stepped down into the lowest weight class. Santos collected three pins, including early in the first period during a final matchup with last year’s fourth-place finisher at Euros, Stuttgart sophomore Karmyn Lopez.
“I’m trying to ease into 113,” Santos said. “I’m a little bit injured right now, so I went down a weight class so I don’t get too injured.”
A new force may have entered the European arena at the other end of the weight spectrum.
Spangdahlem’s Eli Hulet competed for the first time this season after moving in from North Carolina, and he dominated the heavyweight field. Included in that was an upset win over last year’s European champion in the weight class, John Ruland of Wiesbaden.
Hulet’s wins came via pins, and in the final against Stuttgart’s Cyrus Montandon, he did so at 1 minute, 24 seconds.
The win wasn’t shocking for the newbie. He said he anticipated doing well, after adjusting to the fact he isn’t going to rule at hand-fighting like he did back home.
After Saturday, he has his sights set on a European championship.
“I was hoping to get pretty far,” Hulet said. “They wrestle a little bit different over here in Germany. I think we teach them a little bit different, but I still could work with the stuff I know.”
Spangdahlem's Troy Truscott and Ramstein's Kilun Engelbrecht grapple during the 126-pound final at the Warrior Wraggle on Jan. 13, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Stuttgart's Zach Call holds Ramstein's Kydan Echard to the ground during the 144-pound title match at the Warrior Wraggle on Jan. 13, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein's Lucas Hollenbeck locks the leg of Stuttgart's Jace Holmes during the 165-pound final at the Warrior Wraggle on Jan. 13, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden's Munro Davis picks up the leg of Stuttgart's Aidan Morgan during the 132-pound title bout at the Warrior Wraggle on Jan. 13, 2024, at Wiesbaden High School in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
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