By NICK BRILOWSKI
Special to The Gazette
The Stevens Point Area High (SPASH) wrestling team took care of business and left no doubt about the outcome as the Panthers easily disposed of an over-matched Rhinelander squad, 64-7, on Thursday, Jan. 17, at the SPASH Fieldhouse.
For SPASH Head Coach Gee Pope, the meet was a much-deserved break from the usual Valley Conference grind.
"We've been though the meat grinder in the Valley and we deserve a break," Pope said. "You have to enjoy it because wins in the Valley are hard to come by."
The Panthers' lead was nearly insurmountable before the meet even began as Brandon Raikowski (112 pounds), Jake Calhoun (119), Jon Slezak (135) and Kevin Duda (145) all received forfeit wins for SPASH.
Six of the Panthers who were fortune enough to get on the mat were able to make quick work of their Hodag opponents, earning first-period pins.
Aaron Nelson (103), Steve Bachinski (125), Adam Kurzynski (130), Dan Pawelski (152), Adam Sandstrom (171) and Grey Pope (189) each recorded falls within the opening two minutes of their respective matches, something that pleased their head coach.
"We've been getting better at pins," Gee Pope stated. "In the past we haven't been known as a pinning team. In dual meets, pins really do the job for you.
"The best thing you can do is get a guy on a mat and beat him as quickly as you can. "Each kid that wrestled, wrestled as hard as they could, for them and for us."
In addition, the Panthers also got victory by decision from Josh Przekurat at 160 pounds who defeated Luke Sturm by a score of 9-1.
In the end, SPASH's experienced line-up that features 10 wrestlers who are either juniors or seniors was far too much for the younger Rhinelander squad to match up with.
As for the remainder of the season, Coach Pope said the Panthers still have a difficult road ahead, but the team will continue aiming to improve.
"The conference meet will be the best tournament we go to all year," said Pope. "Just to be in the upper half of the conference means we're an outstanding team. We're ranked seventh in the state and we want to move up and I think we've got the guys to do it."