Racer wrestling hosted the Class 5A number 3 Elgin Owls the night of Thursday, January 5, but took the team loss, 57-16.
Forfeits at the 106- and 144-pound weight divisions didn’t help, and Elgin simply overpowered the Racers in a majority of the matches, winning 10 of 13.
Newcastle highlights included a Pryce “Boog” Jeffries’ win by fall over Dylan Lazzer at the 120-pound weight. Shane Lovejoy had a major decision, 18-4, over Elgin’s George Tahdooahnippah at the 165-pound weight. And Blake Johnson had the win by fall over Jonavin Mullins at the 175-pound weight.
Coach Zach Hale said Hayden McKinney had a tough match losing 8-0, and Max Rinehart, who was coming off injury, had a tough match, losing by one point.
The Racers lost five in a row by fall in the 113-pound through 138-pound weight divisions before taking the first loss by forfeit and then seeing the wins by Lovejoy and Johnson. Up Next!
Newcastle wrestled this week on Tuesday at Altus against Altus and Hobart. Coach Hale said he expected the Racers to match up against them pretty well.
Hale said, “It’s always hard coming back off of Christmas break and then facing a tough team, but this is the second half of the season, and only six more grueling weeks to go so there’s still a lot that can happen in that time.”
