Oskaloosa downs Newton grapplers

OSKALOOSA — William Muckler continued to be dominant at heavyweight and three Cardinals earned wins by pin but Newton’s wrestling team lost to Oskaloosa 48-28 during a Little Hawkeye Conference dual on Thursday.

Muckler improved to 7-1 on the season with his seventh win by fall at 285. Anthony Bestell (126) and Brennan Amos (145) also won by fall, Owen Sanger took a forfeit at 195 pounds and James Wenndt won 20-8 at 160.

Wenndt (3-3) gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead early with his major-decision victory. But Newton (1-7 overall, 0-3 in the conference) trailed 15-4, 21-10 and 36-16. The two teams split the final four bouts with each team winning twice by fall.

The forfeit win by Sanger (4-3) made it 15-10 and the pin by Muckler cut the Indians’ lead to 21-16 but Oskaloosa (6-3, 1-0) won the next three matches to put the dual away.

Bestell improved to 3-2 on the season with his pin and Amos is now 4-2.