PCM wrestling edged by Van Meter/Earlham

MONROE — PCM’s wrestling team opened the winter season with a 42-33 win over Van Meter/Earlham back in early December.

Almost two months later, the two teams battled again. This time, many wrestlers were at different weights, they faced different opponents and more weights were filled as Van Meter/Earlham got some revenge on the Mustangs with a 40-39 victory.

The Bulldogs won the match by a maximum points criteria as the dual was tied at 39-all after the 14 matches.

In the first meeting, PCM was 6-4 in contested matches and each team took two forfeits. On Thursday, Van Meter/Earlham (15-5) closed the gap to 6-5 in contested matches and it took one less forfeit to narrow the margin in the team race.

Of the six wins by PCM (11-9), four were by pins from Class 2A No. 3 Colby Tool (152), Zeb Padget (170), Donovan Nickelson (195) and Kinser Sloan (285).

Remington Fry (106) also scored his second straight technical fall win against Van Meter/Earlham and Class 2A No. 6 Landon Fenton won by a 12-4 major decision at 145. Cooper Sloan (220) also took a forfeit.

Fenton improved to 28-1, Tool jumped to 34-2, Cooper Sloan is 27-14 and Nickelson is now 22-14.