LAKEWOOD For the fourth time in its five-year history, the Arlington Eagles got bragging rights over their neighbors to the west in the annual cross-town showdown Thursday, Dec. 7.
Arlingtons 56-18 victory over the 2A Lakewood Cougars came with the lights out in the LHS gymnasium.
First-year coach Doug Byers said he likes the idea of having only one light shine upon the mat as it brings all the attention to the two guys.
I thought we did pretty good and were matched up pretty well against these guys, he said afterward.
Arlington pinned the Cougars in the 112-lb. (sophomore Kellen Haynes), 125-lb. (senior Charlie Oxstein), 171-lb. (junior Jordan Anderson), and the 189-lb. (junior Danny Pierce) weight classes.
Senior 119-lb. grappler Jeremy Goheen picked up a forfeit victory in his weight class.
Junior Matt Hale won 6-1 in three rounds in the 140-lb. weight class after leading 4-0 at the end of the first round, sophomore Max Scherf was a 14-9 victor in the 145-lb. division.
In the 152-lb. weight class junior Jesse Bosley won 13-5.
Because both Scherf and Hale came in under their weight Byers switched them from their normal weight class for the match.
Byers referred to the 130-lb. match up between junior Dom Mangini and Lakewoods state placer Steve Edmonds as the marquee match.
Edmonds prevailed 18-6 in the end and Byers said it was a good match and Dom is going to have a good year.
Overall theyre getting better each time, he added. It seems just when you start feeling better about them the season is over, Byers added with a smile.