Cloverdale succumbs to Owen Valley

Friday, December 3, 2010
Cloverdale wrestler Jeff Couse moves into position against his oppoenent Thursday when the Clovers battled Owen Valley.

CLOVERDALE -- Thursday proved to be a rough night for the Cloverdale wrestling squad. Throughout the evening the Clovers found themselves in control of matches, only to watch them slip away before ultimately falling to the Patriots 46-26.

Head coach Steve Livingston said the issues Cloverdale had to deal with Thursday mainly revolved around tiny mistakes and inexperience on the mat.

"What we have, we have lot of kids that are older in school, juniors and seniors, but their young in wrestling," Livingston. "That's just part of growing up around the sport. A lot of those mistakes kids make at the junior high level or early in their high school career.

"They're a scrappy bunch of kids. A lot of heart. They just get in uncomfortable territory sometimes for them and they just turn the wrong way. They can be winning and the flip of a switch they could be on their back," he said.

Eldon Hesslegrave got the Clovers' first win of the night by earning a 16-4 win in the 130 weight class. Donnie Helterbrand added Cloverdale's second win after posting a big 22-6 win at 152.

Numberous matches such as Jeff Couse's match at 140, Zach Couse's at 189 and Braxton Sinclair at 215 saw the Clovers take the advantage early before little mistakes led to big results for Owen Valley. Cloverdale suffered six losses by fall, which is something Livingston noted as an aspect they have to get away from to be successful.

He said the team has looked good this year, including its trip to Princeton to begin the season. Last year they came about with a 2-3 record and this year they upped that to 4-1 and narrowly missed coming perfect after a close loss to host Princeton.

Livingston said morale is high for his squad and they are bonding well as the season goes along.

"That's what we want," he said. "We want a wrestling family and so all the kids are working together. We're seeing it with our young kids because they're getting better faster because those older kids are taking them under their wings."

Also gaining wins for the Clovers were Nick Schwomeyer at 103 and Shawn Shipp won by fall with :39 remining in the first period to win the 112 weight class.

At Cloverdale

103 -- N. Schwomeyer-C. Majors- Cloverdale by fall 0:30

112 -- S. Shipp-B. Myers-Cloverdale by fall 0:21

119 -- J. Boldman-D. Broukal-OV 6-17

125 -- T. Howard-W. Newforth-OV by fall 1:03

130 -- E. Hesselgrave-D. Kemp- Cloverdale 16-4

135 -- K. Manion-R. Stewart-OV by fall 1:12

140 -- J. Couse- J. Petry-OV 6-7

145 -- C. Routh-D. Newforth-OV by fall 2:27

152 -- D. Helterbrand-E. Yates- Cloverdale 22-6

160 -- T. Frederick-E. White- OV by fall 3:39

171-- M. Hall-B. Truax-Cloverdale by fall 5:53

189 -- Z. Couse-C. Behrman-OV by fall 1:50

215 -- K. Davis-M. Hill-OV by fall 4:11

285 -- B. Sinclair-C. Knapp-OV 7-9

Junior Varsity

112 -- K. Everhart-K. Price-Cloverdale by fall 0:54

125 -- A. Beatty-J. Downing-OV by fall 1:10

189 -- C. Stout-B. Ball-Cloverdale by fall 0:20

189 -- K. Kohler-S. Hess- Cloverdale by fall 1:48

215 -- C. Rooksberry-McGraw-OV by fall 0:39