Thursday, Jan. 19 2012 3:06PM
TIgers fall to Liberty
John Beaudoin
John Beaudoin, the Journal
Lee's Summit's Alex Swartz made the most of his Senior Night at home Jan. 17, scoring a 15-7 major decision over Liberty's Wade Ritchie in the 145-pound match. Swartz was down 2-0 early in the match before taking control and leading the rest of the way.
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closeAlthough victory eluded the Tigers on Senior Night at Lee’s Summit, a few individual seniors still got to boast wins.
Seniors Alex Swartz (145 pounds), Josh Aguilar (152) and Cullen Duke (195) all came out with triumphs over their Liberty counterparts Jan. 17.
And even though the final tally was in the Blue Jays’ favor – 45-25 – first-year head coach Jay McGovern was proud of the seniors for pulling their weight.
“They have a lot of matches under their belt, but for them to stick it out in wrestling as long as they have is a testament to their fortitude,” McGovern said, referring to Swartz, Aguilar, Duke and injured Jesse Morris, who is expected to be back on the mat yet this season.
Lifted by pins and an open weight, Liberty built up a quick 27-6 lead on the Tigers before the home team was able to rattle off back-to-back wins.
Swartz took an early 2-0 deficit to his opponent, Wade Ritchie, at 145 pounds before a handful of takedowns and some back points put him up 11-6 and eventually winning 15-7.
Teammate Aguilar opened up a 4-0 lead on Collin Demoreuille before giving up three points. He came out on top with a 6-3 decision.
“Alex has pinned just about everybody he’s beaten. When he goes, he goes hard. He’s working on getting mentally focused. That match was good for him because he got tired and he still pulled it out,” McGovern said. “(Josh) is working on getting better in the third period. We felt he was never in danger of losing the match.”
The Tigers dropped two more matches before sophomore Isaiah Mayfield scored a second-period pin over Jeremy Teela and Duke inked a third senior win with a pin of his own, a dramatic stick that was recorded at 1:59.9 in the first period.
“He’s gotten a lot more explosive and more confident in his wrestling technique. He was wrestling up a weight for us in that dual,” McGovern said of Duke.
The Tigers other win came at 126 pounds when Allan Olivas pinned Brennan Brown in the first period.
Lee’s Summit is back in action Jan. 25 against rival Lee’s Summit North at North.
