By Corey Meints, The Times Citizen
The Ellsworth Community College wrestling programs got started Friday night, dropping a pair of duals to Southeast (Neb.) Community College. The Panther women opened with a 38-15 loss to the number five Bobcats while the men dropped a 50-3 decision.
With just six of the 11 weights filled, head women's coach Blake Walker knew there was little chance to pick up a dual win in his debut. Still, his Panthers won three of the six contested matches – all by pin – while dropping the other three, one by fall and two by technical fall.
Amara Ehsa picked up the first win of the Panther season with a pin against sixth-ranked Hasley Salgado in 2:30 at 110 pounds.
ECC's other wins came at 117 as Julia Kanne pinned Natalie Hecht in 52 seconds, and at 160 when Cambree Howe stuck Jessie Hutchinson in two minutes.
Walker was happy with how his 12-th rated tournament team started the season. He noted that duals will be tough to win ahead of the second semester when those open weights should be filled.
"I was really proud of how we wrestled," Walker said. "We're not a dual team with as many holes as we have right now. But in my head, we won tonight. You can only focus on the positives. We'll be better in opens and tournaments and those things. It's November and we wrestle Nationals in March so we will keep building on tonight."
The Panther men also had open weights at 184 and 197, but dropped seven of the eight wrestled matches by fall or technical fall. The winner was sophomore Giles Cowell in a wild one at 174.
Trailing 13-4 after two periods, Cowell booked four takedowns to tie Diego Maganda at 16-16 before getting a four-point tilt to pull out a 20-16 win to avoid the dual shutout.
New interim head coach Kaden Karns said his squad has a lot of work to do, especially on the feet where the Panthers gave up 25 takedowns, but said early November matches are about figuring those things out.
"Feet is a big thing, just finishing our shots and reacting to the other guys' movements," Karns said. "Those are things we drill, but we've got to take it more seriously and just get back at it in the room. Giles was a light on a not very bright night for us."
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NJCAA Wrestling
Friday at Iowa Falls
Southeast 38, ECC 15
103: Brooklyn Noel (S) TF Melonie Barillas 10-0 2:57; 110: Amara Ehsa (E) pin Hasley Salgado 2:30; 117: Julia Kanne (E) pin Natalie Hecht 0:52; 124: Jasimen Ortega (S) FF; 131: Libby Sutton (S) FF; 138: Yvette Vargas (S) pin Ryanna Dunn 1:30; 145: Nevaeh Leonard (S) TF Meridian Snitker 10-0 2:10; 160: Cambree Howe (E) pin Jessie Hutchinson 2:00; 180: Anya Hatch (S) FF; 207: Martha Hinneh (S) FF; 235: Kiara Boldridge (S) FF.
Southeast 50, ECC 3
125: Kashtian Bates (S) TF Nick Needham 19-4 2:57; 133: Lance Olberding (S) TF Tyler Roper 19-2 3:22; 141: Ely Olberding (S) pin AJ Buzynski 1:19; 149: Trevor Reinke (S) TF Caiden Rentz 17-2 3:00; 157: Colin Menold (S) TF Joshua Berlin 19-3 4:43; 165: Noah Strantz (S) pin Devon Griffin 2:26; 174: Giles Cowell (E) dec. Diego Maganda 20-16; 184: Isaac White (S) FF; 197: Dustin Hurley (S) FF; 285: Miguel Perez Diaz (S) pin Tayte Peterschmidt 0:54.