Marion wrestlers open season with three wins

MURPHYSBORO -- Michael Cantrell picked up his 100th career victory and the Marion High School wrestling team opened the season with three team wins Saturday at Murphysboro Middle School.
The Wildcats opened against Highland and won 42-39, then edged Cape Central (Mo.) 45-36 and beat host Murphysboro 43-42 with a tiebreaker of more first points scored.
The match against Highland opened at 160 pounds and River Flute pinned his opponent with 20 seconds left in the first period.
Rohan Cook, Michael Cerv and Joseph Moreno all got pinned in the next three bouts, but Cantrell needed just 44 seconds for a pin at 220 pounds to get Marion back on the board.
Gaige Owens wrestled at 106 and also earned a pinfall, and Jordan Dwyer notched a pin in the final bout (152).
Even though Highland had three pins in between, the Wildcats made it up with forfeits at 255, 120 and 145 to secure the team win.
Then against Cape Central, Cook got his first pin of the season at 182 and Cantrell, competing at heavyweight this time, pinned his much taller opponent, Mike Ward, in the first period.
Owens and Lydell Hoskins also got pins in the lighter weights and Gage Kent picked up a three-point decision. Landon White (132), Charlie Neil (145) and Dwyer (152) also collected pins.
Cook started things against Murphysboro with a pin and the Wildcats also got six points from Cantrell (with a 20-second pin), Owens (in just 40 seconds), Dwyer and Flute to hold off the Red Devils.
Marion wrestles in one of its rare home dual meets on Friday against Sparta at 6 p.m.