Lakeland High School’s wrestling team used the occasion of its first home meet of the season to grab some key individual victories and the first team win of the year.

The Cavaliers hosted a shorthanded King’s Fork High School team, which it defeated 57-6. They also welcomed a Hickory High School team that Lakeland head coach Jamaal Jones said was good, featuring a full squad.

“I don’t think they thought we were actually going to win a match, but we did,” he said.

Despite the 60-12 loss, the Cavs nabbed three wins at the Hawks’ expense.

One victory came by freshman 113-pounder Kevin Dale.

“He did extremely well, to the point where during that match against Hickory, he started off winning,” Coach Jones said. “And then he kind of got caught in a bad position and almost got pinned.”

Dale fell behind, but was able to rally back in the third period and eventually defeated freshman starter Daniel Eastwood by a 10-8 decision.

“I think the match of that night was that match,” Jones said. “With the exception of that one mistake, I think he did an awesome job.”

Another win came from a first-year wrestler, junior 195-pounder Melvin Porter, who pinned freshman starter Shawn Jacobs in five minutes and 19 seconds.

“He did well,” Jones said. “Travis (Jones) did well at heavyweight.”

Jones, a junior, brought the third win against Hickory, topping junior starter Tristin Sellers by a 5-2 decision.

Senior 145-pounder Blade Hubbard, who went 1-1 on the night, said he saw room for improvement in both of his matches, but was happy to be competing at home.

“I love it,” he said. “This is where I started wrestling, and it is the best place to wrestle.”

Getting Lakeland’s first team win of the season gave Coach Jones mixed feelings.

“I’m happy for the win, but at the same time you want a win where your guys are going to be tested,” he said, noting the triumph came mostly through King’s Fork forfeits. He also empathized with the Bulldogs’ situation. “I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of that, as well.”

For King’s Fork head coach Brett Heberling, it was a night with little to cheer about, with so few wrestlers to work with and no wins to report.

“We got hit with injuries, suspensions, illnesses,” he said. “The flu came through and took out about three of the guys.”

Senior 160-pounder Aaron Hommell and sophomore 170-pounder Richard Waters were among those out with the flu.

Senior 195-pounder Tre’onte Beale had to sit out because he was ejected from a prior match when it was ruled he used an illegal maneuver, a ruling his coach disputed.

Several other wrestlers from the team simply did not show up, Heberling said.

Two wrestlers who were expected to be major contributors are out for the season due to injury. Senior 145-pounder Austin Wall suffered a third-degree tear of his hamstring in a previous match this season.

His younger brother, junior 138-pounder Bailey Wall, is recovering from a hip injury and will not be available until a week after conference championships, Heberling said.

Heberling was still excited about the wrestlers who have been faithful and have worked hard.

“There’re kids that haven’t won a match yet, and they’re still there, every practice, getting better,” he said.

Competing on Wednesday were sophomore 120-pounder Andy Hall, freshman heavyweight Travius Cheeks, freshman 113-pounder Jackson Stone, sophomore 145-pounder Nate Ortiz and sophomore 126-pounder Shawn Klepper, who wrestled up a class.

“I was happy with the kids that went out there,” Heberling said.

King’s Fork wrestlers compete at Northampton High School on Friday and Saturday, while Lakeland goes to Menchville High School on Saturday for a team event.

 

Following are Lakeland’s individual results by weight class from its home tri-match on Wednesday:

 Hickory 60, Lakeland 12

106-Horowitz (H) beat Tut Harville (L) by Tech Fall 17-2; 113-Kevin Dale (L) beat Eastwood (H) by Dec 10-8; 120-(L) forfeit; 126-Corbett (H) pinned Bruce Odom (L) in 5:29; 132-Amendolare (H) pinned Devin Harden (L) in 1:38; 138-Midkiff (H) beat Nick Battaglia (L) by Tech Fall 16-2; 145-Valle (H) beat Blade Hubbard (L) by Maj Dec 12-5; 152-Die (H) beat Seth Rice (L) by Tech Fall 18-1; 160-Franchebois (H) pinned Jacob Marshall (L) in 0:40; 170-(L) forfeit; 182-(L) forfeit; 195-Melvin Porter (L) pinned Jacobs (H) in 5:19; 220-(L) forfeit; 285-Travis Jones (L) beat Sellers (H) by Dec 5-2

 Lakeland 57, King’s Fork 6

106-(KF) forfeit; 113-Kevin Dale (L) pinned Jackson Stone (KF) in 0:50; 120-(L) forfeit; 126-Bruce Odom (L) pinned Shawn Klepper (KF) in 0:09; 132-(KF) forfeit; 138-(KF) forfeit; 145-Blade Hubbard (L) pinned Nate Ortiz (KF) in 5:34; 152-(KF) forfeit; 160-(KF) forfeit; 170-double forfeit; 182-double forfeit; 195-(KF) forfeit; 220-double forfeit; 285-Travis Jones (L) beat Travius Cheeks (KF) by Dec 13-6