By By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
Coach Danny Riggs knew it was going to be a tough night for the Pam Pack wrestling squad.
However,even he wasn’t prepared for it to be this tough.
A short-handed Washington wrestling team was forced to forfeit three weight classes on Wednesday, as it lost its first match of the season, 49-21, to conference foe South Central.
But the news got even worse in the final match as 103-pounder Will Allen suffered a broken shoulder in the second period and will be lost for the season.
In the 11 contested matches, the Pam Pack squeaked out four victories.
Gabe Gardner (130) built a 5-0 lead midway through the second period before pinning South Central’s Nix Stephens at the 2:15 mark.
At 152 pounds, Darien Peele scored a 9-4 decision over Robbie Reynolds.
In the 171-pound match, Weasel Moore put on a clinic, building a double-digit lead before slamming James Joyner to the mat at the 3:48 mark.
In the heavyweight division, Washington’s Marquin Hill picked up the victory by pinning Nick Summrell midway through the final period.
The Pam Pack (3-1) will return to the mat this weekend for the annual Eli Saleeby Washington Wrestling Tournament.
South Central 49, Washington 21
103 — Otis Brinkley (SC) won by injury default over Will Allen
112 — Johnathan Mills (SC) won by forfeit
119 — Colton Roberts (SC) won by forfeit
125 — Hunter Crafford (SC) won by forfeit
130 — Gabe Gardner (WAS) pinned Nix Stephens, 2:15
135 — Josh Ward (SC) dec. Ronnie Woolard, 16-15
140 — James Jones (SC) pinned Austin Mitchell, 1:27
145 — Victor Sanchez (SC) dec. Michael Smith, 8-4
152 — Darien Peele (WAS) dec. Robbie Reynolds, 9-4
160 — Chris Foy (SC) dec. Charlie Holtzclaw, 11-1
171 — Weasel Moore (WAS) pinned James Joyner, 3:48
189 — Matt Stoeckle (SC) pinned Martelles Jones, 2:48
215 — Kentrell Jackson (SC) dec. Johnnie Smallwood, 3-2
HWT — Marquin Hill (WAS) pinned Nick Summrell, 5:09
Exhibition
Maquita Moore (WAS) dec. Janessa McLEllroy, 6-4
Josh Stone (WAS) pinned Neno C., 1:22
Wayne Wheeler (WAS) pinned Shandisa McEllroy, 1:26
Jacob Adee (SC) pinned Malik Moore, 2:48
Tyler Nichols (SC) dec. Scott Baytala, 6-2
Darien Gunter (SC) pinned Preston Morris, :51
Cedric (SC) pinned Dontrelle Jones, :44