Kernels get 3 wins in ESD dual wrestling loss to Aberdeen

The match was well out of reach, but Mitchell heavyweight Robert McCardle had all of his teammates standing.

The sophomore earned a third-period takedown against Aberdeen's Hayden Grote to seal his match for an eventual 3-0 decision victory. After the takedown, with time winding down, McCardle started working his opponent to his back, giving the Mitchell wrestlers something to be excited about in the 51-9 Eastern South Dakota Conference dual loss to the Eagles at Mitchell High School.

“I’m working for a top-five finish at state,” McCardle said with sweat beads rolling down his face after his win. “This match will help me with my positioning. I definitely need to work that, because it wasn’t very good throughout the match.”

McCardle and Grote had a push-and-pull first period with neither wrestler scoring. Early in the second period, McCardle got an escape but couldn’t earn a takedown despite a few strong chances. Around the 30-second mark in third, he controlled a front headlock, picked up two points and nearly turned Grote to his back in the final seconds.

“It was nice for him to win,” Mitchell coach Travis Carpenter said. “We’ve been talking with him on some things he needs to change. He’s going to have to make those changes going forward if he wants to get on the podium at the state meet, which I know is his goal.”

Mitchell’s other two wins came back to back midway through the dual. Junior Alex Herrick had takedowns in the first and third periods to beat Shea Krause 6-0 at 132. Ethan Parr (138) scored a second-period takedown to take the lead in his match after his opponent, Dexter Hanson, chose both up. Parr scored from the bottom in the third period and won 5-0.

The Kernels suffered four pins and had two open weights to Aberdeen, a team Carpenter guessed would finish second in the conference behind defending state champion Pierre.

Carpenter said there were a few chances his team could have picked up wins on close matches. The Kernels had five losses within four points.

At 106 pounds, Mitchell’s Briggs Havlik lost 2-0, Trey Hohn lost 6-3 at 120, Matt Larson (145) gave up a late reversal for a 3-2 loss, Ben Kummer (160) fell 4-0 and Preston Skinner (195) lost 6-3.

“A lot of the things, we gained some confidence that we can wrestle with some of these kids,” Carpenter said. “That’s kind of what we needed.

“Obviously I don’t like getting beat 51-9,” Carpenter said later, “but if we keep progressing like we have, by the time February comes around we’ll be a better team.”

The Mitchell wrestling team is back in action at the Sioux Falls Washington tournament Saturday. Wrestling starts at 9 a.m. at Washington High School.

Aberdeen Central 51, Mitchell 9

106: Josh Moore (AC) def. Briggs Havlik 2-0; 113: Seth Moore (AC) wins by forfeit; 120: Trevor Hieb (AC) def. Trey Hohn 6-3; 126: Trevor Larson (AC) pinned Tanner Vilhauer 1:20; 132: Alex Herrick (M) dec. Shea Krause 6-0; 138: Ethan Parr (M) def. Dexter Hanson 5-0; 145: Mitchell Johnson (AC) def. Matt Larson 3-2; 152: Zach Russman (AC) pinned Austin Mohr 0:36; 160: Zach Melcher (AC) def. Ben Kummer 4-0; 170: Grason Neuharth (AC) pinned Robert Tople 1:22; 182: Cole Carlson (AC) wins by forfeit; 195: Aaron Henley (AC) dec. Preston Skinner 6-3; 220: Sam Schaunaman (AC) pinned Riley Heck 0:41; 285: Robert McCardle (M) dec. Hayden Grote 3-0.

Tags: sports, wrestling, updates, kernels