By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
BUCHANAN – It was pay back time for the Dowagiac varsity wrestling team on Wednesday night.
The Chieftains returned to the scene of one of their worst defeats in recent memory and came away with a 45-21 victory over host Buchanan in a non-conference match.
Dowagiac lost to Buchanan 56-11 in the Division 3 district finals last February. According to Chieftain coach John Green, his team was ready for the Bucks.
"We did have something to prove," Green said following the match. "We only scored 11 points here last spring. That was not a fun day. But to their (Buchanan) credit, they had a wonderful team. Final four, that says it all.
"But unfortunately for them, they are short six or seven of those starters," Green added. "So the chemistry or competition on these squads changes radically. And, I get my two guys who were injured last year back, along with some pretty solid performances out of my young guys."
The two seniors Green was talking about were Richie Hutchinson and Nate Behnke, both who missed nearly the entire 2005-06 season with shoulder injuries.
Hutchinson and Behnke both picked up victories against the Bucks on Tuesday.
Hutchinson defeated Tony Taylor 8-7 to all but seal the victory for the Chieftains. Behnke decisioned Ryan Harrington 6-2 to help Dowagiac build up an early 33-3 lead on the Bucks after the first eight bouts.
A three-pin stretch by the Bucks closed the gap to 33-21 before Hutchinson's victory.
Buchanan's Mike Witherow pinned Bobby Price at 119-pounds in 53 seconds before Todd Taylor pinned Justin Richter in 1:27 at 125-pounds. The Bucks completed their run when Nick Wheetley pinned John Morseau in 46 seconds.
Dowagiac (1-0) then sealed the victory when Nate Long decisioned Drew Medlin 5-3 and D.J. Tartt pinned Jamie Marbeiter in 3:56.
The Chieftains were able to pick up three pins, including Tartt's in the final five seconds of a period.
Tartt won with four seconds left in the second period, while Terry Prowoznik pinned Aaron Leneway as time literally expired in the match. Dowagiac's third buzzer-beater came at 215-pounds where Drew Staley stuck Allen-Michael Miller with one second remaining in the second period.
"The Bucks, we will see them again down the road," Green noted. "Believe me it will be something. We won a lot of close matches. You don't bank on all those close matches. And we had a lot of late period pins. Everything rolled today in our favor. I think we were probably a little more ready, maybe a little hungrier because of what happened last spring."
Dowagiac returns to action on Saturday when it hosts the Chieftain Invitational.
Dowagiac…45
Buchanan…21
103: Andrew Roden (D) won by forfeit
112: Nathan Cottrell (D) p. David Knisely, 1:59
119: Mike Witherow (B) p. Bobby Price, :53
125: Todd Taylor (B) p. Justin Richter, 1:27
130: Nick Wheetley (B) p. John Morseau, :46
135: Richie Hutchinson (D) d. Tony Taylor, 8-7
140: Nate Long (D) d. Drew Medlin, 5-3
145: D.J. Tartt (D) p. Jamie Marbeiter, 3:56
152: Deshaun Baylock (D) d. Austin Ferris, 10-9 (OT)
160: Terry Prowoznik (D) p. Aaron Leneway, 5:58
171: A.J. Long (B) d. Andrew Hurrle, 14-7
189: Nate Behnke (D) d. Ryan Harrington, 6-2
215: Drew Staley (D) p. Allen-Michael Miller, 2:54
285: Robert Wescott (D) d. Robert Riggs, 3-0
Records
Dowagiac 1-0, Buchanan 5-2