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Kevin Farr | For the Democrat Lion Aiden Polk wrestles in last week’s dual with Plainview.
Going into the season, Durant wrestling coach Jim Taylor stressed the importance of filling all the weight classifications when it came to dual success.
The long-time Lion skipper proved prophetic in the first home dual of the 2023-24 campaign as the Lions rode the strength of 24 forfeit points to a 47-33 triumph over visiting Plainview last week.
In previous years, it was Durant that was on the tough end of those forfeits in dual losses but with one of their deepest lineups ever, Taylor has the capability of filling each of those weights.
“If you fill weight classes you win, especially in the small weight and big weight,” Taylor commented afterward. “Plainview is a really, really good team. The holes they had to forfeit and then winning the key matches we won. That’s what you hope for in duals. You fill those weights and give yourself a chance.”
Two of those forfeits came early in the competition with Britton Trotter at 157 pounds and Asa Pierce at 175 but the Lions also utilized a pair of fall victories to build a massive 24-0 advantage.
Racer Waitman was the winner at 150 pounds, utilizing a takedown and near fall in the opening period to claim a 5-0 edge. That margin blossomed to 8-0 before the Lion grappler finished things on a pin fall just 17 seconds into the third stanza.
Brodi Payne needed only 72 seconds at 165 pounds to dispatch Plainview’s Seth Fore for a fall verdict as well.
The tide began to turn in Plainview’s favor in the larger weight classes as Rye Blackwood scored a second period fall triumph against Durant’s Caiden Pepperman at 190. Axel Thurman was then downed in a third period fall at 215 pounds. The heavyweight matchup went scoreless into the third frame before the Indians’ Kegan Williams notched a 3-0 decision over Aaron McKay.
Durant pushed the lead to 30-15 with a fall win for Canan Walls at 106 points to end the Plainview run.
Klayton Smith dropped a hardfought fall verdict to Bo Rudisall with just 36 seconds remaining in the final stanza at 113 pounds and the Lions also dropped a team point due to unsportsmanlike conduct to narrow the gap to 29-21.
The Lions were tied at 120 pounds before a Shawn Humphreys fall and even had an 8-7 third period advantage when they suffered another fall defeat by Justin Smith with only 17 seconds left to put Plainview in front 33-29 after the 126-pound match.
That proved to be it for the Indians, however, as Durant claimed the final three weight divisions of the night.
Matt Frazer was credited with a forfeit win at 132 pounds and Aiden Polk made quick work of 138 pounds, scoring a first period pin fall win in only 87 seconds.
At 144 pounds, Bo St. Clair ran away for the win after building an 11-2 scoring edge. He then capped things off with a fall at the 34-second mark of the second period.
“Bo St. Clair is wrestling extremely well as one of our leaders,” Taylor added. “Racer Waitman was filling in at 150 pounds due to an injury and did a great job. Aaron McKay is inexperienced at heavyweight but has done a great job, just like tonight, in staying off his back and not get pinned. That was big for us in the scoring.”
Durant hosted Madill at 6 p.m. Thursday in the high school competition gym before traveling to the Duncan Invitational to finish off the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule.