Despite lack of consistency, Wolves cruise past Trojans

Heading into the crucial part of its season next week, the South Kitsap boys wrestling team has a bit of an odd problem on its hands.

It’s not a lack of hard work or intensity and it’s definitely not a lack of wins, the Wolves are doing nicely in all three of those categories, especially after Thursday night’s 49-24 win over Olympic High.

But the problem facing South coach Chad Nass and his deeply talented group seems to be when and where to turn the juice on.

“I’m not seeing the same kind of tenacity in the matches that I’m seeing the practice room,” Nass said after South’s 125th straight dual meet win. “Every time we get in the practice room, we’re ready to go. It’s usually the opposite so we have to figure that out.”

It’s not a major problem as the Wolves have won both duals meet they’ve had so far this year and placed well in the three tournaments as well.

But there has been a lack of consistency up and down the lineup, Nass said. Of course, some of his wrestlers have been solid all year, but some have roamed around all year long.

“It seems like we’ve been kind of up and down,” Nass said. “I’m looking for consistency in some of our wrestlers. It seems like we go out and we wrestle really well sometimes and sometimes, we’re kind of lethargic. We have to figure that out because we just can’t have that.”

Nass said a lot of that may come from the lack of matches over the course of the year. But that changes now.

“I like wrestling a lot and I think the kids do too,” Nass said. “It will be nice when we just get in and practice and wrestle, practice and wrestle. And the next few weeks, that’s exactly what we’re going to be doing.”

In the next three weeks, the Wolves will be busy in both dual meets and tournaments as they gear up for the post season that is just weeks away. Nass said he thinks a lot of the inconsistency will disappear as the team gets its routine down.

“That’s what I’m hoping for,” Nass said. “We need to get in a rhythm, it just seems that we’ve been hit and miss. So I’m hoping that will help us out.”

Thursday night, South had few problems in blowing out the Trojans. The Wolves were again strong in the middle of the lineup. Those guys have been strong all year and showed it against Olympic eight wins and scoring 31 points.

Quincy Lyman and Chris Hogan looked particularly good, winning their matches by pin while Dylan Watkins and Javan Minor were equally solid in taking decisions.

“It was good to get another pin,” Hogan said. “I’m going great. I can’t wait to get to sub-regionals.”

Hogan wasted little time in pinning Caleb Williams, needing just one minute to earn the win at 145 pounds. Lyman pinned John Adamson at the 3:12 mark in the 135 match while Minor closed out Dan Cho 10-1 and Watkins won his 160-pound match over Ryan Boddy 7-1.

Josiah Kipperberg picked up a quick win at 112 pounds, pinning Jeremy Huffman a minute in while Brent Chriswell, the defending state champ at 171 pounds, stayed perfect on the year in the 189-pound class with a win by forfeit.

“We did alright and we can do better,” Hogan said. “We haven’t wrestled our best yet, to our full potential, but we will. We’re getting there.”

South has dual meets with Gig Harbor and Port Angeles next week and will take part in the Central Kitsap Invitational Jan. 14.

South Kitsap 49, Olympic 24

103 pounds – Camie Yeik, OLY, def. Kurtis Fenton 5-4; 112 – Josiah Kipperberg, SK, pinned Jeremy Huffman 1:00; 119 – Ken Nelson, OLY, won by forfeit; 125 – Joe Flores, OLY, def. Rodger Nuttell 7-4; 130 - Javan Miner, SK, major decision Dan Cho 10-1; 135 – Quincy Lyman, SK pinned John Adamson 3:12; 140 – Jesse Barich, SK won by forfeit; 145 – Chris Hogan, SK, pinned Caleb Williams 1:00; 152 – Bobby Arendsee, SK, won by forfeit; 160 – Dylan Watkins, SK, def. Ryan Boddy, 7-1; 171 – Chris Burns, SK, won by forfeit; 189 – Brent Chriswell, SK, won by forfeit; 215 – Laurice Gerig, OLY, pinned Carl Welch :49; 275 – Kevin Siperek, OLY, pinned Ryan Sparber 3:44.

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