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It was a packed gym on Tuesday night for the Hall of Fame dual between Dodge City and Garden City.
The title for the dual between rivals was selected because it was the night to induct the first two members of the Dodge City High School wrestling Hall of Fame.
The two honorees were Steve Gall, who was the Demons' first ever state champion, and Steve Ferguson, who was the second ever state champion from the high school. Ferguson also was a two-time national qualified for the Kansas State Wildcast wrestling program, where he placed third in the Big 8.
Due to a scratch of Miguel Marino at the 152 pound weight class, Alex Montoya was moved up from the junior varsity ranks to wrestle in the 113 pound class. From there, each wrestler was moved up one weight class to fill in the remaining spots.
The dual began inauspiciously for the Demons as Jaden McRoberts and Efrain Sanchez of Garden City were battling in a close match. As the final seconds ticked down, and McRoberts down by a couple of points, Sanchez had the Demon in position for the pin. The referee signaled the pin of McRoberts as the horn sounded, creating discussion between the two refs.
They ultimately decided to give the pin to Sanchez and the Buffaloes nabbed the 6-0 early lead over Dodge.
However, the Demons would bounce right back, as Montoya, who was penciled in late, matched up with Garden's Ramiro Adams. Montoya, after some nifty manuevering, landed the pin and knotted things up at six each.
Alex Garcia, a returning state place winner for the Demons, was next up at 120, squaring off with Anthony Calderon of Garden. After an intense battle, Garcia was down 3-2 in the final seconds of period three. With an escape giving him the tie, he could have went into overtime. But, there would be no magic on the mat as Garcia would fall one point short and the Demons once again found themselves behind.
That deficit would be short lived, as Jaquan Graves, wrestling in the 126-pound class, got a third period pin over Ricardo Dunn, sending the home crowd into a chorus of cheers, as the Demons regained the lead 12-9.
Despite that swing in momentum, that would be the last the Demons would experience a lead as the next four matches went in Garden City's favor.
It all started with the dominant Dane Edwards, who couldn't find his mojo against A.J. Hurtado, as he dropped a 5-3 decision.
The next three losses would give the Buffaloes an almost insurmountable 24-12 lead, thanks to two pins in the 138 and 145 pound classes.
Dodge City would bounce back for two more victories as Jacob Eggers claimed an 11-3 decision over Anthony Gardener and Corey Keller scored a 10-5 decision over Randal Long.
However, two more decisions for Garden City would ultimately leave the match out of reach for Lars Lueders and his Demon squad.
The Demons will continue their season with an invite on Saturday before taking off for Christmas break.
It was a packed gym on Tuesday night for the Hall of Fame dual between Dodge City and Garden City.
The title for the dual between rivals was selected because it was the night to induct the first two members of the Dodge City High School wrestling Hall of Fame.
The two honorees were Steve Gall, who was the Demons' first ever state champion, and Steve Ferguson, who was the second ever state champion from the high school. Ferguson also was a two-time national qualified for the Kansas State Wildcast wrestling program, where he placed third in the Big 8.
Due to a scratch of Miguel Marino at the 152 pound weight class, Alex Montoya was moved up from the junior varsity ranks to wrestle in the 113 pound class. From there, each wrestler was moved up one weight class to fill in the remaining spots.
The dual began inauspiciously for the Demons as Jaden McRoberts and Efrain Sanchez of Garden City were battling in a close match. As the final seconds ticked down, and McRoberts down by a couple of points, Sanchez had the Demon in position for the pin. The referee signaled the pin of McRoberts as the horn sounded, creating discussion between the two refs.
They ultimately decided to give the pin to Sanchez and the Buffaloes nabbed the 6-0 early lead over Dodge.
However, the Demons would bounce right back, as Montoya, who was penciled in late, matched up with Garden's Ramiro Adams. Montoya, after some nifty manuevering, landed the pin and knotted things up at six each.
Alex Garcia, a returning state place winner for the Demons, was next up at 120, squaring off with Anthony Calderon of Garden. After an intense battle, Garcia was down 3-2 in the final seconds of period three. With an escape giving him the tie, he could have went into overtime. But, there would be no magic on the mat as Garcia would fall one point short and the Demons once again found themselves behind.
That deficit would be short lived, as Jaquan Graves, wrestling in the 126-pound class, got a third period pin over Ricardo Dunn, sending the home crowd into a chorus of cheers, as the Demons regained the lead 12-9.
Despite that swing in momentum, that would be the last the Demons would experience a lead as the next four matches went in Garden City's favor.
It all started with the dominant Dane Edwards, who couldn't find his mojo against A.J. Hurtado, as he dropped a 5-3 decision.
The next three losses would give the Buffaloes an almost insurmountable 24-12 lead, thanks to two pins in the 138 and 145 pound classes.
Dodge City would bounce back for two more victories as Jacob Eggers claimed an 11-3 decision over Anthony Gardener and Corey Keller scored a 10-5 decision over Randal Long.
However, two more decisions for Garden City would ultimately leave the match out of reach for Lars Lueders and his Demon squad.
The Demons will continue their season with an invite on Saturday before taking off for Christmas break.
