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Tiger wrestlers pick up big win
12/2/2011
By NICK McQUEEN
nmcqueen@dailynews.net
Ever since he started wrestling in Enid, Okla., Fort Hays State University senior heavyweight Justin Glenn has spent his time in the limelight -- and he's played two roles in what is usually the final match of the night.
He's played the role of the hero, and admittedly, he's been on the losing end. He's even been a pawn when he laid blocks as the fullback for the Fort Hays football team.
Thursday night, Glenn was charged with a different task for the No. 16 ranked Tigers -- the swing vote.
It took 31รขÑ2 minutes of overtime, but Glenn made the decision, and scored a takedown before the buzzer sounded in overtime. He scored a 5-3 win, and broke a tie to give the Tigers a 21-18 win over No. 7 ranked University of Central Oklahoma at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
"Last match, down to the wire," Glenn said. "It's like that all the time. I figured I would get used to it by now, but no.
"My heart is pounding before I even step on the mat."
Glenn battled to a 1-1 stalemate against UCO sophomore Cody Dauphin after regulation, then each kept scoring escapes in the extra session, before Glenn (3-2) beat the buzzer with a takedow to score the win against a wrestler he's seen several times over the years (high school and college). Both are from Oklahoma.
"First overtime, I'm thinking I would have gotten a takedown in the first three, but apparently this guy is good on his feet," Glenn said. "I got to ride him out and get up when it's time to get up."
The win capped four straight for the Tigers after they had fallen down 15-6 before the intermission.
"They are a really solid team. Our shape was good," Tiger coach Chas Thompson said. "We wanted to control the center of the mat, and we did."
The first win for the Tigers came at 149 pounds, when redshirt freshman Joey Dozier, filling in for No. 2 ranked Mitchell Means (illness), pinned UCO sophomore Kaleb Cradduck in 5:55.
"Joey Dozier came out and was huge for us. That got it rolling," Thompson said. "We looked bad in the beginning in tough matches."
The Tigers won four of the five matches after the intermission (one on a forfeit) to seal the win.
Junior Walker Clarke recorded his first decision as a Tiger, and it came in upset fashion. Clarke won 3-2 at 184 pounds over No. 5 ranked Tanner Keck, who came in at 6-2. In that match, Clarke scored two points on illegal holds by Keck. He also scored an escape to nab the victory. Then, sophomore transfer Tanner Kriss (4-1), a Colby native, picked up a 5-4 decision at 197 against UCO senior Jarrett Edison to tie things up.
"That's gonna speak well of us. That's the No. 7 team in the country," Thompson said. "That gives the guys some confidence, and now we kind of know where we're at. If we can get a little more healthy. We might be able to look even a little better."
Glenn, who used up his eligibility on the football field last season, is excited about where the team is at. The win propels the Tigers into Saturday's FHSU/Bob Smith Open.
"We had a couple guys not in there, even. We had a couple guys step up. Joey Dozier-- big win, huge step up," Glenn said. "Everybody did a great job on the mat tonight. Great win for our team.
"(Bob Smith) is a great tourament this weekend. DI schools, and UCO is a premiere Division II national team. So, what a great way to get ready for this weekend," he added.
Start time is 9 a.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |