WAUKEE — The Perry wrestling team was handed losses in each of their five duals Saturday at the Al Garrison event, but Bluejay head coach Mark Weber was quick to note the overall results did not tell the full story.
“It was definitely a rough day of wrestling, but I told the guys at the end that, at the end of the season, our win-loss record is not going to show if we improved or not from day to day, and we definitely are,” Weber said. “Look at it like this: a kid who lost by getting pinned in the first period is now losing 3-0. Yes, he still lost, but he has also shown great improvement. Won-loss never tells the whole story.”
Perry dropped decisions to DC-G (57-13), Johnston (64-12), Marshalltown (53-24), Des Moines Lincoln (59-24) and Millard West (Neb.) (49-27).
“I know it sound like a cliche and like I am repeating myself, but as coaches we are seeing quite a bit of improvement, and that is our main goal — be better today than you were yesterday,” Weber said. “We won some good matches today and lost some close matches, so it was a typical day of wrestling, but I am proud of our effort and definitely see us improving. We are much better, up and down the lineup, than we were at the start of December.”
Senior Jacob Nelson was the only undefeated Bluejay. He finished 5-0 at 145 pounds, winning four times by fall and once by decision.
Riece Graham (106 pounds) also had a strong day, finishing 4-1 with two pins, a major decision and one forfeit.
Cole Nelson recorded a pin and twice received forfeits to finish 3-2 at 113, with new wrestler Carlos Vargas recording a decision and a pin to finish 2-3 at 132 while Cole Snyder was 2-3 at 182 with two decisions.
Perry split duties at 152, with Ever Tobar 1-1 with a pin while Charley Guardado was stopped in each of his three matches.
Erick Funez was 1-4 with a pin at 138, with Wilber Ramirez 1-4 with a pin at 160.
Also in action were Anthony Chavez (120), Alex Fickbohm (126), Byron Melendrez (170), Zach Darr (220) and Logan Brokaw (285), all of who were unable to record a victory.
Perry left the 195-pound class uncontested.
“We wrestled some good teams with good wrestlers, so the competition was definitely tough,” Weber said. “But we went out and wrestled hard, and as coaches you always like seeing that desire, that determination to get better and get wins.”
