The first home meet of the second half of the season was not without its hiccups for host Perry, who topped Van Meter, 42-39, before falling to Bondurant-Farrar, 51-27. The opening dual was a 36-27 win for B-F over Van Meter, who shares wrestling with Earlham.
A series of forfeits and sudden lineup changes combined with improper reporting to the officials table led to a lengthy delay in the midst of Perry’s dual against Van Meter.
Tyler Soll (285 pounds) had received a forfeit in the first match, with Perry leaving 106 open. Tucker Strough (113), Kaleb Olejncizak (120) and Zach Thompson (126) each moved up a weight and collected forfeits for Perry, giving the hosts a 24-6 lead without a single second of action on the mats.
Wins by pin at 132, 145 and 152, along with a decision at 138, moved Van Meter into a 27-24 lead when confusion and frustration set in, leading to a delay of nearly 20 minutes.
Van Meter’s 170-pounder accidentally reported in and took to the mat against Perry’s Cole Snyder, who was prepared to compete at 160. When the error was discovered, Snyder — who had been pinned — was awarded a forfeit.
That left Perry’s Adan Medina (170) without an opponent, as his would-be foe had mistakenly competed at the wrong weight. The Van Meter coaches questioned how the error could have happened, correctly noting that the host team is to report first at each weight and suggesting the oversight should not have been allowed.
The dual continued with Perry leading 30-27 but without the 170-pound match having been resolved. A win by pinfall at 182 gave the Bulldogs a 33-30 edge, with forfeits to Perry at 195 and to Van Meter at 220 moving the score to 39-36 in favor of the guests.
At that time it was determined Medina would receive a forfeit at 170, as Van Meter had no other grappler at that weight and their entry at 170 had already competed, with his disqualification meaning he could not then compete again in the same dual. The six points awarded to Medina lifted Perry to a 42-39 lead.
No such issues arose in the dual with Bondurant-Farrar, with Perry receiving a forfeits to Thompson at 120 while giving B-F forfeits at 106, 132 and 220. The hosts scored on the mat with a trio of pins and one decision.
Kaleb Olejniczak pinned Austin Nash in 1 minute, 56 seconds at 113 pounds, with Cesar Ramirez pinning Jacob Hayworth in 5:13 at 182 while Tyler Soll stuck Kolt Pitzen’s shoulders to the mat in 2:46 at 285 pounds.
The remaining Perry points came at 138 when Justin Stammer emerged with a 15-8 decision against Kaeden Lozano.
Perry will wrestle Saturday in the always-tough Ames Invitational before hosting Creston/Orient-Macksburg and Winterset for a triangular Thursday. The 17-team Bluejay Invitational is on tap for Jan. 14, with Carlisle, Carroll, Des Moines East, Des Moines North/Hoover, Dowling Catholic, Eagle Grove, Logan-Magnolia, Panorama, Saydel, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, South Hamilton, St. Ansgar, Van Meter, Webster City, West Marshall and Woodward-Granger all expected to compete.
