BRODHEAD - The Brodhead-Juda Cardinals pinned their way to a 42-36 win over Clinton and at least a share of the Rock Valley South Conference title Thursday night.
The dual opened at 120 pounds, where Brodhead-Juda's Coty Knudtson got things started for the Cardinals, pinning Clinton's Josh Curtis in 2 minutes, 40 seconds.
The lead didn't last long though, as Clinton answered by winning the next five matches, four by pin, to take a 27-6 lead and build all-important momentum.
"It's kind of a lot about momentum," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said. "They started at a good spot for them."
Up next for the Cardinals, at 160 pounds, was sophomore Brady Colden.
"I told Brady ... 'you need to stop the momentum here and get it going our way,'" Tim Colden said.
Brady did just that, pinning Clinton's Tyler Teubert in 36 seconds.
With Clinton's momentum stalled, senior Hunter Colden and sophomore Gavin Baade pushed it back in the Cardinals' favor.
Hunter Colden (170), ranked No. 2 in Division 2, pinned Jake Collins in 1:12, and Baade (182) pinned Bobby Oldenberg in 2:31.
After Clinton's Mitch Wellnitz captured a 6-2 decision over Tyler Davis at 195 pounds, the Cardinals got back into the pinning groove.
At 220 pounds, sophomore Reave Lincoln pinned Clinton's Jesus Balli in 1:21. Logan Maurer (285), ranked No. 3 in Division 2, then pinned Clinton's Matthew Stamm in 35 seconds.
With two matches to go, Brodhead-Juda held a 36-30 lead.
At 106 pounds, Clinton's Seth Wisowaty pinned Jacob Rhyner in 34 seconds, tying things up at 36-36 with one match to go: Brodhead-Juda's Justin Sangermano versus Clinton's Trent Kleyn.
In appropriate fashion, Sangermano got the win via pin, defeating Kleyn in 47 seconds.
Tim Colden didn't have many doubts about his sophomore going out there and getting the meet win.
"I felt pretty confident that Justin was going to beat the kid, and I think Justin was too," Tim Colden said, "and he went out there and took care of business."
The Cardinals won six of the final eight matches, mostly in the upper weights, which Tim Colden said is on par with his team's performance this year.
"It's been our strength all season," he said of the upper weights. "I expected a lot of bonus points from 160 on up."
Of the 14 matches on the night, 12 were won by pin, which Tim Colden said made for an exciting night.
"It was pretty heated," he said. "Give credit to the Clinton coach. He had his kids ready to go."
With the come-from-behind win, the Cardinals clinched at least a share of the Rock Valley South Conference title, but Tim Colden admits he "doesn't like to share."
Said Colden, "We're working toward taking it all ourselves next week."
The dual opened at 120 pounds, where Brodhead-Juda's Coty Knudtson got things started for the Cardinals, pinning Clinton's Josh Curtis in 2 minutes, 40 seconds.
The lead didn't last long though, as Clinton answered by winning the next five matches, four by pin, to take a 27-6 lead and build all-important momentum.
"It's kind of a lot about momentum," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said. "They started at a good spot for them."
Up next for the Cardinals, at 160 pounds, was sophomore Brady Colden.
"I told Brady ... 'you need to stop the momentum here and get it going our way,'" Tim Colden said.
Brady did just that, pinning Clinton's Tyler Teubert in 36 seconds.
With Clinton's momentum stalled, senior Hunter Colden and sophomore Gavin Baade pushed it back in the Cardinals' favor.
Hunter Colden (170), ranked No. 2 in Division 2, pinned Jake Collins in 1:12, and Baade (182) pinned Bobby Oldenberg in 2:31.
After Clinton's Mitch Wellnitz captured a 6-2 decision over Tyler Davis at 195 pounds, the Cardinals got back into the pinning groove.
At 220 pounds, sophomore Reave Lincoln pinned Clinton's Jesus Balli in 1:21. Logan Maurer (285), ranked No. 3 in Division 2, then pinned Clinton's Matthew Stamm in 35 seconds.
With two matches to go, Brodhead-Juda held a 36-30 lead.
At 106 pounds, Clinton's Seth Wisowaty pinned Jacob Rhyner in 34 seconds, tying things up at 36-36 with one match to go: Brodhead-Juda's Justin Sangermano versus Clinton's Trent Kleyn.
In appropriate fashion, Sangermano got the win via pin, defeating Kleyn in 47 seconds.
Tim Colden didn't have many doubts about his sophomore going out there and getting the meet win.
"I felt pretty confident that Justin was going to beat the kid, and I think Justin was too," Tim Colden said, "and he went out there and took care of business."
The Cardinals won six of the final eight matches, mostly in the upper weights, which Tim Colden said is on par with his team's performance this year.
"It's been our strength all season," he said of the upper weights. "I expected a lot of bonus points from 160 on up."
Of the 14 matches on the night, 12 were won by pin, which Tim Colden said made for an exciting night.
"It was pretty heated," he said. "Give credit to the Clinton coach. He had his kids ready to go."
With the come-from-behind win, the Cardinals clinched at least a share of the Rock Valley South Conference title, but Tim Colden admits he "doesn't like to share."
Said Colden, "We're working toward taking it all ourselves next week."
