BRODHEAD - The Fab Five of freshmen wrestlers for Brodhead-Juda turned in an impressive season debut leading the Cardinals to a 52-21 win in a dual meet over Beloit Turner Thursday night.
The Cardinals won eight of the 11 matches that were wrestled, and the freshmen went 5-0 in their first time in a varsity match.
"They stepped up," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said. "I told them afterward that they are not freshmen any more. They are all very skilled."
The Cardinals posted five pins including freshman Justin Sangermano at 106 pounds, senior Neno Heredia (138), freshman Brady Colden (145), freshman Steven Voights (195) and freshman heavyweight Logan Maurer.
Maurer pinned Beloit Turner's Zach Krieger in 55 seconds.
"It definitely feels great to win my first varsity match," Maurer said. "Coming in as a freshman, I knew it would be hard wrestling heavyweight because a lot of guys may out-strength me. I just want to do the best I can."
Maurer has set three goals - finish with at least a .500 record, not finish last in the Rock Valley Conference as an individual and qualify for the sectional.
"I have three goals set and I'm planning on accomplishing them all," he said.
In one of the most exciting matches, Brodhead-Juda freshman Levi Rundle (152) defeated Beloit Turner's Seth Haskins 8-7. After a takedown late in the second period, Rundle led 4-3. He scored on an escape and another takedown in the third period, and he had to withstand a rally by Haskins.
"My whole team and hearing everyone kept me motivated to go," Rundle said. "I looked at the clock and I kept going. I knew I wouldn't quit."
Tim Colden said the key to Rundle's match was when he had the duck under. That, and his conditioning.
"I think he was really in better shape," Colden said. "I think his conditioning made the difference."
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Cody Knudtson (126) defeated freshman Gene Wright 13-5. Heredia pinned Kyle Bickford in 3:52 and Brady Colden pinned Shane Hutter in 1:56 to give the Cardinals a 22-6 lead. Brodhead-Juda junior Hunter Colden (170) defeated Kyle Allen 6-2 and Sangermano pinned Dylan Steele in 3:44.
"This was a big win for us," Tim Colden said. "Hopefully, we can get a little bit of momentum going."
Brodhead-Juda wrestles at the Cambridge Invite on Saturday and wrestles another conference match at Big Foot Thursday, Dec. 8. Each will be another step in a season full of tests for the five freshmen.
"You never know how freshmen will do in their first road match," Tim Colden said.
The Cardinals won eight of the 11 matches that were wrestled, and the freshmen went 5-0 in their first time in a varsity match.
"They stepped up," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said. "I told them afterward that they are not freshmen any more. They are all very skilled."
The Cardinals posted five pins including freshman Justin Sangermano at 106 pounds, senior Neno Heredia (138), freshman Brady Colden (145), freshman Steven Voights (195) and freshman heavyweight Logan Maurer.
Maurer pinned Beloit Turner's Zach Krieger in 55 seconds.
"It definitely feels great to win my first varsity match," Maurer said. "Coming in as a freshman, I knew it would be hard wrestling heavyweight because a lot of guys may out-strength me. I just want to do the best I can."
Maurer has set three goals - finish with at least a .500 record, not finish last in the Rock Valley Conference as an individual and qualify for the sectional.
"I have three goals set and I'm planning on accomplishing them all," he said.
In one of the most exciting matches, Brodhead-Juda freshman Levi Rundle (152) defeated Beloit Turner's Seth Haskins 8-7. After a takedown late in the second period, Rundle led 4-3. He scored on an escape and another takedown in the third period, and he had to withstand a rally by Haskins.
"My whole team and hearing everyone kept me motivated to go," Rundle said. "I looked at the clock and I kept going. I knew I wouldn't quit."
Tim Colden said the key to Rundle's match was when he had the duck under. That, and his conditioning.
"I think he was really in better shape," Colden said. "I think his conditioning made the difference."
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Cody Knudtson (126) defeated freshman Gene Wright 13-5. Heredia pinned Kyle Bickford in 3:52 and Brady Colden pinned Shane Hutter in 1:56 to give the Cardinals a 22-6 lead. Brodhead-Juda junior Hunter Colden (170) defeated Kyle Allen 6-2 and Sangermano pinned Dylan Steele in 3:44.
"This was a big win for us," Tim Colden said. "Hopefully, we can get a little bit of momentum going."
Brodhead-Juda wrestles at the Cambridge Invite on Saturday and wrestles another conference match at Big Foot Thursday, Dec. 8. Each will be another step in a season full of tests for the five freshmen.
"You never know how freshmen will do in their first road match," Tim Colden said.
