DARLINGTON - Darlington senior Colton Hackett had the feeling he was cursed the last two years.
Hackett had his wrestling season cut short the last two years due to a separated shoulder. That's why Hackett was excited about the season opening dual meet against rival Mineral Point Friday night. Hackett was one of four Darlington wrestlers to win matches out of the 12 wrestled, but the No. 2 ranked Pointers rolled to a 51-24 win.
Hackett said he has felt jinxed the last two years with the separated shoulder injury. He has received a four-year ROTC scholarship and he plans on attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison if he's accepted. After college, Hackett will have eight years to serve in the Army.
On the wrestling mat, he helped set the tone. Hackett, at 189 pounds, pinned Mineral Point sophomore Dakota Hughes in 1 minute, 31 seconds.
Hackett returned at the end of last year, but he never felt the same after the separated shoulder.
"It's just good to be back," he said. "I didn't feel like I was wrestling good at the end of last season. I just want to keep improving every week."
Three other Darlington wrestlers posted wins including junior Bo Brunkow (119), senior Brandon Heins (215) and senior heavyweight Joey Hull. Darlington coach Tom Mathias was excited with the start against one of the state's elite wrestling programs that features senior Tucker Pittz who went 48-0 last year and was a state champion.
"We had the kids pumped up to go after Point," Mathias said. "They have their studs, you know, who have been successful and will be successful again. I think we came in and went to battle and met a superior team that is one of the best in the state."
The Redbirds jumped out to a 9-0 lead on the heels of Brunkow's 5-3 win over Mineral Point freshman Jake Riley and a forfeit by the Pointers at 125. The Pointers stormed back with seven straight wins including three consecutive pins to build a 39-9 lead. The Pointers finished with six pins.
One of the best matches of the dual meet featured Heins at 215. Heins trailed 5-4 with 1 minute left. He scored on a takedown with 58 seconds left to beat Mineral Point freshman Brenyn Schmit 6-5.
"I'm very disappointed with the way I wrestled," Heins said. "Sometimes you don't wrestle your best. I found out when I don't wrestle my best I can still win. I think the problem was I didn't have any jitters before. I came out too relaxed."
Hull, who hasn't wrestled since his sophomore year, showed no ill effects from the time off. He pinned Mineral Point sophomore Brian Steffes in 22 seconds. It was a dominating performance by Hull in his return to the mat.
"Joey and Colton came out on fire," Mathias said.
Darlington senior Matt McDaniel at 145 pounds also lost a tough match to Mineral Point's Todd Tibbits 5-1. Mathias knows that McDaniel can build off his first match.
"Matt McDaniel had a great match," Mathias said. "He didn't disappoint. He will beat that kid this year."
Darlington returns to action today at the Black Hawk Invitational that features 16 schools. Mathias said the weigh-in has been pushed back two hours to 9 a.m. and that wrestling would start about 10 a.m.
Hackett had his wrestling season cut short the last two years due to a separated shoulder. That's why Hackett was excited about the season opening dual meet against rival Mineral Point Friday night. Hackett was one of four Darlington wrestlers to win matches out of the 12 wrestled, but the No. 2 ranked Pointers rolled to a 51-24 win.
Hackett said he has felt jinxed the last two years with the separated shoulder injury. He has received a four-year ROTC scholarship and he plans on attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison if he's accepted. After college, Hackett will have eight years to serve in the Army.
On the wrestling mat, he helped set the tone. Hackett, at 189 pounds, pinned Mineral Point sophomore Dakota Hughes in 1 minute, 31 seconds.
Hackett returned at the end of last year, but he never felt the same after the separated shoulder.
"It's just good to be back," he said. "I didn't feel like I was wrestling good at the end of last season. I just want to keep improving every week."
Three other Darlington wrestlers posted wins including junior Bo Brunkow (119), senior Brandon Heins (215) and senior heavyweight Joey Hull. Darlington coach Tom Mathias was excited with the start against one of the state's elite wrestling programs that features senior Tucker Pittz who went 48-0 last year and was a state champion.
"We had the kids pumped up to go after Point," Mathias said. "They have their studs, you know, who have been successful and will be successful again. I think we came in and went to battle and met a superior team that is one of the best in the state."
The Redbirds jumped out to a 9-0 lead on the heels of Brunkow's 5-3 win over Mineral Point freshman Jake Riley and a forfeit by the Pointers at 125. The Pointers stormed back with seven straight wins including three consecutive pins to build a 39-9 lead. The Pointers finished with six pins.
One of the best matches of the dual meet featured Heins at 215. Heins trailed 5-4 with 1 minute left. He scored on a takedown with 58 seconds left to beat Mineral Point freshman Brenyn Schmit 6-5.
"I'm very disappointed with the way I wrestled," Heins said. "Sometimes you don't wrestle your best. I found out when I don't wrestle my best I can still win. I think the problem was I didn't have any jitters before. I came out too relaxed."
Hull, who hasn't wrestled since his sophomore year, showed no ill effects from the time off. He pinned Mineral Point sophomore Brian Steffes in 22 seconds. It was a dominating performance by Hull in his return to the mat.
"Joey and Colton came out on fire," Mathias said.
Darlington senior Matt McDaniel at 145 pounds also lost a tough match to Mineral Point's Todd Tibbits 5-1. Mathias knows that McDaniel can build off his first match.
"Matt McDaniel had a great match," Mathias said. "He didn't disappoint. He will beat that kid this year."
Darlington returns to action today at the Black Hawk Invitational that features 16 schools. Mathias said the weigh-in has been pushed back two hours to 9 a.m. and that wrestling would start about 10 a.m.
