Bryan, Consol wrestling teams sweep district duals

The Bryan Vikings and A&M Consolidated Tigers each swept all five opponents at the District 25 duals wrestling competition Saturday at Viking Gym.

The competition marked a change in style from previous dual meets, which had been spaced out over several days. Not all of the dual meets were completed.

"For the last couple of years, for one reason or another, we didn't get to wrestle a couple of the Killeen schools," Consol coach Brian Wessel said. "When we had the regular district tournament, the seeding was so confusing because we hadn't wrestled everybody. This was to prevent that from happening and was very beneficial for our district."

Indeed, the late cancellations in past seasons proved to be enough for Bryan coach Michael Zito to want to try this year's format.

It was a big frustration over the last few years," Zito said. "There was one team in our district that we have wrestled once."

With the exception of Consol at Bryan which will be held Feb. 1, the Tigers and Vikings have finished their dual meet district season.

Consol beat Killeen Ellison 49-27; Copperas Cove 45-22; Killeen 48-32; Harker Heights 39-36 and Killeen Shoemaker 51-15.

"We didn't wrestle spectacularly by any means," Wessel said. "We won every match mostly with the benefit of a lot of forfeits. We had close to a full team, and nobody else was close to a full team."

For Bryan, it was an easier path to success than the Vikings have faced in an uncharacteristically tough season.

"This is a day we have long needed," Zito said. "We spent a lot of time wrestling the top of our region -- Vista Ridge, Westlake. We go to Houston and wrestle the top Houston teams. We don't run away from that, but our record has shown it this year."

That record got a boost Saturday with a 36-33 victory over Killeen in which every Bryan wrestler won by pin. The Vikings also defeated Killeen Ellison 53-24; Copperas Cove 51-24; Shoemaker 39-27 and Harker Heights 54-24.

"It's been a long season," Zito said. "We've got a lot of young people, and we've got a couple of starters out now with concussions. It's been a jockeying for position. It's been very frustrating."

Bryan's David Jones remained undefeated at 220 pounds, winning all five bouts including four by pins.

Laura Hawk and Jenna Goen, who lost their first matches last week, went 4 for 4 on the mat.

"My young kids got a match," Zito said. "Keavon Davison, who is a freshman, won a match. Jarmarcus Amos, a 10th grader who joined us Monday, got his first win. We're 5-0 in district, which is where we should be. I've haven't lost a district match yet."

Nathan Jimenez had three pins for the Vikings. Francisco Vasquez had two.

Consol's Reuben Pensado recorded four pins on the day, including the only Tiger pin in a forfeit-filled victory over Copperas Cove. Chris Paulus won with three pins. Wes Cox, Evan Brickey and Shaun Goodman each had two pins.

"Evan Brickey went undefeated," Wessel said. "Shaun Goodman didn't lose any matches. Wes Cox lost one match.

"One big deal for us is that Jacob Wilson is hurt. We wanted him to wrestle a kid from Shoemaker, hoping he would beat him and wouldn't have any problem getting the No. 1 seed, but that didn't work out to our benefit. He's hurt a little bit worse that we thought."

Wilson missed practice all week with an injured hamstring and will likely sit out next week.

In the girls' competition, Kaley Kruse won with two pins in three wins for Consol, but fellow freshman Brianna White suffered an apparent concussion at the end of her first match and was unable to finish the day.

"Our girl at 110, Kaley Kruse, did very well today," Wessel said. "She beat a regional qualifier from last year. She's getting better every match."

Bryan and Consol will wrestle at the Klein Collins Hurricane Classic next week.

The District 25 tournament will be held Feb. 4 in Killeen.