No. 11 Lisbon gave top-ranked Alburnett all it could handle on Thursday, Jan. 11, but came up short, 40-36, in a double dual in Alburnett.
“We had 14 guys who wanted to wrestle hard every second of their matches,” Lisbon Coach Aaron Helmrich said. “We gave it all, but came up a little short. I’m very proud of the effort of our young team.”
Lisbon was leading, 36-34, before giving up a forfeit at 150 pounds to close the dual.
Several Lions enjoyed big wins, but Indy Ferguson had a 3-1 decision against No. 3 Emmitt Fleshman at 215 pounds.
All the other ranked wrestlers won. Lisbon’s Wes Sadler is No. 3 and Alburnett’s Atlee Dewitt is No. 4 at 106 pounds, but the two didn’t wrestle. Dewitt got a pin at 106, and Sadler earned a pin at 113.
Lisbon also trounced North Linn, 75-6. Coach Helmrich didn’t have any problem coaching against his alma mater.
“It might be different next week when we go there,” he said. “It was just another dual for me.”
Saturday’s tournament at Solon was cancelled.
“They guys were excited to wrestle there,” Helmrich said. “It is close, and had good teams.”
Lisbon was scheduled to wrestle Tuesday, Jan. 16, at No. 3 Don Bosco, then Wednesday, Jan. 17, at North Linn, before a Saturday trip to the Interstate 35 Tournament in central Iowa.