Douglas High’s Dalton Nixon reaches for leg control, during his 157-pound match against Carson Wednesday night. Nixon won by a 12-9 decision, but the Tigers fell to the Senators 44-33 as a team.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
The build-up to Wednesday’s rivalry dual between Douglas and Carson led to an electric atmosphere in the capital city.
Ultimately, it was the Senators who prevailed in their home gymnasium and on their Senior Night by a final team score of 44-33.
“The goal every year is to beat Carson and we didn’t do that, so a little disappointed,” said Douglas head coach Jake Fair.
Douglas led 33-26 with three matches to go, but Fair felt that the Tigers’ odds were better avoiding Carson’s 132-pounder in Lucas Wold.
“I kind of looked at the strategy as did we want go up against (Carson’s) Wold or throw the chips at the freshman going up against their 138-pounder,” said Fair.
The 138-pound match ended with a Carson pin, putting the Senators in front, 38-33, leaving one more freshman to try and swing the dual in favor of the Tigers.
Daniel Coughlin nearly did so, putting his opponent from Carson to his back in the second period.
After starting the period on bottom, the freshman was able to reverse position and fire up the Douglas sideline, nearly escaping with a walk-off win.
However, it went the way of the Senators in the final moments of the third.
“We had a one-point battle going on. We knew it would come down to that last match. Daniel did an amazing job,” said Fair. “He got him to his back, the crowd erupts. Who knows how it actually was, those shadows play goofy games under that spot light. It just didn’t happen in our favor.”
Strong opening
Douglas got the night started on the right foot as junior Kolton Zinn needed 2:25 to pin his opponent at 150 pounds, jumpstarting the Tigers to a 6-0 lead.
Dalton Nixon tacked on three more points with a 12-9 decision at 157, holding off a furious rally late.
Nixon went up 4-3 to start the second period with a quick reversal and grew his lead to 9-4 by the end of the period with a double leg takedown that led into a trio of nearfall points.
It was enough for Nixon to stave off any comeback attempt and give Douglas a 9-0 lead.
“They did an amazing job. They stepped up where the needed to,” said Fair.
After dropping the next two matches by pin, the Tiger bounced back with their staple at 190 pounds, Aaron Tekansik.
Tekansik needed less than three minutes to earn his team six points with a pin.
Sage Adie received six points without hearing a whistle as the Senators forfeited the 215-pound weight class.
At 113 pounds, Gunnar Bleeker made quick work of his opponent with a pin in 43 seconds.
“Gunnar Bleeker, an amazing match again. He’s locking those cradles and its fun to watch,” said Fair.
It was Kai Blumenthal’s turn at 126 pounds, winning by fall in 3:35 to score the Tigers’ final points of the dual.
“Kai Blumenthal, an amazing job again. He really worked his match,” Fair said. “Another amazing Carson-Douglas matchup. I can’t say that I’m happy with the result, but I’m proud of the effort the kids put in,” said Fair.
UP NEXT: Douglas turns its sights to the Class 5A North regional tournament. The girls will compete this Saturday at Reed High School while the boys will get a week off before traveling to Spanish Springs on Feb. 10 for their regional meet.
