Cole Drescher had a message for his coach before Wednesday’s pivotal home dual against Reno.
“He was talking about it and said, ‘coach, if we’re the team we think we are, we should take care of business tonight,’” Spanish Springs coach Joe Imelli recalled.
The Cougs took care of business.
Spanish Springs steamrolled Reno, 61-15, clinching its 10th consecutive league title with its 59th straight league dual victory.
“I’m really pleased with the group we have this year,” Imelli said. “I’ve gone on the record saying it’s a tremendous group … It’s got a great team feel. For them to earn that tonight, against Reno, who I think is a really good team … Gosh dang, that’s a good feeling.”
Spanish Springs benefited from three forfeits and won eight of the other 11 matches – six by pin.
Nick Poalillo (120), Jacob Ruiz (126), Joey McKay (152), Logan Klonicke (182), Casey Preston (220) and Tyler Barats (285) all won by fall.
Anthony Sissom (106) won on points, 9-0, and James Daniels (132) won, 9-4.
Reno’s Andrew Berreyesa, the 170-pound state champion favorite, was one of only two Huskies to win by fall. Connor Pearson (145) also won via pin.
The dominant win wasn’t anything new for the Cougs. They’ve won their four league duals by a combined score of 277-39. The setting, however, was.
The dual was wrestled in Spanish Springs’ large gym – where the team hopes to return in three weeks and win the program’s first state title. It was the first time in Imelli’s tenure a home league dual wasn’t wrestled in the auxiliary gym.
“I was kind of worried about enough people being in here,” Imelli said. “(Athletic director) Art (Anderson) was worried about too many people in the small gym. I thought it was a pretty cool venue.”
Spanish Springs concludes the regular season next Wednesday night at Reed (2-2) then prepares for the regional tournament, Feb. 3-4 – at Reno.
Reed handles Hug
Reed evened its league dual record at 2-2 with an easy 65-7 win at Hug on Wednesday night.
Only five matches were wrestled with Hug forfeiting nine weight classes.
Freshmen Alex Casarez (132) and Alex Wells (138) as well as sophomore Randy Nemedez (220) won their respective matches. Hug picked up wins at 106 and 170.
Reed ends the regular season next Wednesday with a home dual against Spanish Springs.
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