IN SPORTS: LODI WRESTLERS TAKE DOWN FRANKLIN
Middle weights take over for the Flames after Franklin takes 17-15 lead
Back on the winning track is what the Lodi High wrestling team did on Tuesday.
Hosting Franklin of Elk Grove in a non-league dual meet at The Inferno, the Flames used their middle-weight classes to pin down a 42-17 win over the Wildcats. On Monday, Lodi (2-1-1) fell to Ceres, also in a non-league bout, 44-29.
Franklin held a 17-15 lead after the 126-pound match in which Lodi’s Cody Loveall lost a 6-2 decision to Edison Alanis. Lodi took a 21-17 lead at 132 by forfeit. Then the Flames burned through their remaining four matches, including three by pins.
The Flames’ Dylan Crawford (145), who usually competes at 138, registered the first pin. Facing Franklin’s Greyson Tillotson, Crawford and Tillotson exchanged takedowns each in the first round. Then in the second, after recording another take down to take a 4-2 lead, Crawford pulled down Tillotson near the center of the circle, locking his shoulders to the mat for the pin. That increased Lodi’s lead to 27-17.
The next pin came at 152, courtesy of Lodi’s Nicholas Jasperson. Taking on Franklin’s Nicholas Lopez, Jasperson, after gaining an 8-0 advantage by using take downs and a near fall, pinned Lopez with only 10 seconds left in the final period. That bumped the Flames’ lead to 33-17 margin,
At 160, the Flames’ Austin Mason and the Wildcats’ Kobe Efhan went the distance in their match. But not without controversy.
With one second left in the final period, and Efhan leading 10-9 after an escape, the Franklin coaches and their scorekeeper brought to the referee’s attention that Efhan should’ve been ahead by two points instead of one. Going to the scorekeeper’s table, the referee consulted Lodi’s book, which showed Mason recording two
points by reversal for an 11-8 lead prior to Efhan’s escape.
After a three minute discussion with Lodi coach Keith Mettler and the Franklin coaches, the referee ruled in Mason’s favor, which gave Lodi a 36-17 lead and secured the win. The Flames’ Steven Shumate (170) wrapped with a third round pin on Franklin’s Domenic Camaren, just 19 seconds left.
Prior to Franklin taking its short-lived lead, Lodi picked up wins from Justin Medieros (182), who posted a 7-0 decision over Malik Lewis, and Oliver Shelly (220) by pin over Warsump Holif in the first round. In Medieros’ match, both grapplers went for the other’s legs in the first period. But Medieros recorded his points on take downs and an escape for the decisive win.
“Justin was doing a great job,” said Mettler of Medieros, who is one of six Flame grapplers returning this season. “That kid (Lewis) is strong. He (Medieros) was just trying to do what he could to win. That kid (Lewis) wanted the match, and took us to the test.”
Lodi’s Ben Bishop (285) won by forfeit. At 106, the Flames’ Anthony Aveller pinned Desmyn William in the second round at 57 seconds.
At 120, Lodi’s Zachery Oliver-Ty lost to Colby Spencer by major decision, 19-2. Lodi and Franklin double-forfeited the 113 and 138pound classes.
Contact reporter Mike Bush at mikeb@lodinews.com. Follow on Twitter: @MBushLodiSports.