CHARLESTON, Tenn. — It took a half dozen lead changes in 11 contested matches before Walker Valley was able to overcome a tough Chattanooga Christian mat squad in the Mustang home opener, Tuesday at "The Stable."
Rallying from eight-point deficit the Herd got back-to-back "sticks" by 2024 TSSAA state medalist Troy Dyszkiewicz and Jeremiah Townsend to pull out the hard-fought 34-28 win.
The Mustangs (3-0) will get a couple of days of practice in before heading to McMinn Central Friday evening for a tri match, including Northview Academy.
On Saturday, Walker Valley will head down I-75 to wrestle in the Ooltewah Invitational.
After double forfeits in the first two weight divisions, Walker Valley got on the baord first with a "walk-over" at 126.
The first contested match of the evening was a sign of things to come.
After Walker Valley's Isaac DeOcampo held a slim 4-3 edge at the first horn, neither 126-pound wrestlers scored in the second period.
DeCampo went up 7-3 with a takedown early in the third, but CCS's Christian Wiechmann rallied with an escape and a takedown of his own for a 7-all tally at the end of regulation.
In the sudden-death extra frame, Weichmann was able to come up with a quick takedown to claim the overtime victory, getting the visitors on the scoreboard.
A pin by Cooper Martin at the first horn of the 132-pound match sent the Chargers into the lead at 9-6.
Walker Valley regained the edge with an 8-0 major decision by Chase Ackermann at 138, before CCS went back ahead with a 14-8 decision by Christian Miller at 144.
The Herd came right back with a pin by Matt Campos at the 3:00 mark of the 150-pound match and then stretched the advantage to 20-12 when Chris Dempsey followed with a 20-7 major decision.
The visitors came charging back for a 16-point swing thanks to with back-to-back pins by Jackson Turner (165) and Donnie Boochie (175), plus a 14-3 major decision by Jonah Bumgarner.
With their backs against the wall, senior captains Dyszkiewicz and Townsend provided pins for the final dozen points of the evening and the come-from-behind victory.
Both getting first period "sticks," Dyszkiewicz put his opponent's shoulder to the mat at the 1:42 mark, while Townsend got referee "Tator" Vineyard to slap the mat in just 66 seconds.
MATCH SUMMARY
(meet started at 106)
MUSTANGS 32
CHARGERS 28
103 — Double forfeit; 113 — Double forfeit; 120 — Michael Rich (WV) won by forfeit; 128 — Christian Wiechmann (CC) dec.
Isaac DeCampo, 10-7 OT; 132 — Cooper Martin (CC) pinned Ryker Butler, 1:59; 138 — Chase Ackerman (WV) dec. Braxton Pennings, 8-0; 144 — Christian Miller (CC) dec. Bryden Swisher, 14-8; 150 — Matt Campos (WV) pinned Emmit French, 3:00; 157 — Chris Dempsey (WV) major dec. Callen Bridgeman, 20-7; 165 — Jackson Turner (CC) pinned Gideon Hernandez, 1:34; 175 — Donnie Boochie (CC) pinned Michael Ivanov, 4:39; 190 — Jonah Bumgarner (CC) major dec. Kaydence Burton, 14-3; Troy Dyszkiewicz (WV) pinned Carter Chandler, 1:42; Jeremiah Townsend (WV) pinned Tyre B., 1:06.