The Helias Crusaders have wrestled three duals this season.
They’ve had just two matches in those duals go to decisions.
“We’re young right now, it’s part of the growing process,” Helias coach Weston Keleher said Tuesday night after the Crusaders defeated the School of the Osage Indians 48-33 in a dual at Rackers Fieldhouse. “It’s not what we want.”
The relative youth and inexperience in the lineup for the Crusaders has something to do with the fact matches aren’t going the full six minutes.
“We’re a young team, we have a handful of good kids, but that doesn’t mean we are a good duals team right now,” Keleher said. “We’ve seen teams develop and figure things out and I think we can be that kind of team.”
Three Crusaders -- Daemen Duemmel at 106 pounds, Aleksandr Careaga at 150 and Eli Homan at 175 -- won by first-period falls. Duemmel led 10-0 when he got the fall, Careaga got his win in just :22, while Homan was on top 11-0.
Winning by fall in the second period for the Crusaders were Justin Wieberg at 132, Ben Holee at 144 and Logan Montoya at 190. Holee was the outlier of the night for Helias as he trailed 5-0 after one period before winning in 3:22. Wieberg was up 10-0 when he ended his match, while Montoya was ahead 14-2 after one period before winning :25 into the second.
“We were tough on top a lot of the night,” Keleher said.
Helias’ other wins came via forfeit by Hunter Barnhart at 215 and Bryce Allen at 285.
Alex Wieberg, a freshman, dropped the lone decision of the dual with an 8-3 final at 126.
“Alex wrestled tough,” Keleher said. “He could be at 113 right now, but he’s wrestling up two weight classes.”
Losing by fall for Helias were Isaac Schatzer at 113, Evan Dunn at 120, Hayden Reinsch at 138, Blaine Curtis at 157 and Ben Lanigan at 165.
“Osage came in here and battled,” Keleher said.
Helias (2-1) is back in action Friday and Saturday when the Crusaders host 11 other teams in the Missouri Duals.
“We have a couple of days to clean up some things and get better,” Keleher said. “We have to get better, it’s that simple. We have a lot to work on, but it’s December. We have time.”