Rock Falls splits BNC triangular with Winnebago, Genoa-Kingston; Cogs go 0-2

GENOA – Rock Falls wrestling coach Chad Williamson said Tuesday’s sweep at the hands of Dakota and Sandwich was far from the Rockets' best performance.

Even though they only split their Big Northern Conference dual with Genoa-Kingston and Winnebago on Thursday, Williamson said it was a night and day difference.

After notching a pair of pins at 165 pounds, Rock Falls’ Trail Stonitsch agreed.

“I had a bad day the other day,” Stonitsch said of his 1-1 performance on Tuesday. “It was pretty good for the whole team. I felt really good today. The team had a good start and it kept going.”

The Rockets beat the Cogs 51-24 and lost to Winnebago 37-36. Genoa-Kingston fell to Winnebago 59-24 in the last match of the day but did get a pair of pins from freshman E.J. Kennedy.

For Rock Falls, the match against Winnebago came down to the last match at 106 with the Rockets up three. Winnebago’s Cam Whitehead got a major decision against Scottie Hampton in a match that was 7-1 after two periods.

Williamson said the Rockets could have had the match clinched by 106.

“We had three tech falls in that match where we should have gotten the pins,” Williamson said. “We should have got a major at 144. We left points on the mat that we shouldn’t have. It shouldn’t have been in question. We have to score the extra points when we can.”

Kennedy provided the Cogs with their only on-the-mat win against the Rockets. Zachary Walker at 215 was close to pinning the G-K freshman in the second period, but got called for a potentially dangerous maneuver. No penalty was assessed but the match had to reset at the center of the mat.

With the second life, Kennedy started the third period on the bottom, got a quick reverse and rolled right on top of Walker for a 25-second pin.

“No matter the pain, no matter what you’re going through, just keep going,” Kennedy said. “When I was getting pinned, it was I will not lose over and over again. And once I reversed him I said this is my chance I have to take it.”

Kennedy started the year wrestling at 285 but moved down to 215. G-K coach Stew Burke said Kennedy, who weighed 225 at the start of the year, has been far more competitive down a weight class.

Kennedy also picked up a first-period pin against Winnebago. Anthony Gum (150) and Andrew Rocha recorded pins for the Cogs' other on-the-mat wins against Winnebago.

“We’re fighting back but we’re wrestling varsity with freshmen and sophomores,” Burke said. “It was two losses today but a learning experience for sure.”

Josh Turbill (126), Tucker Ulrich (138), Logan Williamson (150/144) and Broxton Surrantt (190) each had a pair of wins or Rock Falls.

Eliott Yaklich came close to winning both his matches. Normally at 150, he wrestled up against Genoa-Kingston at 157, trailed 9-4 in the third period, but got a reverse and a pin for the victory.

Against Winnebago a late takedown kept him from the victory.

“He wrestled good the first one and wanted to wrestle the second one,” Williamson said. “I put him up there and he wrestled his butt off. He did very well.”

Williamson said he was glad the way the team bounced back from Tuesday.

“We had a hiccup earlier this week but we’re getting re-focused,” Williamson said. “We’re going to take the weekend off then next week turn it up and finish sprinting.”