TIGERS PIN 'L' ON MULES; TIGERS STORM TO 51-14 WIN

Cape Central's wrestling lineup ripped through the Poplar Bluff Mules much like the thunderstorms bombarded Southeast Missouri Thursday night.

The Mules (4-3) took one hit after another and the Tigers (3-2) walked away from Tiger Field House with an impressive 51-14 victory.

Five Tiger wrestlers won by pin.

Cape Central's Hoss Hodges (103 pounds) and Paul Miller (112) began the meet with such dominance, that if the trend continued, the event would've been over within minutes.

Hodges pinned Kyle Teague 56 seconds into the match and Miller pinned his opponent, R.W. Harty, just 47 seconds into his bout.

The most dramatic match of the evening came at 145 pounds when Cape Central's Nick Harter defeated Dustin Berry 13-8 in overtime with a take down.

"Outstanding match," said Central coach Drew Liledahl of Harter's win.

Harter credited his victory to conditioning.

"Our coach always makes sure we're ready to go," said Harter. "We were all prepared better than they were. He makes sure that we're conditioned enough so if we ever get in that position we can (win)."

Although the Tigers only lost three matches, with one coming by forfeit at 130 pounds, Central didn't quite live up to Liledahl's expectations.

"I knew coming into the match that we had a chance to shut them out," Liledahl said. "That's what we were trying to do -- dominate this match. My 130-pounder was ineligible to wrestle so that threw a monkey wrench into our plans. But I thought we wrestled hard up and down the lineup."

Also winning by pin for Cape Central were Keith Benton (125) in 4:00, Leeland Woelk (135) in 3:57 and Craig Knoth (heavyweight) in 3:17.

Poplar Bluff coach David Sievers was disappointed with his team's effort.

"Cape's whole line up impressed me," Sievers said. "Drew's really got them going. They basically just took it to us. We just weren't ready. As far as lack of heart, this was as bad as I've seen our guys wrestle all year. We forgot to get off the bus tonight."

The Mules' only wins other than a forfeit came at 160 pounds when John Robinson defeated Shannon Mungle 16-3, and at 171 when Derek Vaughn defeated O.J. Turner 11-1.

"Vaughn has got very little talent but he's got the heart the size of Texas," Sievers said. "As far as physicalness, O.J. is twice the kid he is. But he refused to quit. I've got to get all my kids to get that kind of attitude and work ethic."

Meet results

103 -- Hoss Hodges (C) pins Kyle Teague, :56.

112 -- Paul Miller (C) pins R.W. Harty, :47.

119 -- Kevin Allen (C) def. Tyler Berry, 11-4.

125 -- Keith Benton (C) pins Billy Moore, 4:00.

130 -- Jeff Kanell (P) wins by forfeit.

135 -- Leeland Woelk (C) pins Josh Peterson, 3:57.

140 -- Josh Goodrich (C) def. Tony Cookson, 10-7.

145 -- Nick Harter (C) def. Dustin Berry 13-8, OT.

152 -- Jamell Austin (C) def. Justin Eastin, 18-11.

160 -- John Robinson (P) def. Shannon Mungle, 16-3.

171 -- Derek Vaughn (P) def. O.J. Turner, 11-1.

189 -- Matt Strickland (C) forfeit.

215 -- Alex Elfrink (C) def. Daniel Larking, 8-5.

Hwt -- Craig Knoth (C) pins Aaron Collins, 3:17.