The GHS wrestling team is now well into its second year of competition and continues to impress with a record of 25-7 in team duals. Four of their seven losses this season have come from teams outside the state of Arkansas. Recent action found the Bulldogs taking on Van Buren and Vian, OK on January 9th, battling Springdale and Springdale Har-Ber on the 14th, before facing both Fort Smith Northside and Southside on the 16th. They also competed in the Bentonville Invitational tournament last Saturday the 18th.
Wrestling has been a major sport in Oklahoma for many years, and against Vian the Bulldogs won eight matches and lost seven. Greenwood’s Jacob Barker (106 lbs.), Anthony Chew (120 lbs.) and Landon Post (152 lbs.) all scored six points each by pinning their opponents. Dustin Williams (126 lbs.) and Taylor Compton (145 lbs.) both won by decision, earning three points each for their team.
Alex Nolen (113 lbs.), Jadrien Flores (182 lbs.), Toby Luangsy (195 lbs.). and Brian Pullen (285 lbs.) all won their matches by forfeit, while Greenwood’s Clay Watts (120 lbs.), Caleb Erskine (132 lbs.), Phillip Barker (138 lbs.), Cameron Palmer (160 lbs.), Michael Dover (170 lbs.). and Gunnar White (220 lbs.) all lost their matches to their Vian opponents. But Greenwood won the overall points total 42-30.
In the same meet, the Bulldogs faired much better against the Pointers of Van Buren, winning 10 of 14 matches. Greenwood’s Jacob Barker, Nolen, Compton, Dover, Flores, and Luangsy all won by pinning their opponents, as did freshman Braxton Horne (138 lbs.) and teammates Trenton Cowan (160 lbs.) and Tanner Philpot (195 lbs.).
Clay Watts earned a victory by forfeiture. GHS wrestlers Dustin Williams, Phillip Barker, Nicholas Gusdorf (152 lbs.), and Brian Pullen all lost their matches against Vian. However, the Bulldogs won easily in overall points, 60-17.
On Tuesday, January 14th, the Bulldogs dominated Springdale High School by a team score of 60-21, winning 10 of the 14 matches, eight of which came by pinning the opponent. Clay Watts, Dustin Williams, Caleb Erskine, Braxton Horne, Taylor Compton, Cameron Palmer, Michael Dover, and Toby Luangsly all won by pinning the opposition to the mat.
Greenwood’s Alex Nolan and Drew Dundee (182 lbs.) both won by forfeit, while Jacob Barker, Trenton Cowan, Tanner Philpot, and Korban Waldemar (285 lbs.) all lost their matches to Springdale. But the Bulldogs found the competition a bit more challenging against the other high school from Springdale.
The Wildcats of Springdale Har-Ber defeated the Bulldogs 45-24, winning 10 of the 14 matches, six by pinning Greenwood wrestlers and winning four matches by decision. The four GHS wrestlers who won over their Har-Ber opponents included Taylor Compton, Bryce Allen (160 lbs.), Jacob Barker, and Caleb Erskine.
Last Thursday Greenwood got together with its two Fort Smith neighbors, Northside and Southside, for a meet easily won by the Bulldogs. Individual scores were not available at press time, but in team competition Greenwood topped the Northside Grizzlies 55-18 and the Southside Rebels 57-24.
Then last Saturday at the Bentonville Invitational, four GHS wrestlers earned top four finishes. Jacob Barker placed 3rd at 106 pounds, Dustin Williams finished 3rd at 120 pounds, Caleb Erskine came in fourth 4th at 126 pounds, and Korban Waldemar also finished 4th in the heavyweight division. The tournament included defending state champions in both classes with Bentonville (7A) and Maumelle (4A). But Little Rock Catholic, the state 7A runner-up last year, took home 1st place honors.