J.D. Coffman told his Hickman wrestling team that the key to winning last night’s dual against Moberly would be to record more pins than the Spartans.

Julia Robinson photo

Hickman’s Michael Sivley, top, positions Moberly’s Lee Johnson for a pin in the 135-pound match last night. The Kewpies lost the dual match 49-30 at Hickman gym.

Knowing his team was once again forfeiting three matches, bonus points would be the only way to make up the difference. The Kewpies (1-2) recorded pins at 112, 125, 135 and 152 pounds but also gave up four falls to go along with the three forfeits in a 49-30 loss to the Class 2 Spartans.

"We just don’t have that much depth or the kids in the room to push one another and get these kids to go back-to-back matches," Coffman said.

After Hickman’s Drae Cox pinned Chip Dale in the second period at 152 pounds, Moberly won the next six matches.

In the only match to be won by a decision, Moberly’s Michael Kitchen, who placed sixth at the state tournament last year, beat Matt McHugh 7-3 at 160 pounds. Moberly’s Weston Keleher, who placed fifth last year, pinned Ian Reed late in the third period at 171 pounds. Glen Campbell then pinned Hickman’s Richard Kennedy in 3:18, which was followed by Hickman’s three forfeits.

"Where I felt really comfortable was after the 189 match," Moberly Coach Sam Richardson said. "After that, I ask myself, ‘What do I have left?’ "

Richardson surely liked what he had left. After the forfeits, Moberly led 33-6 and still had two of its better wrestlers - Skyler Kitchen (119) and Jason Tutt (140) - waiting to wrestle.

Started by Vince Pescaglia’s pin of Scott Marchant at 112 pounds, Hickman won four of the next five matches. After Kitchen’s pin of Rick Coolbaugh, Kit Moore (125) and Michael Sivley (135) sandwiched pins around Tyler Kyle’s win by forfeit at 130 pounds to bring Hickman within 39-30.

"Kit Moore and Michael Sivley and Tyler Kyle are three encouraging wrestlers right now," Coffman said. "I hope to get them pushed on and have a good finish to the season. It’s encouraging to see them pin some people."

But with two matches remaining, Tutt, who finished sixth at the state tournament two years ago, put an end to Hickman’s rally when he pinned Derek Staley in 3:11, which gave Moberly a 45-30 lead with only one match remaining.

Considering how the two teams matched up - no state qualifiers faced each other - Coffman wasn’t surprised the match was high-scoring. He was disappointed the Moberly lead got so big so fast when Hickman gave up the early pins. But when a team is forced to forfeit three matches because of injuries and a lack of depth, as Hickman has in its last two duals, it’s going to have to dig out of big holes.

"It’s tough because you have to pin three matches and win the majority of the rest of the matches to win," Pescaglia said. "You really have to get in there and wrestle tough. It’s been really hard this year."

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