Exciting event is first home meet for Cloverdale in 20 years
The town of Cloverdale was wrestling central on March 15 when the Washington Junior High School team played host to visiting Healdsburg Junior High in an historic dual meet at the fairgrounds, the first such event in over two decades.
Although the meet was won by Healdsburg, 42-30, the score seemed insignificant considering what the event meant in the great scheme of things.
“Our main goal is to bring wrestling back to Cloverdale at both the youth and high school level, Washington coach Alex Duerr said after the meet. “This was a great, great experience for everybody and I know it’s only going to get better moving forward.”
The resurgence in the Eagle’s wrestling program has been no fluke, as Duerr and assistant coach Mitch Williams began the campaign determined to introduce as many kids as possible into the program, eventually topping out with a roster of 22 athletes.
The Eagles have enjoyed a busy winter season, competing in a total of eight dual meets and another three tournaments since mid-January, wrapping up the dual meet schedule with Thursday’s historic home meet.
Cloverdale was up to the challenge against Healdsburg, overcoming several forfeits with a strong overall performance.
“I tell the kids we want to win the meet on the mat, and that’s what we did, winning six matches to Healdsburg’s five,” Duerr noted. “We’re a young team with primarily sixth graders this year, which was tough, but it will be great to see these kids develop in the next two years.”
Healdsburg Junior High 42, Washington Junior High 30 (at Cloverdale)
78 lbs. – Matt Boyrie (W) won by forfeit
83 lbs. – Carson Clark (W) won by 8-2 decision over Austin Collins (H)
88 lbs. – Ayden Herrguth (H) won by fall over Dylan Jones (W)
93 lbs. – Wyatt Duggan (H) won by fall over Riley Hulls (W)
98 lbs. – Jeremiah Michener (H) won by fall over Jaeden Toninato (W)
105 lbs. – Joran Herrguth (H) won by fall over Cole Grell (W)
112 lbs. – Kagen Jones (W) won by 5-4 decision over Mateo Wright (H)
119 lbs. – Double forfeit
126 lbs. – Seth Daunch (W) won by fall over Mario Castro (H)
132 lbs. – Gradin Schweikle (W) won by fall over Michael Michener (H)
138 lbs. – Double forfeit
145 lbs. – Dominic Parmeson (H) won by forfeit
155 lbs. – Matt Carbajal (H) won by forfeit
165 lbs. – Victor Ornate (H) won by fall over John Neustadt (W)
175 lbs. – Ryan Hesz (H) won by forfeit
195 – Bryan Richards (W) won by fall over Marcellino Novella (H)
Heavyweight – Double forfeit
