Top-ranked Alburnett edges Lisbon, 36-33

TROY MILLS - Alburnett opened the season with a trial by fire.

The Pirates avoided being burned from the heated competition with a rival.

Austin Hoyle managed a one-point decision in the final match, helping Class 1A top-ranked Alburnett overcome No. 6 Lisbon, 36-33, last night in a Tri-Rivers Conference double dual hosted by North-Linn.

'It was fun, I guess, when it was over,” Alburnett Coach Kane Thompson said with a laugh. 'You can tell a lot after that first meet. It showed us we have to make some adjustments, but we fought hard against a team that was ready to scrap.”

The teams were tied at 33 apiece, entering the final match that featured two state qualifiers. Just like the dual, the last bout wasn't decided until the very end.

Hoyle edged Jordan Woodward, who is ranked seventh at 170 and bumped up to 182, for the team. Hoyle used a late reversal for an 8-7 victory.

'I sat there, took a deep breath before the match and told myself to calm down,” Hoyle said. 'I knew if I went in the match all crazy in my mind I'd be flying all over the place, out of control, I wouldn't be able to do it. Thankfully, I did.”

Hoyle avenged a loss to Woodward in last year's conference finals, which almost led to a Lisbon win. He was determined to make amends. He dry-heaved after the match, leaving his energy on the mat for the win.

'That match was one of my favorite feelings next to winning a match at state last year,” Hoyle said. 'It was the worst feeling in the world last year when I lost and coming back to beat that kid made me feel proud.”

Thompson invoked a little strategy that helped the Pirates come out on top. He bumped up his three highest ranked wrestlers and all came away with wins.

The move prevented a rematch between two-time state champions Carter Happel of Lisbon and Hunter Washburn of Alburnett.

Happel, ranked first at 132 but wrestling 138 for the team, recorded a fall in 1:41 for his 100th career win. He is 100-1 overall.

Washburn, ranked second at 138, moved up to 145 and won by decision. Conner Shulista, ranked No. 2 at 145, won by fall at a weight higher. State runner-up Bryce Paul, ranked second at 152, posted a decision at 160, putting the Pirates up, 33-27, with two matches left.

Thompson said he told his team earlier that he was going to do whatever he needed to help the team win.

'It's not about individuals,” Thompson said. 'It's about getting the best matchups to win the dual. We give up three forfeits, so now you have to start making some moves to try to win the dual.”

Alburnett's Ben Moyer finished 2-0 with two falls for Alburnett (2-0). The Pirates capped the night with a 60-21 win over North-Linn

Lisbon (4-1) received pins from state champion Nick Williams at 126. Dakota O'Connor opened the dual with a 3-0 win at 195 for the Lions, who rebounded to beat the Lynx, 65-13.

North-Linn's second-ranked Brock Henderson (113) and No. 9 heavyweight Kyler Schott were 2-0.

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com