Penn, who improves to 8-6 in dual meets this season, won the first seven matches of the night and eventually claimed victory in eight of ten overall.
The night began with four Statesmen seniors being recognized for their accomplishment in the navy blue and gold. They included Aaron Garza (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Bloom Trail HS), Clint Kelly (Sr., Payete, Idaho, Payette HS), Angelo Love (Sr., Joliet, Ill., Joliet Township HS), and Omar Ortiz (Sr., Fremont, Mich., Muskegon CC).
When competition finally began at 125 pounds, Matthew Chustz (Fr., Manassas Park, Va., Manassas Park HS) got Penn rolling by accepting a forfeit victory, his third of the year. Dustin Howa (Fr., Price, Utah, Carbon HS) then picked up the first of four consecutive decisions for the Statesmen, dropping Adam Graham at 133, 9-5.
In the most-thrilling match of dual, #5 Central Regionally-rated Earl Robinson (So., Davenport, Davenport Central HS) claimed a mini-upset over #4 Mike Billings in four overtimes at 141, 6-4. After neither grappler could score in the first sudden-death period or in either or the next two "riding" periods, Robinson finally finished the match with a takedown near the edge of the mat to pick up the win.
Then came the match the entire crowd came to see with #1 nationally-ranked Cotton facing #2 Brad Stockton at 149. Though both wrestlers were aggressive early, the first period sounded with a scoreless tie. Stockton finally scored the first point with an escape in the second period and held that advantage until the final two minutes of action. But period three was all about the top-ranked wrestler in the land as Cotton tied up the match with an escape and scored the match's only takedown soon after to go up 3-1. Stockton fought out of the clutches of his foe for another escape, but Cotton held on in the waning seconds to claim victory, 3-2.
Brandon Graham (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) matched Cotton as he recorded a third-period takedown to drop David Fuller at 157, 3-2. Nate Stirgus (Jr., Muskegon, Mich., Muskegon CC) then put together the night's most-lobsided victory at 165, picking up six takedowns in pounding Phil Klees for a major decision, 18-7.
Abel Trujillo (Jr., Durham, N.C., Riverside HS) clinched the meet victory with a 7-6 win over Jerrod Burgins at 174. Despite taking an early 6-3 lead, the junior needed his one-minute riding-time point to secure his victory, building Penn's lead to 25-0 at that point.
Jorge Ortiz (Jr., Chicago, Ill., Wilbur Wright HS), at 184, and Jay Thomas (Jr., Alta Loma, Calif., Mt. Sac HS), at 197, both had troubles in their matches and succumbed to defeat as Waldorf narrowed the lead to 25-10.
But Jordan Wall (Fr., Liberty, N.C., Eastern Randolph HS) sent the Penn crowd home happy as he scratched out a 2-0 win over Josh Reis at 285 to conclude the meet's scoring at 28-10.
Next time: Penn travels to Dubuque to compete in the Spartan Classic, Saturday, at 9 a.m.
William Penn vs. Waldorf, 28-10
125--Matthew Chustz (P) won by forfeit (6-0)
133--Dustin Howa (P) won by decision over Adam Graham, 9-5 (9-0)
141--Earl Robinson (P) won by decision over Mike Billings, 6-4 (4OT) (12-0)
149--Darren Cotton (P) won by decision over Brad Stockton, 3-2 (15-0)
157--Brandon Graham (P) won by decision over David Fuller, 3-2 (18-0)
165--Nate Stirgus (P) won by major decision over Phil Klees, 18-7 (22-0)
174--Abel Trujillo (P) won by decision over Jerrod Burgins, 7-6 (25-0)
184--Casey Sullivan (W) won by major decision over Jorge Ortiz, 11-2 (25-4)
197--Jake Head (W) won by fall over Jay Thomas, 4:40 (25-10)
285--Jordan Wall (P) won by decision over Josh Reis, 2-0 (28-10)
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