By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
Any time you start a wrestling dual meet trailing 36-0 after six matches, it's awfully tough to win.
That was the situation for the NRHEG Panthers last Thursday as they hosted Westfield.
While the Panthers wrestled well in the middle weights, a miraculous comeback was not in the cards as the visitors prevailed 48-30 in New Richland.
"The timing of this dual was tough for both teams," said NRHEG coach Shawn Larson. "I do not believe that either team was at full strength, and that could make things definitely different. They have a good team and they came over with a lot of intensity, and deserved the win."
The Razorbacks pinned Charlie Tufte at 107 pounds and Dakota Schlaak at 114. The Panthers forfeited at 121 and 127 and, after a loss by fall for Parker Bunn at 133, NRHEG forfeited again at 139.
That's when the Panthers made it interesting - for a while anyway.
Deven Parpart scored a 42-second fall at 145, Reese Routh got a first-period fall at 152, Harbor Cromwell got a forfeit at 160, and Ryan Schlaak and George Roesler took first-period pins at 172 and 189, respectively, pulling the Panthers within 36-30.
The Razorbacks responded by pinning Cole Hutchens at 215 and Jace Ihrke at 285.
"We wrestled a decent match, although it will be better for us if we can get everyone competing at the same time," said Larson. "It is hard to win when there are so many forfeits."
The Panthers are home again Thursday, Feb. 1 with a triangular against WEM/JWP and St. Clair/Mankato Loyola. Wrestling starts at 5 p.m.