By Mark Schmerling

Phillip Miller was right.

Well before the holiday break, Polk’s wrestling coach predicted that with all or most of his varsity wrestling team able to compete in the first dual meet after the break, the Wolverines would begin to make some noise in Western Highlands Conference action.

Possibly the most resounding noise came in the last bout of Tuesday’s meet against Avery County, when the Wolverines saved the best for last – the last bout against the Vikings. There, at 220 pounds, Donovan Lloyd sent the Polk faithful erupting with cheers, as he reversed and pinned his Avery opponent.

With the Wolverines holding a 33-30 lead going into that match, only a pin or major or superior decision would insure a Polk win.

Lloyd’s pin gave Polk a 39-30 victory.

Polk is now 10-12 overall, but 1-0 in the important conference race.

So, what if Rosman, the other team in the double-dual meet, eventually edged the Wolverines, 45-33 (Between Polk’s two meetings, Rosman defeated Avery)?

“We put all our eggs in the first match,” Miller remarked. “It was about going 1-0 in the conference.”

Big winners for Polk included Jerry Cox, who pinned both his opponents at 182 pounds;  Anthony Marino, who won an 8-4 decision against a considerably larger Avery opponent, after Marino got bumped up from his regular 152-pound slot, to 160, and then pinned his Rosman opponent; Chandler Patrick, who decisioned both his opponents; Chase Emory with forfeit win against Avery, and pin over his Rosman man; and Dustin Calvert with decision win and pin at 145.

Cox’s bout against his Rosman man was punctuated by one technical point awarded to him (boosting his lead from 3-1 to 4-1), when the Viking’s coach, who felt that his wrestler should have received an escape point, disputed what he felt was a non-call by the official. That cost Avery’s man one point, but Cox made that a moot point when he boosted his lead, and then scored a pin.

On Friday, Jan. 9, the Wolverines travel to Burnsville, to battle the Cougars of Mountain Heritage, as well as defending state champion Mitchell, this season’s top-ranked team as well.

“We’ll have our hands full in that one,” Miller said of the meet against the Mountaineers. “They’re loaded.” He expects better success against the Cougars. Next up is a dual meet at Owen on Wednesday, Jan. 14.