GRANBY – Facing a bigger, stronger opponent, Granby wrestler Nathan Grandmont turned to his conditioning.
The senior wrestled Northampton’s Keegan Hollister at 160 pounds Wednesday in Granby. He normally competes at 152.
“It was a bit overpowering,” Grandmont said. “He was a good wrestler, but I don’t think both of us were very experienced. It was a game of endurance. I just hoped I could outlast him.”
Grandmont weathered takedowns in both the first and second period before pinning Hollister with 24 seconds on the clock.
“You may not always have the strength to always fight someone a big bigger than you, but the endurance aspect is really heavy,” Grandmont said.
He didn’t escape unscathed, however, chipping several teeth in the match. But he held on for one of the Rams’ four pins, as they bested the Blue Devils 42-21.
Granby benefited from three forfeits, gaining points from Quin Speek at 113 pounds, Jacob Benson at 132 and Abram Speek at 170. No matches were contested at 138, 145 and 182.
Of the eight matches wrestled, the Rams won four and dropped four.
Nathan Benson pinned Northampton’s Robert Koczenski in just 12 seconds at 120 pounds. Granby’s Kirk Kim took down Esteban Rivera with 14 seconds remaining in the second period of their 126-pound bout. At 152 pounds, Joey Deprey put Joshua Castro to the mat in 33 seconds.
“We saw some good things, but of course it’s a young season and we’ve got a lot to work on,” Granby coach Kevin McNeill said.
Northampton picked up its points at the extremes of the weight classes. Heavyweight Quane Randall pinned Braeden McDonald in 49 seconds, and Schuyler Traponi took down Mai Mayer in 3:06 at 220.
At 195, Dillon Green won via an injury default when Joe Duclos injured his knee and couldn’t continue.
Gus Frey won his 106-pound match against Ty Jones 13-8, building a big lead early then sealing the match with a takedown in the third period.