Click to enlarge photos.

MARIETTA - Landon Brooks' pin of Derek Demyanek at 189 pounds was the clincher as Marietta edged Lassiter, 39-31, in a dual match Wednesday night.

Brooks scored the win in 36 seconds, putting Marietta on top, 39-22, with two matches remaining. The win lifted the Blue Devils record in duals to 7-2, while the Trojans fell to 2-3.

"I thought we wrestled hard overall," Marietta coach Jeff Wheeler said. "It seemed like a match or two could have gone either way, so it was close. We knew coming in that we didn't match up well with Lassiter at some weight classes, but we earned enough good points to get the win."

The Trojans' Dillon Dupree scored an 11-4 decision over Matt Fiore at 171 pounds to cut Marietta's lead to 33-22 with three matches left, but Brooks squelched all hopes of a comeback with his pin.

The victory was only the second dual match win for Marietta over Lassiter in 27 years.

"It's always a good rivalry," Wheeler said. "It was a fun night. We had junior varsity and the junior programs competing, so it went well."

The Blue Devils took the lead early and never requlinshed it. Ardon Smith captured a forfeit win at 103 to start things off and Austin Burris followed with a 23-second pin at 112 to put Marietta on top, 12-0.

The teams then traded victories over the next five matches. Lassiter's Scott Marmoll won via pin at 119, before Marietta's David Edwards responded with a pin at 125 to return the Blue Devils' lead to 12 points lead, 18-6.

Acton Pifer's technical-fall victory at 130 pounds briefly closed the gap for Lassiter, only for Nate Shelton to battle for a pin at 135 pounds and give Marietta to a 24-11 advantage.

Caleb Beaver gave the Trojans a much-needed win at 140 pounds. Leading Marietta's Judson Castle, 6-4, heading into the third period, Beaver nearly lost the match before recovering in the final seconds. In the final period, Castle pulled a reversal and then a three-point near-fall to take a 9-6 lead, but Beaver bounced back with his own reversal and three-point near-fall to edge Castle, 11-9.

Harvey Hurst (145) and Stetson Nelson (152) picked up wins by pin and decision, respectively, as Marietta took a 30-14 lead.

Connor Griffin's 16-0 technical fall at 160 pounds and Dupree's decision at 171 narrowed the gap, but Brooks sealed the win.

Eddie Christopher and Zach Walker earned wins for Lassiter in the final two matches. Tied 1-all at 125 pounds, Christopher executed a takedown with 33 seconds left in the third period and held on for a 3-1 victory. Walker pinned his opponent in 2:28 at 285 pounds.

"We knew they would be favored coming in, but we're young and we did a pretty decent job," Lassiter coach Steve Day said. "I thought the score would have been worse. This is the best dual-meet team Marietta has had in a while, and it showed."

Day went on to add that since Marietta won, Wheeler might have to think about his future plans.

"The last time Marietta beat us," Day said with a smile, "Jeff retired. He came back a couple of years later and now he beat us again. So, I guess he'll retire again."

NOTES: Wheeler and Day, the senior-most members of Cobb County's fraternity of wrestling coaches have combined nearly 50 years of experience at their respective schools. Wheeler is in his 20th season as the Blue Devils' coach, while Day is in his 27th year as the Trojans' mentor. ... One of Day's most prolific pupils was in the Lassiter gym on Wednesday. Two-time state champion Cody Runnels, more commonly known now by his stage name of Cody Rhodes as a wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment, cheered on from the sideline.

Comment on this Story

Comments posted below are not edited and do not necessarily represent the views of the Marietta Daily Journal. Comments are reviewed before they are posted.

Please enter the validation words. If you cannot read them, you may obtain a fresh set of words by hitting the button.