The Cardinals opened the their young wrestling season with a 1-1 team record after hosting the Joplin Eagles and Carl Junction Bulldogs in dual action on Thursday evening at the Webb City High School gymnasium.

In the first dual Joplin struck first in the 135 lb. weight class with a 6 point fall over Tim Bowers. The Cardinals struck back quickly at 140 lbs when the Cardinals Sam Navarro stuck the Eagles Billy Nguyen late in the match. Cody Jolly (112 lbs.), Brayden Goff (119 lbs.), Landon Baker (130 lbs.), Tyler Spencer(152 lbs.) and Nick Lovejoy (189 lbs.) all recorded points by means of a fall for the Cardinals. The Eagles scored team points against Webb City with a 4-3 decision over Noah Hembree and by pin over Alex Lane, Alec Harmell, Brandon Shultz, Tony Carranco and Aaron Gossard in the remaining weight classes.  Joplin finished the night 3 points stronger than the Cardinals with a team score of 39-36.

The second contest of the evening found the Cardinals down early against the Carl Junction Bulldogs after Sam Navarro (140 Lbs.) scored a fall over Zach Wingo in the opening match. The Bulldogs then scored four straight first period pins to take a commanding 24-6 lead. To show the determination of a young wrestling squad the Cardinals then turned things around by scoring 18 straight points by the likes of Nick Lovejoy (189 lbs.), Tony Carronco (215 lbs.) and Aaron Gossard (Hwt.) . Webb City was open in the 103 lb. weight class again giving Carl Junction the narrow lead. The Cardinals then only lost oneof the remaining matches and recorded falls by Cody Jolly (112 lbs.), Landon Baker (130 lbs.) and TimBowers (135 lbs.) to overtake the Bulldogs for their first team win of the season 45-36.

The Bulldogs (42) matched up well against the Joplin Eagles (27) to round out the three team event.