Published: January 09, 2007 11:21 pm         

Dodds gets first win

Until a month ago, Clint Dodds hadn’t wrestled since he was in the fifth grade.

The Enid senior made up for lost time Tuesday as he pinned Matt Lovelace in 32 seconds for his first win of the season as the Plainsmen beat injury-ridden Woodward 59-18 at Mark Price Arena.

The Boomers were missing six starters because of either injuries or illness, including Watonga Tournament champion Zac White and Joey Miller, the first girl to place at the state tournament and a national girls champion.

Dodds, wrestling at 171 pounds, took Lovelace down in 19 seconds and soon put him on his back. That was Dodds’ first fall since he got second place in a tournament as a fifth-grader.

“I just wanted to get it done quick,’’ Dodds said. “I was going for a pin all the way.’’

Dodds reported to practice Dec. 11 after helping lead Enid to the Class 6A state championship football game as a starting linebacker. He decided to wrestle to get in better shape for baseball.

The win raised his record to 1-3.

“Things are getting better as we go,’’ Dodds said. “At the beginning, I was too much out of shape. I’m in pretty good shape now and I’m taking a run at it. Wrestling shape is totally different than football or baseball shape.’’

The Plainsmen also got falls from 189-pounder Lane Singer, who flattened Joe Sampson in 1:11 despite moving up two weights, and heavyweight Justin Glenn, who stopped John O’Dell in 5:52.

Shane Perosi won by an injury default over Derek Branson at 215.

The Plainsmen got major decisions from Brayden Daniels, who beat Daniel Flores 11-1 at 152, and Dakota Druse, who beat Kyle Shannon 15-6 at 160. J.B. Stuart was Enid’s other contested winner, beating Carlos Aguirre 3-1 at 135.

Woodward got falls from Jake Ruble at 125, Caleb Lewis at 130 and Ramon Marin at 140 but could not overcome forfeits at 103, 112, 119 and 145.

White was injured at the Watonga Tournament. Miller was sent home from school in the morning because of illness.

“We gave them 30 points before it even started,’’ said Woodward coach Greg Johnson. “Derek Branson didn’t have any business finishing. He was mad at me because I didn’t let him finish. Joey tried to go to school today because she wanted to wrestle, but the doctors wouldn’t let her.’’

The forfeits, Enid coach Shane Kerr said, did take some pressure off his younger wrestlers. He especially was pleased with Dodds and Singer.

“We got our bonus points where we needed to,’’ Kerr said. “Clint has been working hard in the room and he went out and got a good fall. For Lane Singer to bump up for 160 to 189 and get a fall, that’s huge.’’

Kerr said he felt for the Boomers.

“Coach Johnson has them in shape, but any time you have that many starters out, it’s makes it tough,’’ Kerr said. “That can be an 18-point swing.’’

Freshman 119-pounder Clinton Barker was prepared to wrestle Miller after making weight. Kerr had said Monday Barker might have trouble making the weight.

“We would have wrestled her — maybe,’’ Kerr said.

The Plainsmen will travel to Watonga Thursday and Blackwell Friday before going to the Mid-State Conference Tournament Saturday at Midwest City.