Generals pick up victory in opener

Thanks to a pair of critical wins from second-year wrestlers, a young John Stark team picked up a 39-33 win in its season opener with Newport last week in a match that may have painted the perfect picture of a scrappy and resourceful Generals squad.
A roster short on experience and lacking in depth upended the Tigers thanks to key wins from David Wilson at 215 and Ben O’Donal at 285 as well as superlative efforts from Paul Jamilkowski and Greg Jones, both of whom jumped a weight class to fill the card and came away with victories.
“The big thing this year is we are so young in a lot of the lower and middle weights that we really relied on some of the upper weight guys to come through,” Stark coach Bill Walton said, noting the efforts from Wilson and O’Donal, both of whom pinned their opposition. “They are the ones that stepped up and pretty much sealed it for us. If we lose either of those matches we’re pretty much done.”
A John Stark team with only 16 wrestlers available – after carrying 25 for much of last season – was forced to juggle the lineup card and still emerged with the win, despite not placing a wrestler at the 103-pound level (Newport didn’t have anyone in that class, either).
Junior Cody Wilkins pinned his foe at 145 in about four minutes, while Keith Morrill fought through a shoulder injury to win via pin at 152.
Jamilkowski moved up a weight class to 171 for his win, while teammate Derek Burns jumped from 171 to 189 and nearly toppled a wrestler 15 pounds heavier before dropping an 8-6 decision. Greg Jones, moving from 119 to 125, sealed the win with an 8-2 victory in his match.
Ryan Dahl added a win at 112 via forfeit.
“It was an awesome win,” Walton said. “I knew we were probably even going in, and if they could have filled all the weights I don’t think we would have pulled it off. But they were missing the same weights we were. I think [our guys] see they can compete with the middle of the road teams in Division II, and if we can continue to stay healthy that will be key.”