The Austin wrestlers were a little shorthanded as they dropped a 48-24 dual to Mankato East in Ove Berven Gym Friday.

The Packers forfeited four matches due to a mixture of matchups and illnesses.

“We have good wrestlers, we just don’t have enough good healthy wrestlers,” Austin head coach Bill Kinney said. “I thought our kids who did wrestle gave a good effort.”

Devon Felten, a sophomore 103 pounder, and Brennen Russell, a sophomore 112-pounder, each picked up first period pins to get it started. Felten took down Colton Clapper of Mankato East early on and pinned him 46 seconds into the match.

“I just went out there and tried to as best as I could,” said Felten, who is now 16-4 on the season. “I’m trying to learn more moves and I know a lot more about other wrestlers’ technique (having wrestled 103 for two years).”

Austin junior Christian Buttshaw picked up an aggressive win at 189 pounds for the Packers. Buttshaw was leading 4-2 when he finally got Nate Houle of Mankato East in a headlock and ended the match with a second period pin.

“I was waiting for it, and I crawled on top of him for the pin,” said Buttshaw, who is in his first year on varsity. “I’ve been losing a lot of matches and I’m trying to hang in there. It’s pretty awesome (to get a pin).”

Besides Buttshaw, Zach Nelson, another varsity rookie, picked up a 10-5 win at 171 pounds. Nelson trailed 5-4 after allowing a takedown in the second period, but he came through with a takedown and a penalty point to go up 7-5. Nelson almost got a pin at the third period buzzer, but he had to settle for a near-fall with three seconds left.

Kinney was pleased with what he saw from Nelson, a sophomore, and Buttshaw.

“It was really good for them,” he said. “They haven’t had a lot of success this season, but I like our chances when they’re against kids with similar age and experience level. We just don’t get into that situation very often, usually we’re giving up a lot of experience.”

Erick Power led his match at 119 by a score of 4-0 early on but he couldn’t seal the deal as he allowed a near fall in the third period to lose 8-5.

“Erick wrestled well and he had a nice shot right on the edge,” Kinney said. “His opponent (Ricardo Fletcher) is one of their better wrestlers.”

AUSTIN RESULTS

103: Devon Felten (A) pinned Colton Clapper (M) (:46)

112: Brennen Russell (A) pinned Vince Colbrunn (M) (1:37)

119: Ricardo Fletcher (M) 8-5 dec. over Erick Power (A)

125: Brandon Cotter (A) 14-9 dec. over Leon Fletcher (M)

130: Cole Moesher (M) won by forfeit

135: Keanu Rodriguez (M) 9-5 dec. over Logan Finnegan (A)

140: Dalton Nelson (M) pinned Pedro Ceballos (A) (1:40)

145: Nate Knutson (M) won by forfeit

152: Cody Lorentz (M) won by forfeit

160: Nick Makovsky (M) pinned Mitch Tebay (A) (3:19)

171: Zach Nelson (A) 10-5 dec. over Josh Mettler (M)

189: Christian Buttshaw (A) pinned Nate Houle (M) (2:52)

215: Lincoln Benzkofer (M) 5-1 dec. over Thomas Herrera

Hwt: East won by forfeit