The Packer wrestling team racked up six pins and they needed just about every one of them to offset their three forfeits as they edged out Mankato East 42-36 in Ove Berven Gym Thursday.

“We knew this was going to be close,” Austin head coach Bill Kinney said. “They’re tough in the upper weights and we match up well in the small to middle weights. I just didn’t know if we’d be able to accumulate enough points.”

Austin (2-2 overall, 2-2 Big Nine) won the first seven matches of the night, but it didn’t lock up the dual win until the 160-pound match, where freshman Joe Kamp showed just what he’s made of.

Kamp jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first period against Cody Lorentz, but things almost fell apart when he spent a full minute on his back in the second period as he fell behind 5-4. He finally made a reverse a minute left in the second to pull ahead 6-5 going into the third period.

However, Kamp got in trouble again in the third as he ended up on his back for about 30 seconds before making a reverse and completing a pin to with 23 seconds left in the match.

“Joe must just love to be a hero at home,” Kinney said. “He never quits and that’s all we ask of these kids.”

Kamp knew the dual result may have been riding on his match and he wasn’t about to give up.

“Every time I wanted to quit, I knew I had more fight in me and I was stretching to push myself to the limit where I’d collapse and be done,” Kamp said. “I’ve never gotten to that limit in my life and I didn’t know how much longer I would have to push for.”

Austin also got a big pin from freshman Brandon Cotter at 145, as he pinned Aaron Wall nine seconds into the second period after falling behind 2-0 in the first.

“That was a big pin,” Kinney said. “Aaron Wall is one of their better guys and that was a huge win to get us the extra points.”

Cotter knew the Packers needed pins to get the dual win and he was feeling some pressure.

“I was really nervous headed into my match, because he was way bigger than me and he definitely had some muscle on me,” Cotter said. “ (Going into the second period) I knew he was tired, so I just tried to get him.”

Austin freshman Riley Grinstead showed a lot of heart at 152 against Rusty Hewitt. Grinstead twice looked to be headed for a pin but he was called for two penalties on both occasions and he ended up nearly being pinned as he fell behind 8-4 in the second period. Grinstead used a reverse to pull within 8-7 in the third, but he was taken down and pinned right before the final buzzer.

“It was a shame that didn’t go the other way,” Kinney said.

Austin 42, Mankato West 36

106: Connor Eads (A) 6-1 dec. over Charlie Dundas (M)

113: John Maxfield (A) pinned Noah Lowe (M) (2:47)

120: Erick Power (A) pinned Russell Koenigs (M) (:50)

126: Devon Felten (A) pinned Carter Burroughs (M) (1:39)

132: Brennen Russell (A) pinned Evan Jakes (M) (1:42)

138: Dylan Diekmann (A) 4-2 dec. over Tyler Herwing (M)

145: Brandon Cotter (A) pinned Aaron Wall (M) (2:09)

152: Rusty Hewitt (M) pinned Riley Grinstead (A) (5:59)

160: Joe Kamp (A) pinned Lorentz (M) (5:31)

170: Xavier Dahlgren (M) pinned Mitch Tebay (A) (1:10)

182: Tyler Jakes (M) won by forfeit

195: Thomas Williams (M) pinned Tyler Peterson (A) (:46)

220: Connor Wanderscheid (M) won by forfeit

285: Taylor Garvin (M) won by forfeit