The Austin wrestling team came up one win short of its first Big Nine dual meet of the season when it lost 43-46 to Mankato East (4-8 overall, 1-3 Big NIne) in Ove Berven Gym Tuesday.

Caleb Tapp, Corey Waller and Isaac Arjes all picked up consecutive pins to bring the Packers (2-5 overall, 0-3 Big Nine) within 37-36, but Mankato East heavyweight Logan Swanson ended the dual when he pinned Austin’s Elijah Marks in the first period.

Austin and East each had six pins as a team.

“The guys who came through with pins did a nice job of pushing things and dictating the tempo,” Austin head coach Jer Osgood said. “We’ve got some places to improve on upon and we’ve got to keep the intensity high in practice.”

Arjes, who is a freshman, was able to pick up his pin at 220 pounds. The youngster has had to wrestle against some older wrestlers this season, but he’s been able to stay competitive.

“It doesn’t really matter who you wrestle, as long as you have it in your mind that he’s not any different than you,” Arjes said. “Then you go out and try your hardest and whatever happens happens.”

Austin sophomore Aiden Wilson led 7-0 after the first period and he was able to work his way into a pin early in the second period at 138 pounds. Wilson said Austin’s young roster has had to learn to pick up the work ethic early in the season.

“Recently it’s been a lot better and people have been pushing each other in practice, but we’re still not at that level where [we want to be],” Wilson said.

Before the match, each Austin wrestler recognized a teacher who had helped them out at school. Osgood said it was a good chance for the team to honor teachers.

“[Teachers] showing their support was extremely encouraging and it gave us a little extra motivation to wrestle harder tonight,” Osgood said. “We want to thank the teachers for coming and we appreciate them for all they do.”

RESULTS

106: Gavin Brady (A) pinned Braeden Hendel (M) (3:37); 113: Noah Parish (M) pinned Matt Nelson (A) (1:55); 120: Nick Baier (M) 10-2 maj. dec. over Tad Belden (A); 126: Nick Miller (M) pinned Zach Farrand (A) (2:52); 132: Sheng Haley (M) pinned Josh Belden (A) (:55); 138: Aiden Wilson (A) pinned Wyatt Betz (M) (3:02); 145: Eric Jaster (M) pinned Carter Oldenkamp (A) (4:28); 152: Jacob Jarvis (A) pinned Gavin Mortenson (M) (3:56); 160: Brandon Parish (M) pinned Phillip Zynda (A) (:45); 170: Michael Miller (M) 8-5 dec. over Jackson Hample (A);

182: Caleb Tapp (A) pinned Darnell Hines (M) (1:12); 195: Corey Waller (A) pinned Aaron Gomez (:12); 220: Isaac Arjes (A) pinned Luther Marc (M) (:39); 285: Logan Swanson (M) pinned Elijah Marks (A) (1:11)