The Winnetonka boys wrestling team was missing some wrestlers due to illnesses.
The Griffins also graduated four seniors from last season’s 2024-25 team, so they had to use a good amount of newcomers to varsity wrestling in Tuesday’s Suburban Blue Division matchup with Raytown South on the road.
Some of Winnetonka’s first-year varsity wrestlers had strong showings against the Cardinals as the Griffins won three out of four contested matches against a small Cardinal lineup in a 69-6 victory.
“We have a lot of kids out sick right now, including my state qualifier, Landon Sherman,” Winnetonka head coach Timothy Lowry said. “It was good to get some wins from some of our junior varsity guys.”
Joseph Dimbiri (190 pounds) is only in his second season wrestling and this one is his first at the varsity level. He was locked in a barburner with South’s Santiago-LeGrotte, who led for most of the match. With about 10 seconds left, Dimibri came up clutch and got a reversal and a two-point near fall before time expired to win 15-13.
“I thought I was going to lose but I was able to win the last part of the match,” Dimibri said. “When I won, I celebrated because I didn’t think I was going to win. I tried for my double legs but he kept throwing me back.”
Dimibri’s performance was preceded by a victory from AJ Nunez (175). He was taken down early in his match and went down 3-2 going into the second period. He started in the top position and used an armbar to get the turn and pin in 3:04 against Colin Crum.
“I have been working on the armbar with my teammate Jacob Elfritz,” Nunez said. “I used a knee block then he went flat, so I reached underneath, got his wrist and ran it and that’s how I got (the pin).
“I had a good escape. This is my first year wrestling, so I think I did pretty good.”
Dallas Mackie (138) picked up a big win for the Griffins, too. He had two takedowns and a near fall against Alex Diaz before using a chicken wing to set up his pin at 3:46.
“He’s a super athlete and he’s a good swimmer, too,” Lowry said of Mackie. “He came in good shape.”
Preston Baker (106), Aaron Roberts (113), Braiden Loyd (120), Tyrre Broom (132), Maddox Almendarez (144), James Edmiston (157), Israel Caballero (215) and Laawk Ali (285) all won by forfeit for Winnetonka.
For Raytown South, Julius Vajada (150) earned his team’s lone win after he got a quick takedown and used a cradle to pin Kayden Bowie in 1:21.
“He’s very coachable, which has been huge,” South first-year head coach Cole Reeves said of Vajada. “He has jumped light years ahead from where we started to where we are now.”
Girls
On the girls side, Winnetonka and Raytown South split a pair of contested matches, but the Cardinals had multiple open spots, which helped the Griffins score 42 points off forfeits in a 46-6 victory.
Alex Quattlebaum (190) of Winnetonka used four takedowns to win her match with Aisatu Jallow 12-4.
Raytown South’s Alexis Love (140) used a throw to set up her 45-second pin in a victory over Alana Severado.
Annabelle Dunlop (115), Divine Dany (120), Ariana Woods (125), Jorgie Johnson (130), Knyla’lee Camareno (135), Mia Vazquez (145) and Gabrielle Sontag (155) all won by forfeit for the Griffins.