WH’s Dixon competes at USA Wrestling Fargo Nationals
Incoming West Holmes senior wrestler Louden Dixon, left, finished 1-2 at the USA Wrestling-United States Marine Corps Junior Men’s Freestyle Nationals.
Incoming West Holmes senior wrestler Louden Dixon struggled to a 1-2 record at the USA Wrestling-United States Marine Corps Junior Men’s Freestyle Nationals at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota, ending his second junior men’s appearance at the prestigious national tournament.
After a 1-1 effort on Monday, July 14 to open his tournament, Dixon (157 pounds, Team Ohio), the reigning Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II 150-pound state champion, saw his tournament come to a close after a 12-8 decision loss on Tuesday, July 15 to Team Ohio teammate Cooper Driscoll (Aurora) in the consolation round of 64.
Dixon scored first with a single-leg takedown 30 seconds into the match to take a 2-0 lead. With no action, both wrestlers were put back on their feet. Both tried several takedown attempts the remainder of the period, but no points were scored.
The final three-minute period was a back-and-forth affair. Dixon attacked, and Driscoll countered for a takedown, which Dixon then countered into a reversal to retake the lead 4-2 before a stalemate was called. Driscoll came back with a high-crotch takedown to knot the score at 4-4 with 1:45 to go in the match.
Back again on their feet, Dixon missed an ankle pick, and Driscoll countered with a go-behind for the takedown and shoulder exposure to go ahead 8-4. Back on their feet with 1:15 left, Dixon came back with another ankle pick and scored the takedown to get back to within two points at 8-6 as they went out of bounds.
Dixon again used the ankle pick to score a takedown with 40 seconds left to tie the score, but Driscoll held the criteria tiebreaker by scoring first in the period. With no action, the match restarted with 29 seconds left. Driscoll scored a takedown and shoulder exposure with a double-leg takedown to go ahead 12-8 as the wrestlers went out of bounds with 19 seconds showing on the clock.
After a lengthy review, when the Team Ohio coach challenged the call on the mat and the score, the call and score were upheld. Dixon tried to get the takedown, but Driscoll fought off Dixon’s attempts, ending Dixon’s tournament.
Dixon, a round of 12 finisher last year at Fargo, fell into the consolation brackets after suffering a 7-4 decision loss to Declan Koch (Team Wisconsin) in Monday’s championship round of 64. Koch scored an early takedown after a wild scramble, with Dixon countering later with his own takedown. Then the match was a stop-and-go affair as Koch suffered a cut, resulting in several stoppages for blood cleanup during the match. Dixon couldn’t get into a rhythm with all the stoppages and dropped into the wrestle-backs.
Receiving a bye in the opening championship round of 256, Dixon made quick work of Isaac Balden (Team Nevada) to score a 10-0 tech fall victory at 2:17 in the championship round of 128 match. Dixon scored three takedowns and a pair of shoulder exposure points to score the win.