The rivalry between the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva and United South Central wrestling teams lived up to expectations as the Panthers edged USC 38-29 in a closely contested dual that included some big upsets.

The surprising match of the night was at 152 pounds when USC’s Dylan Thisius won by a decision in two overtimes over No. 7-ranked Colton Schlaak. Thisius entered the dual unranked, but scored a takedown in the third period to force overtime. In the second overtime Thisius got an escape and a takedown to pull off a 6-3 win that extended USC lead to 29-16.

After the Rebels forfeited at 160, Tim Bartness drew NRHEG to within three points with his 18-9 major decision victory over USC’s Jake Herman.

Ethan Hagen rolled the momentum gained from the win into another Panther victory with his 22-second pin of Cole Wenzel at 189.

David Lindell gave NRHEG some breathing room with a hard-fought 11-7 win over A.J. Dreyer at 215.

Seth Petranek, a ninth-grader, sealed the victory for the Panthers with a 4-2 decision against Tony Willette at heavyweight.

“Good fortune really smiled on us tonight,” NHREG head coach Paul Cyr said. “I am just happy to come away with a win.”

After coming up short against USC for the past few years this one must have felt sweet for the Panthers.

Prior to the dual, Rebels head coach Steven Wood thought his team would surprise a few people, the team probably surprised Wood Thursday night.

“We played out of our mind tonight,” Wood said. “I am really happy with the guys and it is only going to get better.”

USC started strong and built a 20-6 lead early after Dustin Dylla pinned Josh Dalbec at 130.

Slowly, NRHEG worked its way back into the dual, first with Brandon LeBlanc at 135. LeBlanc got a huge victory with his major decision over Thane O’Rourke. LeBlanc was up 5-1 entering the third period and got three takedowns in the third to earn bonus points for the Panthers. The win drew the match to 20-10.

With Matthew Wood out because of illness at 140 the Rebels forfeited and clung to a 20-16 lead.

Preston Staloch gave USC a 26-16 lead with his pin of Brandon Espe at 145, but the Rebels wouldn’t be able to hold off a hard-charging NRHEG squad as the Panthers would take the dual in the upper weights, despite missing standout Aaron Haggerty at 285.

“We have a chance to be a halfway decent team,” Cyr said. “We just need to get some kids back from injury and ineligibility.”

NRHEG 38, USC 29

103 — Jay Staloch (USC) tech. fall Tyler Logan (NRHEG) 17-0, 112 — David Lassahn (NHREG) pinned Seth Olson (USC) 5:58, 119 — Brady Thisius (USC) dec. Dustin Esplan (NRHEG) 8-6, 125 — Zach Wigern (USC) pinned Dillon Parpart (NHREG) 1:12, 130 — Dustin Dylla (USC) pinned Josh Dalbec (NRHEG) 1:25, 135 — Brandon LeBlanc (NRHEG) maj. dec. Thane O’ Rourke (USC) 11-3, 140 — Matt Dahle (NRHEG) won by forfeit, 145 — Preston Staloch (USC) pinned Brandon Espe (NRHEG) 4:58, 152 — Dylan Thisius (USC) dec. Colton Schlaak (NRHEG) 6-3 OT, 160 — Matt Tomsche (NRHEG) won by forfeit, 171 — Tim Bartness (NRHEG) maj. dec. Jake Herman (USC) 18-9, 189 — Ethan Hagen (NRHEG) pinned Cole Wetzel (USC) :22, 215 — David Lindell (NRHEG) dec. A.J. Dreyer (USC) 11-7, 285 — Seth Petranek (NRHEG) dec. Tony Willette (USC) 4-2