The Predicament Spotlight Match

125 Pounds - Class 1A #1 Jake Demmon (Eddyville-Blakesburg)
vs. Class 1A #7 Dallas Houchins (Interstate 35)
vs. Wes Prill (Pleasantville)

Jan 8, 2009 at Osceola
Photos and text by Matt Pfiffner

The 125-pound weight class just may be the toughest in Class 1A. Three of the best were on display Jan. 8 in Osceola when Eddyville-Blakesburg, Interstate 35 and Pleasantville were among the teams at Clarke for a five-team dual meet. Top-ranked Jake Demmon of E-B took care of No. 7 Dallas Houchins of I-35 and Wes Prill of Pleasantville, while Prill scored an upset over Houchins.

Prill vs. Houchins
1st Period: Houchins started strong with a pair of early takedowns, but Prill scored a late takedown to knot the score at 4-4.
2nd Period: Prill took down and quickly escaped and then scored another takedown for a 7-4 lead. Houchins earned a reversal and a late Prill escape gave the Trojan an 8-6 lead.
3rd Period: Houchins started down and the tough-riding Prill sent the Roadrunner to his back for three nearfall points to go up 11-6. Houchins earned his second reversal of the match and cut Prill, but could not score a big move in the closing seconds, as Prill earned the 12-8 win.
Comments from Prill
On the win: "It's a big one. I had a couple losses the first half of the season and had to bounce back. I did it at the right time against the right guy."
On leading late: "I was confident, but I didn't want to get too confident. I couldn't get sloppy, because he's a good kid. I just had to work my stuff and wrestle my tempo."

Demmon vs. Prill
1st Period: Demmon, the State champ at 119 last season, struck first with a takedown. He then used a cradle to earn a pair of nearfall points for a 4-0 lead.
2nd Period: Prill started down in the second period and Demmon quickly sent him to his back again for a 7-0 lead. The Trojan got on the board with an escape, but Demmon earned another takedown for a commanding 9-1 lead.
3rd Period: Demmon earned a reversal to go up 11-1, but quickly gave the reversal right back. A Demmon escape provided the final score of 12-3 for the top-ranked Rocket.

Demmon vs. Houchins
1st Period: For the second time, Houchins started a match on the offensive. He hit a strong double leg for a takedown 20 seconds into the match. He rode Demmon tough the entire period for a 2-0 lead. He nearly earned back points on one or two occasions, but could not hold Demmon.
2nd Period: Houchins picked neutral, but Demmon was the one who earned a takedown to knot the score at 2-2. He returned the favor and rode Houchins the rest of the period.
3rd Period: It was anyone's match heading into the third, but Demmon quickly took control with an escape and takedown. He scored a pair of late nearfall points for a 7-2 victory.
Comments from Demmon
On the match: "It shows me what I need to work on. I have a lot to work on. But he was a good wrestler."
On falling behind in the first period: "I wasn't in the game yet and had to turn it up."
On being a returning State champ: "You have the target on your back. Nobody likes to lose and everyone is out there to beat me. It makes it more of a challenge. It motivates you. I won one, let's prove it again."

Wes Prill of Pleasantville (orange) won 12-8 over #7 Dallas Houchins of Interstate 35.