The Predicament Spotlight Match

 

130 Pounds - Carter Oliver (Woodbine)
vs.
Seth Epling (Woodbury Central)

Semifinal Match
Dec. 13, 2008 at Riverside (Oakland) Invitational
Photos and text by Matt Pfiffner

This was a wild semifinal bout between two of the top 130-pounders in Class 1A. Oliver, ranked 10th at the time, jumped out to a fast start, but Epling sent Oliver to his back twice for a thrilling 12-10 victory.

1st Period:  Oliver used a neck wrench early in the period to nearly pin Epling, but he had to settle for a quick 5-0 lead. Epling escaped and took Oliver down to his back for a takedown and pair of near fall points to knot the bout at 5-5. An escape with one second left on the clock gave Oliver a 6-5 lead.

2nd Period: Epling chose down and earned a reversal to take a 7-6 lead. Oliver escaped later in the period to send the two wrestlers into the third period deadlock at 7-7.

3rd Period: Oliver earned a quick escape to re-gain the lead at 8-7. Epling used a neck wrench of his own to take Oliver down to his back for a five count and a 12-10 lead. Oliver scored a reversal with 25 seconds left in the match to make it 12-10, but could not turn Epling in the closing seconds.

Seth Epling of Woodbury Central (blue) won 12-10 over Carter Oliver of Woodbine.