Desert Vista got thumped back in December when it hooked up in a dual meet with Red Mountain.
That didn't faze the Thunder Tuesday night as they reversed a lopsided loss and won when it really counted by posting a 31-22 victory over the host Mountain Lions in the quarterfinals of the 5A Division I state team wrestling tournament.
A streak of three successive wins and six of seven triumphs in the middle portion of the match lifted Desert Vista, the No. 6 seed, to a slot opposite No. 2 seed Mesa in the semifinals tonight at 6 at Mountain View High School. The championship match follows at 8 p.m. between the Desert Vista-Mesa winner and the Mountain View-Highland winner.
"We made a few lineup changes and made the kids aware of it," Desert Vista coach Todd Ford said. "When we wrestled them in December I think they won the first three matches by pin (Red Mountain won the match 45-16) and just kind of blew us out of the water. We didn't have a couple kids then and moved a couple around today."
After five matches Tuesday night Red Mountain led 10-7.
But then Desert Vista’s Joey Donofrio, Mark Franklin and Mike Doyle each moved up a class and posted victories. Donofrio's win was by pin and Franklin and Doyle won by decision. The Thunder led 19-10 at that point.
After Red Mountain broke the three-match losing streak to pull within 19-13, Jack Porter, Jimmy Cook and Chris Button posted successive wins. Button even though he trailed 8-6 when his match with Levi Jones was halted. Jones was disqualified for a fourth penalty point.
That ended any hope Red Mountain had of rallying.
