The  Dragons lost to visitor WDM Valley Thursday night 34-31. Johnston had three pins by seniors Henry Pohlmeyer (132) and Shane Vaughn (138), as well as junior Anthony Piagentini (160).

“It was just a competitive meet,” head coach Aaron Tecklenburg said. “We had our chances to put them away, to execute, and we didn’t. My biggest take-away is what can we learn from it, what can we take away from the situation.”

The Tigers won eight of the fourteen matches, picking up close wins from Grant Stotts against junior Alec Ksiazek at 120 pounds, Mason Barr against junior Austin Garcia at 152 pounds and Spencer Hutchinson against freshman Zach Price at 106 pounds.

Price’s match was controversial due to the fact that the referees took away the two point reversal Price picked up early in the match. They claimed he did not have enough control over Hutchinson to fully gain the points.

Valley won the first two matches at 120 and 126 pounds by decision before Johnston took the lead with the pins from Pohlmeyer and Vaughn.

“(Vaughn’s match) was just exciting,” Tecklenburg said. “It was a good example of if you continue you to wrestle, good things will happen.”

Then Valley tipped the meet back in their favor with a major decision for Jack Koethe against freshman Colin Hushagen at 145 pounds.

The Dragons are back at it in Urbandale this weekend. “We just have to get back to work,” Tecklenburg said. “We know we’re a quality team, but it takes 14 guys with 14 great efforts.”