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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor

It was only the second match of Thursday evening's dual, but you could already hear Arkansas City wrestling coach Shawn Silvis vocalizing from the sideline about the necessity for his team to score bonus points.

Coming in, Ark City was only scheduled to have two open weight classes (103 and 145 pounds). But with Kash Biddle (119) not making weight, that left the Bulldogs with three.

Ark City found itself trying to make up those points all evening.

Even with the amount of urgency Silvis stressed, Ark City was only able to score bonus points in four matches. And it also couldn't make up enough points due to three open weight classes in its 43-24 loss to Valley Center.

"We gave them 18 points," said Silvis, whose team fell to 1-5 in duals. Valley Center, which had only one open weight class (171 pounds), improved to 22-3.

By the time Garrett Jones walked onto the mat for his 112-pound match, Ark City already found themselves in a 6-0 deficit because of a forfeit at 103 pounds (open weight).

But you can't blame Jones for his efforts. He was the aggressor throughout his match, scoring a quick takedown on Jake Mertins just 12 seconds in.

Jones then appeared to be on the verge of recording a major decision. He recorded a takedown with 25 seconds remaining in the third period for an eight-point lead, but Mertins broke free of a hold and recorded an escape with one second left. Jones had to settle for an 11-4 decision.

"Garrett wrestled hard," Silvis said.

Ark City kept within striking distance until Jarrett Raney and Jerred Douglas recorded pins at 215 and 285 pounds, respectively, to allow the Hornets to pull away with the dual win.

But it remained close for a while.

Aaron Hoag's 9-0 major decision over Chase Nitcher at 125 pounds brought Ark City to within five points and set up Trison Graham's highly-anticipated match against Seth Mertins .

Graham and Mertins -- ranked first and second in Class 5A, respectively, at 130 pounds -- have built quite a rivalry over the last two seasons. They split four meetings last season. Graham won the most important match -- an 8-6 decision over Mertins in the state semifinals.

The two seniors certainly disappoint on Thursday.

Graham appeared a little shaky to start the match -- and Mertins took advantage. Mertins scored a takedown for a 2-0 lead and an escape for a 3-1 late in the second period.

But Graham settled down and got back in the match. Realizing that time was melting away in the second period, he recorded a takedown with two seconds remaining for a 3-3 tie.

"I knew there wasn't much time, but I didn't know if I would be able to get it or not," Graham said. "I was hoping that I would beat the whistle and I did.

"It was good going into the third period tied. I was glad, I didn't want to be down going into the third period."

Graham carried over the momentum into the third period, and received plenty of support from the Bulldog faithful in his last career home match. Graham created a buzz with a takedown for a four-point lead and held on for an 8-5 decision.

"It pumped me up," Graham said of the crowd. "It made me want to go out there and get some more points."

Graham's win trimmed Valley Center's dual lead to 12-10.

But four straight losses, including a forfeit at 145 pounds, put Ark City in a 31-10 hole -- one which the Bulldogs could never recover from.

Clint Bruce had no problem scoring points during his 189-pound match. Bruce put on a clinic and was more than willing to allow Titus Hopper to record eight escapes. But that set Bruce up for 10 takedowns -- the last ending the match with two seconds remaining. Add a two-point near-fall and an escape to those takedowns, Bruce came away with a 23-8 technical fall.

"I don't know what he started to eat in the morning to make him believe, but he's believing in himself," Silvis said. "This year, he has just come unglued. He's wrestled tough."

Ark City lost three of four junior varsity matches.

Victor Ibarra scored an escape and takedown in the first 1:05 of the third period and held for a 5-3 decision over Blaine Hedges at 285 pounds.

Parker Cameron was pinned in both of his 125-pound matches. Joey Mies pinned Trevor Chaperro 20 seconds into the second period of their 215-pound match.

Varsity results:

103: Dean, VC, wins by forfeit; 112: Jones, AC, Dec J. Mertins, 11-4; 119: Bishop, VC, wins by forfeit; 125: Hoag, AC, MajDec Nitcher, 9-0; 130: Graham, AC, Dec S. Mertins, 8-5; 135: Blair, VC, MajDec Terry, 11-2; 140: Stults, VC, Dec Martin, 6-5; 145: Sallee, VC, wins by forfeit; 152: McGoldrick, VC, pinned Marr, 4:34; 160: Riojas, AC, Dec Volkman, 6-2; 171: Elliott, AC, wins by forfeit; 189: Bruce, AC, T-Fall T. Hopper, 23-8; 215: Raney, VC, pinned Chaperro, 1:31; 285: Douglas, VC, pinned Ibarra, 0:29.