By Shannon Heaton

For the Herald

CLINTON — Clint Long had a feeling this might happen.

His young Clinton wrestling team ran into some powerful opposition in the River Kings’ season-opening double dual Thursday night at Yourd Gym, losing to a pair of Western Big 6 Conference teams.

The River Kings opened against East Moline United Township, dropping a 51-22 dual to the Panthers, and then fell to the two-time defending Western Big 6 champions, Moline, by a 52-30 decision.

“It (the night) kind of went as I expected. We knew it wouldn’t be easy,” Long said of facing the two Illinois schools as a season-opener. “I wish we would have wrestled better, but they had already had several meets, and for us it was our first time out.

“For some guys, it was their first time ever. They had no idea what to expect.”

East Moline brought the hammer right away in the double dual, which started at 140 pounds. Heading into the 285-pound match, the River Kings found themselves trailing, 39-0, but Boomer Brunson’s third-period fall finally jump-started the Clinton offense.

From there, Ronald Genco III got a first-period fall at 119 and Sean McDonnell took a solid 17-6 major-decision victory at 135. Jessen Namer won by forfeit at 103 to complete Clinton’s scoring.

Clinton started behind the eight-ball quickly in the dual against Moline, as well, dropping the first five weights to trail 28-0. This time, Jon Oldaker-Bahnsen at 215 got things rolling with a first-period pin, but Moline quickly rallied .

Conner Galloway got a forfeit at 112, and Genco picked up his second pin at 119, and Krys Broadenaux got a victory by injury default. McDonnell won by forfeit at 135 to close the dual.

“Our guys don’t yet realize that when they’re tired, the other guy’s probably tired, too. We just have to continue to get better and improve,” Long said. “Losing doesn’t really bother me that much at this time of the season, but when there’s a lack of effort, that’s when I get upset.”

East Moline United Township 51, Clinton 22

(match started at 140)

103 — Jessen Namer, C, by fft. 112 — Darnell Bennett, UT, pinned Conner Galloway, 1:10. 119 — Ronald Genco III, C, pinned DeShawn Gimenez, 1:55. 125 — Christian Turner, UT, pinned Krys Broadenaux. 130 — Double forfeit. 135 — Sean McDonnell, C, major dec. Deryck Wessels, 17-6. 140 — Gilbert Venegas, UT, by fft. 145 — Andrew Greer, UT, pinned Brett Cram, 1:57. 152 — Seth Davis, UT, pinned Ryan Judge, 3:58. 160 — Chuck Lueth, UT, pinned Jason Bass, 3:25. 171 — Mike Alba, UT, by fft. 189 — Jacob Roberson, UT, dec. Aaron Brown, 11-10. 215 — Dylan Hollars, UT, pinned Jon Oldaker-Bahnsen, 1:54. 285 — Boomer Brunson, C, pinned Justin Sondgeroth, 5:34.

Moline 52, Clinton 30

(match started at 145)

103 — Christian Smith, M, pinned Namer, :35. 112 — Galloway, C, by fft. 119 — Genco, C, pinned Hunter Wilson, 1:08. 125 — Broadenaux, C, by injury default over Richard Audas. 130 — Jimmy Terronez, M, by fft. 135 — McDonnell, C, by fft. 140 — Josh Stacner, M, by fft. 145 — Brian Ledezma, M, major dec. Cram, 13-3. 152 — Drew Osborn, M, pinned Judge, 1:44. 160 — Greg Ventris, M, pinned Bass, 1:03. 171 — Jacob Brower, M, by fft. 189 — Hans Schaeffer, M, pinned Brown, 1:46. 215 — Oldaker-Bahnsen, C, pinned Mitch Kramer, 1:31. 285 — Jeremy Howell, M, pinned Brunson, :36.