Despite two no-shows in the form of Libby and Superior the Savage Horsemen got their wrestling season underway on Friday as they took on Corvallis in Plains.

“It dropped form a mixer to a regular old duel, but we didn’t keep score or anything like that,” Plains-Hot Springs head coach Kenny Margerrison said. “Our whole objective was just to get some time on the mat.”

Superior dropped out due to injury and Libby had to cancel their trip, due to budget restrictions.

Regardless, the Savage Horsemen were able to wrestle in some competitive matches versus a very good opponent.

“They have an extremely talented program, year in and year out, they have one of the best programs in class A in the state,” Margerrison said. “We want that level of experience. We don’t want to wrestle kids where all our kids are going to sweep through and beat them all up. That might be fun to watch for awhile, but it doesn’t do you any good.”

Overall Margerrison was happy with his teams performance, only citing small technical adjustments and a lack of mid-season conditioning, both of which can be expected early on in the year.

“We’re really going to harp on the fundamental stuff that we were missing this last weekend. Small points of technique like defending halfs and defending cradles,” he said. “There’s always things that we need to improve. I think when any coach gets to a point where he says, well I’m happy with everything, he’s lying to himself.”

Several Savage Horsmen sat out, due to injury or ineligibility due to missing practice. Notably, Colby Chishom is out with a strained neck, and Giorji Malakmadze with a sore kneee.

Next up, Plains-Hot Springs will take the mat in Superior on Dec. 16 in a field of more than a dozen teams.

Margerrison believes the Superior tournament is a good place for his experienced wrestler to try some new things and not worry too much about wins or losses.

“It’s a high level of competition, but it’s not a huge, defining point for the rest of the season,” he said. “So if they’re running some different technique and they get themselves in trouble, it’s not going to screw up the rest of the season.”