Week by week, match by match the Dowagiac wrestling team is improving.

The on-mat results may not always show that improvement, however.

Wednesday night in its final home match, Dowagiac split with Covert and Wolverine Conference foe Comstock.

The Chieftains defeated the Bulldogs 52-16 in the opening round of the quad meet, taking advantage of six forfeits by Covert. In the second match of the night, Comstock defeated Dowagiac 47-21.

“We’re getting there,” Dowagiac coach Matt Alward said. “We only have three seniors. We’re improving. I was a little disappointed that we couldn’t beat Comstock, but we wrestled well against Covert.”

With Tyler Wessendorf (112), Anthony Daisey (140), Aubrey Huston (145), Thomas Smith (152), Nick Lindemuler (171) and Tristan Howard (285) all picking up forfeits, the Chieftains already had 35 points in hand when they hit the mat against Covert.

But that didn’t stop Dowagiac from performing well in its other bouts.

Spencer Calley (103), Matt Lyle (130) and Daniel Crandall all earned victories.

Calley pinned Gabe Vargas in 2:41, Lyle blanked Luis Ruiz 10-0 and Carl Grant defeated Mario Aburto 5-0.

Covert’s only victories came at 119, 125 and 135 pounds. Both teams forfeited at 189.

In the second match against the Colts used five pins and two forfeits to defeat the Chieftains.

Dowagiac’s victories came at 103 with Calley, 119 with Jacob Worthington, 130 with Lyle, 215 with Grant and 285 with Howard.

Calley pinned Stephen Babb in 2:20, Worthington started off the match with a forfeit, Lyle defeated Ryan Wright 6-1, Grant pinned Derrik Hostetler in 3:57 and Howard pinned Tre Gladney in 1:19.

“Our effort is there,” Alward said. “Some of our losses are just freshmen, sophomore stuff. I’m extremely happy with our effort. Now it’s just a matter of getting in the wrestling room and practing, summer workouts and getting more experience.

Covert…16

Dowagiac…52

103: Spencer Calley (D) p. Gabe Vargas, 2:41

112: Tyler Wessendorf (D) wins by forfeit

119: Ivan Gallegos (COV) d. Jacob Worthington, 15-2

125: Rigo Cortez (COV) p. Tyler Cross, 1:20

130: Matt Lyle (D) d. Luis Ruiz, 10-0

135: Nick Hall (COV) p. Ryan Barnas, 5:28

140: Anthony Daisey (D) wins by forfeit

145: Aubrey Huston (D) wins by forfeit

152: Thomas Smith (D) wins by forfeit

160: Daniel Crandall (D) d. Tony Ruiz, 8-2

171: Nick Lindemuler (D) wins by forfeit

189: Double void

215: Carl Grant (D) d. Mario Aburto, 5-0

285: Tristan Howard (D) wins by forfeit

Comstock…47

Dowagiac…21

103: Spencer Calley (D) p. Stephen Babb, 2:20

112: Mason Arntz (COM) p. Tyler Wessendorf, 1:37

119: Jacob Worthington (D) wins by forfeit

125: Cody Bavin (COM) d. Tyler Cross, 12-1

130: Matt Lyle (D) d. Ryan Wright, 6-1

135: Mike Derhamner (COM) p. Ryan Barnas, 2:39

140: Dylan Wright (COM) p. Anthony Daisey, 5:51

145: David Hafield (COM) d. Aubrey Huston, 18-5

152: Zach Richards (COM) d. Thomas Smith, 5-2

160: Tom Turbarg (COM) p. Daniel Crandall, 4:18

171: Jordan Phares (COM) p. Nick Lindemuler, 1:07

189: Jeremy Crockett (COM) wins by forfeit

215: Carl Grant (D) p. Derrick Hostetler, 3:57

285: Tristan Howard (D) p. Tre Gladney, 1:19