Monroe — Monroe High’s wrestling team took down Cuthbertson 46-33 Thursday in a Rocky River Conference match, aided by five forfeit wins to the Cavaliers’ two forfeit wins.

With matches starting at the 140 pound weight class, Cuthbertson’s (2-12, 0-3 RRC) Cory Check pinned Jarvis Massey and then Cody Herbert pinned Anthony Bowers to jump out to a 12-0 lead.

Kevin Phinney cut the deficit in half for the Redhawks (7-7, 2-1 RRC) by pinning Matt McGuinnis, and then Stephen Dysard earned a major decision over Nick Malker to cut Monroe’s deficit to 12-10.

Three straight forfeits by the Cavs at that point, though, gave Monroe a 28-12 advantage. Redhawks standout Miles Cook gave his team more breathing room by bumping up to heavyweight from his normal weight of 189 pounds. Cook handled Meguil Pereda fairly easily, pinning him in 3:59 to take a 34-12 lead.

Two forfeits by Monroe at that point cut the Redhawks lead to 34-24, but the Cavs had to give six points right back to Monroe making the score 40-24 forcing the Cavs to have to win the last three matches with no less than two pins and a major decision just to tie the match.

The possibility of that happening was crushed the very next match, even though the Cavs’ Steven Agati won by decision over Devonte Straing, leaving the Cavs one point short of any chance of winning.

Cuthbertson’s Doug Perez pinned Austin Coffey at 130 pounds to make the match closer.

Cuthbertson won four contested matches while the Redhawks only won three, showing progress for the first year program.

“We’re getting better,” said Cavs coach Chris Whitlow. “Slowly but surely we are getting there.”

Cuthbertson will compete in the Pirate Invitational at Porter Ridge on Saturday. Monroe will also be at the event.

Monroe 46, Cuthbertson 33

103: Nijaee McCray (C) forfeit

112: Josh Hattaway (C) forfeit

119: Zack Cooper (M) forfeit

125: Steven Agati (C) dec. over Devonte Straing 5-3

130: Doug Perez (C) pinned Austin Coffey 3:48

135: James Swann (M) forfeit

140: Cory Check (C) pinned Jarvis Massey 1:39

145: Cody Herbert (C) pinned Anthony Bowers 3:10

152: Kevin Phinney (M) pinned Matt McGuinnis 2:30

160: Stephen Dysard (M) major dec. over Nick Malker 16-6

171: Eric Mongo (M) forfeit

189: Irwin McCoy (M) forfeit

215: Josh Sobalvarro (M) forfeit

Hwt: Miles Cook (M) pinned Meguil Pereda 3:59