Earlham Echo

January 21, 2025

Injuries and illnesses have riddled the Cardinal lineup this season; but it’s wrestling—nobody is going to feel sorry for you. Despite their issues, the Cards have battled on. The able-bodied of the Earlham squad competed well at the conference tournament on January 18 in Truro and they earned 6^th place in a tightly packed field.

Max Millage (120) and Dallas Canoyer (126) won conference championships.

Millage opened with a win by fall over Cale Hansen (Woodward-Granger) in just 49 seconds. In the semifinal, he took on Boston Mateer (I-35), who came in with a 16-8 record. Millage dominated, winning by technical fall, 17-0, at 4:25. Millage got a takedown and a nearfall in the 1^st period, 3 nearfalls in the 2^nd period, and a takedown in the 3^rd period.

In the final, 6^th-ranked Millage took on previously undefeated and #5 ranked Tommy Booth of Pleasantville. Millage had never wrestled Booth before, but got some intel from Canoyer, who had competed against him in the past.

“Most of his matches were high-flyer matches,” said Millage about his opponent. “I knew I just had to lock him down in what positions he wasn’t good in. I knew he wasn’t that good at top. Also, his feet, he really tried to stay back, keep his distance. That’s where I kind of capitalized and got my shots in.”

The match was fast-paced and ‘high-flying’ from the start, but there was no scoring in the 1^st minute. Booth was assessed a penalty point, then Millage got a takedown at 1:19 to go ahead, 4-0. Booth got an escape just before the end of the 1^st. Booth scored on a reversal at 2:24 to get within 1 point, but Millage answered with a reversal 25 seconds later, then he finished off Booth with a pin at 3:52.

After a 1^st-round bye, Canoyer won by fall over Ryder Eklund (Ogden) at 1:42, in the semifinals. Canoyer was matched against senior Gavin Sloss of AC/GC, a good, seasoned wrestler who came in with a 25-3 record. Canoyer controlled the match from the start. He got takedowns in the 1^st and 2^nd periods, while only allowing 2 escapes in the 1^st 4 minutes. Canoyer got rolling in the 3^rd period with a takedown and a 4-point nearfall, and won the match by major decision, 13-2.

Canoyer had never wrestled Sloss before, since Sloss normally wrestles in heavier weight classes, but is cutting weight to wrestle at 126. 

“He’s just a big strong kid who cut down a decent amount of weight,” Canoyer said. “He likes cradles, I know. But I just went out there and wrestled my match. I didn’t rush anything—just patience. I don’t usually watch a lot of film on people. But my dad or my coach will say, ‘He does this, so maybe stay out of that.’ So I do that instead. But usually, I go wrestle my match.”

Both Millage and Canoyer have been working through injuries lately. Millage hurt his shoulder and Canoyer injured his groin. Neither showed any sign of being anything other than 100% on Saturday.

Millage was wearing a shoulder harness. Perhaps it hampered him a bit, but he didn’t want to say so.

“I was just trying to fight through it,” he said. “A good wrestler doesn’t focus on stuff that’s affecting him. I just kept that in mind and just kept wrestling.”

Canoyer has been using time, ice, and stretching to heal.

“It’s unfortunate. I had to sit out last week,” he said. “But it’s feeling good, so we’re ready to go. Ready to do some damage.”

Both Millage and Canoyer have had great seasons, and both are highly ranked. They have their sights set on bigger things as the post-season nears.

Canoyer will be moving on to wrestle in college next year in Division I, but this will be his last chance to make his mark in high school wrestling. His goals are simple.

“Winning districts, then going to state and winning that,” he said. “But I’m just taking it one match at a time, really.”

Millage, just a sophomore, has piled up a ton of wins in his 2-year career. His confidence got a boost after last Saturday’s performance.

“I feel good, but I keep my self grounded and stay humble,” he said. “I just have to keep working. There are more kids out there. I have to keep climbing.”

Eight other Cardinals placed at the conference tournament. Jackson Berkley (150) got 2^nd, Konner Keller (113), Keegan Long (285), and Colton Nixt (175) were 3^rd, Bishop Hammen (132) was 4^th, A.J. Oscarson (190) was 5^th, and Carson Winey (144) and Dylan Frazier (157) were 6^th.

Woodward-Granger edged Pleasantville for the team title, 161.5-160. Earlham scored 134.5 points, 2 shy of 5^th place Ogden.