PARACHUTE – Justin Busch didn’t know how, but he knew Grand Valley was going to beat Basalt Wednesday night.

What the Cardinal freshman didn’t expect was that he was going to be the wrestler to put the Cardinals over the top against the Longhorns.

Busch’s first-period pin over Basalt’s Trevor O’Linke in the final match of Tuesday’s six-bout dual meet lifted the first-year Grand Valley program to a 18-15 victory for its first home win in the history of the program.

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“This was our first win coming out against a team with an even amount of guys,” Busch said. “We worked our butts off all year and it was awesome.”

Teammate Phil Mackey set the stage for Busch when he pinned Longhorn 119-pounder Robbie Jeffery in the previous match.

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Down by nine in the team score, Mackey gained control in the second minute against Jeffery, who had taken a early 4-0 lead on a takedown and a two-point near fall.

Mackey reversed Jeffery’s hold after the score, then followed up the move by putting the Longhorn wrestler’s shoulder’s to the mat at the 1 minute, 50 seconds.

“I was real happy for him,” said Busch. “He was pretty down in the wrestling room after losing to Rangely.”

Earlier, wrestling against the Panthers’ Mike Thorpe, Mackey was pinned in 1:49, part of a 58-6 thumping in which Grand Valley’s only win came on a forfeit.

Mackey’s win over Jeffery, combined with Jesse Neely’s forfeit when Basalt left the weight open, left Grand Valley with a three-point deficit to make up.

And Busch, who said that he was “pumped up” after seeing Mackey win. Charged out, hell-bent on erasing the Longhorns’ lead.

“It was all a matter of having the right attitude,” he said. “I was mad going into that second match, because I was not into my first match.”

Fueled by the anger of a 30-second pinfall loss to Rangely’s Wes Torsell in Grand Valley’s first of two dual meets on Wednesday. Busch pounced on O’Linke from the opening whistle.

The Cardinal wrestler scored in the opening nine seconds, then toyed with his opponent before defeating O’Linke at 1:24.

And with a two weeks left in the regular season, Busch said his next goal is to reach a spot in the Class 2A state tournament in Denver.

“High school wrestling is way harder than middle school,” said the former PEG League champions from St. John Middle School.

“Its a whole different ballgame, because your going against guys who are stronger and have wrestled a long time. I’m nervous about what’s ahead, but I think I’m ready for it.”

Rangely 58, Grand Valley 6

103- Jesse Neely, Grand Valley win by forfeit; 112 – Jake Byers, Rangely, win by forfeit; 119 – Mike Thorpe, Rangely pinned Phil Mackey, Grand Valley, 1:49; 125 – Wes Torsell, Rangely pinned Justin Busch, Grand Valley, :30; 130 – Jason Brenton, Rangely win by forfeit; 135 – Curtis Baker, Rangely major dec. Matt Morgan, Grand Valley, 17-6; 140 – Open; 145 – Doug Dembowski, Rangely pinned Chanse Brackett, 1:34; 152 – Mike Chism, Rangely win be forfeit; 160 – Jacob Witherell, Rangely pnning Cash Brackett, Grand Valley, 1:17; 171 – Justin Steele, Rangely win by forfeit; 189 – Open; 215 – Open; 275 – Jeremy Maybury, Rangely win by forfeit.

Rangely 45, Basalt 11

103 – Open; 112 – Jake Byers, Rangely win by forfeit; 119 – Mike Thorpe, Rangely win by forfeit; 125 – Wes Torsell, Rangely win by forfeit; 130 – Justin Brenton, Rangely tech fall over Trevor O’Linke, Basalt, 2:55; 135 – Derrick McFarlen, Basalt pinned Curtis Baker, Rangely, 5:59; 140 – Doug Dembowski, Rangely win by forfeit; 145 – Open; 152 – Mike Chism, Rangely win be forfeit; 160 – Jacob Witherell, Rangely major dec. Dustin Held, Basalt, 17-6; 171 – Garrett Jammeron, Basalt tech fall Justin Steele, Rangely, 4:00; 189 – Open; 215 – Open; 275 – Jeremy Maybury, Rangely win by forfeit.

Grand Valley 18, Basalt 15

103 – Jesse Neely, Grand Valley win by forfeit; 119 – Phil Mackey, Grand Valley pinned Robbie Jeffery, Basalt, 1:50; 125 – Justin Busch, Grand Valley pinned Trevor O’Linke, Basalt, 1:24; 135 – Derrick McFarland, Basalt dec. Matt Morgan, Grand Valley, 12-6; 160 – Dustin Held, Basalt pinned Cash Brackett, Grand Valley, 1:50; 171 – Garrett Jammeron, Basalt win by forfeit.