Sumner High School’s wrestling team hosted its first duel of 2012 Thursday night and marked the occasion by bringing Fife’s back to the mat, 39-34.

The night opened rough for the Spartans and Steven McCurley (120), who fell to Daniel Barnes in a first-round pin.

Mike Forhan (126) wrestled an aggressive match from the get-go, grabbing for an arm-and-head hold from the standing position. His opponent fended him off before Forhan brought him to the ground. Forhan maintained top control for the rest of match, until he pinned Fife’s grappler at the 3:12 mark.

Wyatt James (132) was pinned in the second round by celebrated Fife wrestler Rhyne Zenkner. Zenkner was able to maintain top position dominance through his deft ability to work into the leg ride position.

Jeremy Jackson (138) put on a show of a match, toying with Jesse Erickson through three rounds to a 7-3 win.

Jared Schliesman (145) fell to a second round pin from Maverick Reddaway, a formidable member of Fife’s 30-win club from the 2011 season.

Eli Hofto (152) gave the Spartans a scare when Chase Sturmer lifted him off his feet and brutally slammed him to the mat. Sturmer’s own coach had to urge him to “take it easy” on his frequent use of slams.

Hofto grasped his arm in pain and the match briefly halted.

The spunky Spart recovered enough to continue the match, but lost by point decision 12-3.

AJ Atoigue (160), always good for an entertaining match, was stuck in the standing position against Carl Finlayson in the first round, consistently taking control of the Trojan’s head yet failing to bring the game to the ground. That changed in round two, when Atoigue was able to fight for and keep top dominance. He took out Finlayson in the third round at the 4:44 mark.

Tanner Sjoden (170) made mincemeat of Keanu Songcuan, reversing Songcuan’s top control and swiftly forcing him to his back for a pin in 80 seconds.

Nick Hultberg (182) played cat-and-mouse with  Allen Richards through three rounds, winning 11-8.

Nick Ehrenheim (195) took a pin  against his opponent in just over a minute.

Justin Myers (220) maintained solid top dominance for three rounds to take an 8-4 win.

The cycle turned back to the 113-pound weight class, where Travis Filleau (113) fell to a pin from Fife’s Glenn Robertson in the second round.

Jacob Unger (106) and Fife’s Monike Failuaga (285) won by forfeit.

The Spartans play an away-duel against Eatonville High School on Thursday at 7 p.m.