WENDELL - East Wake wrestlers pinned their opponents in eight of the nine matches they won over Knightdale on Wednesday as the Warriors sailed to a 54-24 victory in the 2011-12 conference opener.

Knightdale’s winning matches consisted of one pin, a forfeit, a win by default and two wins by decision. East Wake’s ninth win came by forfeit. Teams are awarded six team points for forfeits, defaults (withdrawals) and pins, five team points for technical falls (15-point lead), four team points for major decisions (lead of 8-14 points when time expires), and three team points for decisions (lead of less than 8 points when time expires).

East Wake coach Brian Staples was surprised the outcome favored his team as much as it did, and so was Knightdale coach Alex Von Hoene.

“They actually showed up to wrestle,” Von Hoene said. “Our kids were trying to catch them and steal for quick pin-type moves — not the kind of stuff I teach them — and it bit a lot of us. ”

Von Hoene thought he had the better team on paper, but said East Wake simply wrestled harder.

“That’s why they won by a nice margin,” he said. “Their kids didn’t give up when we did. Hopefully the experience will lead us in the direction of not giving up decisions instead of not giving up pins and only getting decisions.”

The match was decided during the 285-pound meeting between East Wake’s Josh Deis and Knightdale’s Tyler Palochak as Deis pinned Palochak.

“Josh’s pin at heavyweight was huge,” Staples said. “He’s a second-year wrestler, but this was his first varsity match.”

The first period went back and forth between the two, but Deis was able to start on top, keep Palochak down and eventually work the pin in the second period.

The win gave East Wake the 24-point lead with three matches remaining.

Staples said Knightdale’s five pinless wins could have gone either way.

He noted the hard-fought clash between Knightdale’s Donday Washington and East Wake’s Frederic Serrano at 170-pounds — one Washington won by decision, 12-6 — and the 182-pound overtime decision in which Knight Stone Hill defeated Tyrone Frazier 13-9.

“It’s always tight when we wrestle Knightdale, but it was important if we were going to lose to do so by decision and not give up six points,” Staples said.

Overall, Staples was pleased with his wrestlers’ performance and technique in executing the eight pins.

“We had some folks get tired, but it’s early in the season,” Staples said.

“We were just happy to get the win, and anytime you get to win a conference match and one over your rivals, it’s a good night.”