The boys wrestling team competed in their first tournament of the season at the Gardner Edgerton Invitational Saturday, Dec. 2. The team placed 8th overall at the competition.
The team had four wrestlers finish in the top five of their respective weight classes. Senior Colin McAlister placed first in the 165-pound weight class, senior Maddox Casella placed third in the 132-pound weight class, senior Dillon Cooper placed fourth in the 138-pound weight class and senior Brady Mason placed fifth in the 150-pound weight class.
Senior Robert Hickman believes the tournament was a great way to start the season.
“Overall, the team performed well,” Hickman said. “It was the first tournament of the year and everyone has things that they need to improve on, but everyone fought hard in their matches and we will continue to work hard everyday at practice.”
Mason reflects on the improvements he made through his matches.
“I think I performed well,” Mason said. “I messed up in one match when I tried getting hand control before I was to my feet but I fixed it in the next matches.”
Cooper explains the struggles that he and the team had.
“I wrestled very tight,” Cooper said. “I didn’t open up and get to my scores. I don’t think I performed badly but I just didn’t get to my attacks enough. I think the team as a whole has a lot of things to work on and that became very apparent.”
Hickman looks ahead to preparing for some tough tournaments in the near future.
“I look forward to continuing to train hard at practice and getting better,” Hickman said. “We also have some of our hardest tournaments coming up, Council Bluffs and KC Stampede. Those are always tournaments with a high level of competition.”
