By RYAN RICHTER

Staff writer

The wrestling season got off to a solid start Friday night for the Marion Warriors with a fourth-place finish at the Burlington tournament.

Marion posted a 3-2 record, toppling 5A Washburn Rural 42-32, perennial 3-2-1A power West Elk, 39-21, and 49-21 over 4AI Circle.

The two losses came against Class 5A Blue Valley Southwest and 3-2-1A Garden Plain by respective 58-24 and 45-36 scores.

“We had some tough matches and they still managed to come out with fourth place as a team,” a pleased Warriors coach Tyler McMichael said. “I was glad that I could get to see all of the things that we need to work on as individuals and as a team.

“We have plenty of season left to build on this and continue to grow.”

The Warriors’ second-ranked Tyler Palic went through the tournament unbeaten at 5-0, as did fellow senior heavyweight Jarrett McLinden.

The quartet of Ethan Darnall, Kolton Brewer, freshman Todd Palic, and Charlie Nordquist all posted 4-1 records.

Forest Slater was 3-2, while the trio of Calib Mallory, Brock Mitchell, and Kyle Horton were 2-3.

Will Alleven was 1-4 and junior varsity wrestlers Luke Lanning and Cooper Carpenter went 2-1 and 0-3, respectively.

On tap for the Warriors is a Saturday tournament at Wellington.