Wrestlers compete in Eureka

By RYAN RICHTER and NICHOLAS KIMBALL

Staff writer

Eureka’s wrestling tournament has grown in size, which led to stiffer competition for Marion and Hillsboro.

Trojans finished 17th out of 28 competing schools with several Class 4A teams as well as 5A Newton in attendance. 

Rose Hill cruised to the title, steamrolling runner-up Columbus, 258.5-108. 

Hillsboro finished with 43, with only Aaron Hein, Sutton Redger, and Emily Schafer capturing medals. 

Hein and Redger were fifth, and Schafer was sixth. 

“This Eureka Invitational is always a great challenge for everyone at this point in the season,” Trojan coach Scott O’Hare said. “It is a large tournament with several solid teams, and every bracket is deep with talented wrestlers.

“We came in a bit short-handed once again, as we have several wrestlers nursing some nagging injuries that we are hoping to get healed up as we get near the CKL League and 3-2-1A regional tournaments in February.

“Unfortunately, one of our senior leaders, Lane Rogers, suffered an injury on Saturday that required him to injury default out of the tournament after his quarterfinal match”. 

Marion’s Chance Shults at 132 pounds went 3-2 to place sixth. He was the leader for the Warriors in Eureka.

Brian Nguyen at 190 pounds was the other placer on the team, going 2-2 and placing sixth as well.

Everyone else on the Marion team fell short of placing. Colby Lollar was just one match away from placing and ended his day 2-2.

Wyatt Soyez, Eldon Smith, and Jameson Looper all went 0-2 on the day.

Both the Warriors and Trojans will travel Friday to Hoisington. Marion will be host for a junior varsity meet Saturday.

“Hoisington is a very tough tournament where we get to see some western Kansas teams that we don’t get to see anywhere else,” Marion coach Tyler McMichael said. “Some of our Warriors will be in action Friday; others will be on Saturday.”