Trojan wrestlers open season with dual wins at Nickerson

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF
The Hillsboro High School wrestling team opened its season with a pair of dual wins at Nickerson on Thursday.


Hillsboro’s Ron Davis pinned Bryce Miller of Nickerson 1 minute 48 seconds into the first period to give Hillsboro a 42-33 win over the home team in the first dual. The Trojans led only 36-33 going into Davis’s match.


“I knew Nickerson was going to be tough,” coach Corey Burton said. “They’re still the team to beat in the MCAA tournament.


“They for sure were going to be our hardest league dual. But we have some kids who really stepped up and won us that dual.”


Each team gave away 18 points by forfeiting in three weight classes. On the mat, Hillsboro’s Ryan Janzen (125 pounds), Wade Sorensen (189) and Davis each pinned their opponents, while Daniel Yoder (130) and James Bina (152) each won by decision.


Burton said he was pleased particularly with Janzen’s win against a senior at 125 pounds. Janzen usually wrestles at 119. He also highlighted the wins by Yoder, Bina and Sorensen against particularly tough opponents.


“Those guys really helped us,” he said. “I knew it was going to be close.”


The second dual against Stafford went much easier, with the Trojans earning a lopsided 42-16 team win.


In this dual, Janzen, this time wrestling at 119, Yoder, Bina, Carson Greenhaw and Davis each pinned their respective opponents.


Bri Ratzlaff, who won by forfeit against Nickerson, and Sorensen did not wrestle against Stafford. Neither one would have faced competition if they had competed. Because Hillsboro has scheduled 31 points this season and the state allows only 30, each wrestler will have to sit out one match during the season.


“I have to hold all of my varsity guys out of one dual anyway, and we really didn’t need the points (against Stafford),” Burton said.


Burton was pleased with the performance of his team for a season opener.


“We wrestled well,” he said.


During the Nickerson match, it became apparent that his team needs to work on its moves from a standing position.


“We know we need to work more on our feet,” Burton said. “We

didn’t wrestle well there, especially in that first dual. We had worked on our feet early, but then started working on the mat here lately.”


The Trojans will take their 2-0 duals record to Haven on Thursday. Marion and Halstead will be there as well as the home-town Wildcats. Matches begin at 6 p.m.


On Saturday, Hillsboro will compete in its first tournament of the season at Hesston. Last season, 12 teams participated. Matches begin at 10 a.m.

More from article archives
Cotton could soon take root in Marion County, farmers hear
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN TOM STOPPEL Farmers in Marion County soon could be looking...
Read More