Marion wins SES tournament; Hillsboro goes 3-2

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF
Marion won its first tournament title of the season with a 4-1 team record at the Southeast of Saline Round Robin Dual Team Invitational on Saturday.

Hillsboro wrestlers won three of their five matches.

“I was very proud of the kids today,” said Marion coach Chad Adkins. “I think we are peaking at the right time.”

Six teams participated in the event, squaring off against each other in a series of five rounds.

Marion defeated Southeast of Saline, 48-30, Hill City, St. John’s Military, 41-16, and Remington, 54-18.

The Warriors’ only loss came at the hands of the Trojans, 39-29.

“We didn’t go out and take care of business during this dual,” Adkins said. “The kids were flat. Hillsboro did everything they needed to do to beat us. They match up great against us.”

Zac Ewert, Chris Freeby, Adam Depler and Thad Looper all posted 4-0 records. Ewert was awarded only one win by forfeit, while the others picked up at least two forfeit wins.

The Trojans, meanwhile, faced match-up problems against other teams en route to their 3-2 mark for the day. In addition to the win over Marion, Hillsboro beat Remington, 42-21, and St. John’s Military, 48-30.

The Trojans came up on the short end against Hill City, 39-29, and Southeast of Saline, 45-18.

Hillsboro coach Corey Burton agreed that his team matched up well against Marion. But in the same vein, matchup problems hurt the Trojans, too.

“It’s just hard for us to compete well in a lot of duals this year,” Burton said. “We just don’t have quite the depth we’ve had in recent years.”

James Bina had an outstanding day for Hillsboro, winning all five of his matches on the mat. His first two wins were by decision, including a tough 7-6 win over Steven Boone of Marion, and then the senior finished the day with three consecutive pins.

Burton said it was good for Bina to wrestle all five matches-one of the few Trojans who did.

“This is a good time of the year to do that because it helps build up stamina for regionals and state,” Burton said.

Daniel Yoder also went 5-0 for the day with three pins and two wins by forfeit.

Ryan Janzen finished 4-1 with three pins and a forfeit, and Ricky Johnson went 4-1 with a pin, a decision and two forfeit wins. Billy Winegarner finished 3-2 with wins coming by decision, forfeit and pin.

Marion at Eureka. The Warriors tuned for the Southeast of Saline tournament Thursday with a double dual at Eureka. Marion won one dual and lost the other.

Marion split the four matches wrestled on the mat against Remington on the way to a 33-15 win.

Jordan Trapp recorded the team’s only pin, closing out Tyler Whiteside at 140 pounds at the 1:00 mark. Casey Nelson won the Warriors’ other match with a 10-7 win over Cody Austin at 135 pounds.

Against the home team, the Warriors won five matches and lost five but came up short in points, 44-35.

Trapp recorded his second pin of the night, this time against Kenneth Marshall at 0:26. Marion’s Tyson Heidebrecht (160 pounds) pinned Jonathan Jones at 2:45, Steven Boone (171) did the same to Joe Day at 4:41, and Thad Looper (215) pinned Jeff Decker at 1:31.

Nelson recorded Marion’s other win with a 12-2 decision over Chris Bechtel.

“We had several chances to win this dual,” coach Chad Adkins said. “We are finally putting ourselves in position to win duals against great teams.

“We gave up 12 points in open weight classes and only lost the dual by nine points. Our program is headed in the right direction. Our young kids are really stepping up for us. Casey Nelson and Jordan Trapp really wrestled well for us tonight.”

Coming-The Trojans will defend their Mid-Central Activities Association title Saturday at Nickerson. Matches begin at 9 a.m.

“This is the first time since I’ve been here that it’s as even as it is this year,” Burton said. “No one team stands above the rest and none are way behind.”

Marion, meanwhile, will compete in its last double dual of the season on Thursday at Chase County. Matches begin at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, the Warriors will compete at the Remington Invitational Tournament in their regular-season finale. Matches begin 9:30 a.m.

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