The Marion wrestling team competed at the Halstead Invitational Friday and Saturday, with the exception of Charlie Nordquist, who competed in Newton.
Todd Palic paved the way at Halstead with a second-place finish at 182 pounds with a 2-1 record. Following a first-round bye, Palic pinned Ivan Smith of Effingham-Atchison County Community, then won by injury default over top-ranked Tyson Villalpando of Minneapolis in the semifinals. Palic lost a 4-1 decision to Southeast of Saline’s Sterling Harp, who ranks sixth, in the championship.
Luke Lanning went 4-2 at 195 pounds to place fifth. Lanning pinned Hesston’s Domanic Clopton twice—in the opening round and in the fifth-place match. His other two victories were by decision. Lanning suffered a quarterfinal loss by 1-0 decision to Wichita-Trinity Academy’s Tucker Trevett, and a consolation semifinal loss by fall to Cherryvale’s Wyatt Gillman.
Forest Slater went 3-3 at 106 pounds to place sixth, pinning three opponents, losing twice by fall and dropping a 9-2 decision in the fifth-place match to Teagan Nienke of Ellsworth.
Will Alleven went 1-2 at 126 pounds, including one win by fall.
Meanwhile, Nordquist, who ranks fourth in Class 3-2-1A, competed at the 56th Newton Tournament of Champions and placed eighth at 220 pounds with a 2-3 record.
Following a first-round bye, Nordquist won by 8-4 decision over Caden Cress of Washburn Rural, who ranks fourth in Class 6A. He lost by fall to Norton’s Hayden Wiltfong, who ranks second in Class 3-2-1A.
Nordquist pinned Jose Salmon of Maize South, lost by fall to McPherson’s Kourtney Craig, then lost a 5-3 decision to Maximus Shannon of Ark City in the seventh-place match.
“All of the boys did a great job,” coach Tyler McMichael said. “The boys in Halstead battled extremely hard, and it showed.”
Coming—Marion will wrestle at Eureka Saturday, where matches are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.