Hillsboro wrestlers placed sixth among the 23 teams competing at the Halstead Invitational Friday and Saturday.
The Trojans? 91 points placed them behind Marion (201), Fredonia (185), Doug?lass and Lyons (151) and Cherry?vale (146).
Individually, Jon Carey led the Trojans by winning the 132-pound weight class with a 4-0 record. Jesse Meier placed second at 170 with a 3-1 record.
Four other Trojans finished among the top six in their weight class: Travis King went 3-2 at 126 pounds for fifth; Levi Mendoza finished 3-2 at 182 for fifth; Mack Bartel went 1-3 at 106 for sixth; and Nathan Simhiser placed sixth at 195 with a 1-3 record.
Also competing for Hills?boro were Tristan Donald?son (0-2 at 120), Tyson Reimer (1-2 at 145) and Ryan Stepanek (0-2 at 220).
?Overall, I was pleased with how the guys competed this weekend,? coach Scott O?Hare said. ?Our two seniors both had solid tournaments.
?After missing last week, Jon Carey returned to the lineup and wrestled very well to win the 132-pound championship.
?Jesse Meier continues to make great strides coming back after missing most of last season with an injury. He had two dominating wins on Friday before winning a very tough semifinal match over the No. 2 seed on Sat?urday morning to earn a birth in the championship match.
?Although he lost in the finals, he wrestled a very solid match against one of the top 170-pound wrestlers in the state?No. 3 ranked Lane Moran of Bluestem.?
O?Hare said the team continues to improve.
?I believe that from a wrestling technique standpoint, we are doing some good things,? O?Hare said. ?We just need to continue to work on aspects of position, balance, winning the scramble positions where both wrestlers have an opportunity to score.
?Right now I feel like one of our biggest issues is physical and mental toughness, which is difficult to coach, but something these wrestlers must develop if they intend to compete at a high level.?
Abilene JV?Five Trojans competed at a junior varsity tournament Friday.
Ryan Bradford went 0-3 at 113 pounds, Jaden Priest finished 2-2 at 138, Westin Etheridge went 0-2 at 170, Colin Settle finished 1-2 at 183, and Austin Welch went 0-3 at 220.
Coming?Hillsboro will return to tournament competition Saturday at Eureka. Matches begin at 9 a.m.
