The Hillsboro wrestling team opened its season Thursday with a split of dual matches at Minnea?polis.
Hillsboro defeated Hal?stead in its opener, 54-29, then lost to the host team, 60-30.
Three Trojans came away with 2-0 records, winning one match on the mat and one by forfeit.
Senior Jon Carey took a forfeit at 132 pounds against Minneapolis and won a match by fall at 138 pounds against Halstead.
Junior Levi Mendoza dominated his match at 182 pounds against Halstead, winning by fall in just over one minute. He took a forfeit versus Minneapolis.
At 120 pounds, Tristan Donalson took a forfeit against Minneapolis and defeated his Halstead opponent, 9-6.
Sophomore Travis King received two forfeit wins.
Three Trojans came home with 1-1 records in varsity competition.
Senior team captain Jesse Meier dominated his Hal?stead opponent at 170 pounds before suffering a tough loss to a returning state placer from Minnea?polis.
?Missing most of last year due to injury, it will take some time for Jesse to return to form,? coach Scott O?Hare said. ?Although he took a tough loss, it was the type of match he needed at this point in the season to expose things that he needs to work on.?
Sophomore Tyson Reimer won by fall against Halstead at 152 pounds before being pinned by the defending Class 3-2-1A state runner-up from Minneapolis at 145 pounds.
Sophomore Nathan Simhiser, wrestling at 195 pounds, took a forfeit against Halstead before losing by fall to Minneapolis.
Sophomore Austin Welch lost a junior-varsity match by fall against Minneapolis and accepted a forfeit for the team at 285 pounds against Halstead.
Freshman Ryan Bradford took a forfeit at 126 against Halstead and won a junior-varsity match against Minneapolis by decision.
Five Trojans are still looking for a first win after opening night.
Mack Bartel, a freshman, lost two tough matches at 113 pounds.
?He did some nice things and showed a lot of heart in both matches,? O?Hare said.
Canton-Galva freshman Ian Alumbaugh lost at 145 pounds against Halstead and at 138 pounds to Minneapolis.
?Ian showed a tremendous amount of grit, continued to battle tough in both matches,? O?Hare said. ?I expect good things from him as we continue to get his technique to match the high level of his work ethic and competitive spirit.?
Austin Morgan, also a newcomer from Canton-Galva, lost two hard-fought matches.
Junior Franklin Jost lost both of his matches by fall at 220 pounds.
?He looked good coming out in both matches, but got into some trouble when he got out of position and was never able to recover,? O?Hare said.
The Trojan coach said he was pleased overall with his team?s performance on opening night.
?Some of our more experienced guys looked good for their first time in competition this season,? he said. ?Our younger wrestlers and newcomers did some nice things. Their lack of experience certainly showed, but I was very happy with the attitude, effort, determination and competitive spirit of everyone.?
Coming?The Trojans will compete in their first tournament when they travel to Hesston Satur?day. Matches begin at 9 a.m.
