Sigourney-Keota takes eighth place at Hudson Invitational

The SK wrestling team was back at competition when they traveled to the Hudson Invitational on January 13. Of the seven guys who wrestled for the Cobras, none finished with a place less than fifth.

Mason Dye got things started in the 106-pound weight class bracket. Dye had a bye early on before losing a close 7-9 decision in the semifinal. He then responded by beating his next man 18-2 via technical fall, but couldn’t keep his momentum going in the third-place match, falling 10-17. Dye wound up with a fourth-place finish for the Cobras.

Luke House followed suit with a fourth-place finish of his own in the 132-pound weight class. House lost in the quarterfinal match, which sent him to the consolation side, where he beat his next opponent in the second period. Following a 14-7 decision in the consolation semifinals, House then lost a 10-14 decision in the third-place match.

Nick Ives wound up with a third-place finish in the 138-pound weight class. Ives won his first match, but then was sent to the consolation side following a 2-8 decision. From there he won a match late in the third period, was on the winning end of a 2-1 decision, and finished his day with a pin in the first period to take third-place.

"Some of our guys have improved a lot over the past two weeks," SK coach Craig Reeves said. "I feel a few need to step it up to be ready for the end of the season. Some guys lost some matches here I thought they should've won, but battled back to where they were seeded."

Trent Hendricks took home fifth place in the 145-pound weight class. Hendricks found himself pinned in the third period of the quarterfinals, but responded with a pin of his own in the second period on the consolation side. He then lost late in the second period, but ended his day off on a positive note, by pinning his man late in the second period to earn him fifth-place.

Zech Boender also finished in fifth in the 152-pound weight class. Boender lost a 1-6 decision early, then rebounded with a 8-3 decision to keep his day going. His next opponent was able to pin him in the first period, but Boender responded yet again, with a close 8-7 decision in the fifth-place match.

"Zech lost in the first round match but then came back and beat that same guy when they wrestled again," coach Reeves said.

Mac Conrad finished up in fourth-place in the 195-pound weight class. Conrad had an up and down day, like many of his teammates, starting out with a pin in the first period. He then lost in the first period, but bounced back with a 7-2 decision in the consolation semifinals. Conrad had a chance to finish in third, but was on the losing end of a 3-12 decision.

Caleb Reeves was the final wrestler for the Cobras, in which he took home a first-place finish in the 220-pound weight class bracket. Caleb made quick work of his opponents, disposing of his first man in 32 seconds, his second in just over one minute and his final man in 45 seconds.

"The biggest thing is when they score on moves, it builds their confidence," coach Reeves said. "One of our guys beat one of the state champions from last year, reinforcing that he can beat anyone if he believes in his training."