Eagles runner-up at Rochester wrestling invitational

Wednesday, 28 December 2011 11:55

by Don Hiatt

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The Churubusco Wrestling team traveled to Rochester Friday to compete in the John McKee Invitational. There were 16 teams competing in the Invitational and the Churubusco Eagles placed second with a score of 187.5. South Bend Clay (a top 20 ranked team) claimed the top spot with 234 points.

“Anytime that you can finish second at a 16 team event, it’s a good day,” explained Coach Sam Riesen. “We finished above some really good programs. We really stayed near South Bend Clay for most of the day. Given the fact that we had some guys out today, it’s really a very solid job by our whole team.”

Jason Nicodemus placed first for the Eagles in the 170 pound weight class. “Nicodemus has really had a breakout season thus far,” said Coach Riesen. “He was able to defeat some really tough kids and take home the championship. I have had the opportunity to coach a lot of good kids and Nicodemus is the first to be undefeated at this point in the season. It really says a lot about the hard work that he has put in and also about the strength of our schedule and of this tournament in particular.”

Sam Siddons finished second in the 182 weight class. “The way that Siddon's bracket worked out he had one of the toughest days on paper,” explained Coach Riesen. “He was able to defeat a returning champion and a wrestler who had just beaten an undefeated kid to get to the finals. He really showed the kind of wrestler he is.”

Brian Richardson also finished second in the 195 weight class for the Eagles. “Richardson came into the day having a pretty rough season,” stated Coach Riesen. “We all knew how good he could be, but things just had not worked out for him so far this year. He's been stuck behind some tough kids in our line-up. He beat wrestlers in backto-back rounds with records of 16-3, and 18-2. He lost 6-3 in a hard fought match in the finals against state ranked Jaylin Allen of South Bend Clay. Richardson really is a kid that can contend all year long for a state final’s spot.”

Adam Boggess finished third in the 138 weight class. “Boggess wrestled really well as he went 138 for the first time this season,” said Coach Riesen. “He lost a heartbreaker on a last second takedown in the semi-finals. He was right there in a tough weight class all day, and had he had some matches go his way he would have been a champion.”

Joey Heaton also finished third for the Eagles in the 145 weight class. “Heaton stepped into the line-up for the first time this season and looked really good,” said Coach Riesen. “He has been stuck behind Boggess and Brandon Wormcastle all year, and had to deal with appendicitis earlier in the year. With Clint Bechtold and Lyle McParlan both being banged up we decided to make the change and get Heaton into the line-up. It paid off as Heaton defeated a 15-1 number two seed in the opening round and continued to put together a great day.”

Brandon Wormcastle finished fourth in the 152 weight class. “Wormcastle continued his strong season,” explained Coach Riesen. “He always fights hard for us and is our emotional leader. He always goes 110%, he is also very skillful.”

Gunnar Barnhart finished fifth in the 220 weight class. “Barnhart came into the day feeling very sick,” stated Coach Riesen. “We were not even sure he would be able to wrestle, but he did and came in fifth for us despite the fact that he was far from 100%. He really showed a lot of heart, and stepped up to help his teammates. We kept telling him that he could win despite the fact that he was under the weather. He really gave us a performance that was pretty shocking given the circumstances.”

Brad Martin finished sixth for the Eagles in the 285 weight class. “We were really happy with Martin's finish,” explained Coach Riesen. “He has filled in pretty much all season for us as either Barnhart or Eric Kuznar has been out at one point or another. Martin has continued to work to improve every day in practice. It showed at Rochester as he finished above ten other teams in his weight. Martin’s finish was one that we needed in order to finish how we did.”

Other wrestlers that placed for the Eagles were, Chase Downing at 120 lbs. finished in sixth place, Shane Shroyer in the 126 weight class also with a sixth place finish and Travis Glick in the 160 weight with a seventh place finish.

Churubusco Wrestlers are not back in action until the Woodlan Invitational on Saturday, January 14.

by Don Hiatt

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Churubusco Wrestlers are not back in action until the Woodlan Invitational on Saturday, January 14.