Marion wrestlers open season slowly
Sports reporter
Visiting wrestlers from Hillsboro, Hoisington, and Smoky Valley proved to be unwelcome guests Thursday at Marion High School Gymnasium, as the host Warrior squad dropped dual matches against all three schools.
"We wrestled better as the night went on, but we just started out sluggish," said Chad Adkins, head coach of the Marion/Peabody-Burns combined high school squad.
The Warriors got off to a rocky start against rival Hillsboro, with the Trojans scoring a dominating 42-18 win.
"We lost a lot of close matches. We'd be winning, and then suddenly we'd get pinned," Adkins said.
Hoisington was up next for the Warriors. Marion showed improvement, but came up short, losing 42-30.
Adkins indicated his team's effort against perennial powerhouse Hoisington was a strong one, given the Cardinals' victory over Hillsboro later that same evening.
The Warriors dropped the final match of the evening against Smoky Valley, 43-33.
Adkins singled out a number of Warriors for their performances. Cody Wildin was the only Warrior to win all three of his matches, while John Barr III, Ben Leppke, Hank Collett, and Dillon Wildin all went 2-1.
Adkins reported one Warrior casualty from Thursday's matches. Derek Riggs suffered a broken hand, and will likely be out of action until midJanuary.
Warrior varsity wrestlers saw action again Saturday, this time at the 16-team Mission Valley invitational tourney at Eskridge.
"This was a new tournament for us," said Adkins. "There were a lot of schools we never see, which is why we went there."
Cody Wildin made it to the final of the 119-pound division, losing his first match of the year, 8-6, to claim second.
Charlie Holub, who Adkins noted wrestled much better than he did Thursday, claimed second place in the 140-pound class.
Dillon Wildin reached the semifinal round in the 130-pound division, dropping a close 8-7 decision to an opponent from Class 4A Chapman. Wildin won the consolation match to finish third.
The Marion/Peabody-Burns squad will travel Thursday to Chase County for a double dual against the Bulldogs, and will participate Saturday in the Hesston invitational meet.
