Warriors get a hand from fans, split two home duals
Sports reporter
At the high school level in Kansas, wrestlers have one chance to shine at home. One meet to show their fans what they are made of.
Marion-Florence Peabody-Burns' chance was Thursday. Despite a 1-1 night, fans were treated to some good wrestling.
The first match pitted the Warriors against Hillsboro, and unfortunately for MFPB it was the same story. Had one Hillsboro pin been a Marion pin, the result would have been different. Instead the Warriors fell to the Trojans, 40-30.
Freshman Adam Regnier was the first wrestler on the board for MFPB. With his team trailing 12-0, Regnier was tied 8-8 with senior and former state qualifier Chris Jensen. As the seconds ticked away in the final minute, Regnier escaped Jensen's grip and was awarded one point.
Jensen tried for a takedown in the final seconds, but Regnier held him off and took a 9-8 victory.
"He was one of the best I've wrestled this year," Regnier said. "I just held him off at the end for the win. [The crowd] really got me pumped up."
Adkins was impressed with the young wrestler.
"He stepped up big tonight," he said.
Hillsboro turned the tables the next few matches, and jumped out to a 34-9 lead.
As the match headed toward the heavier classes and more experienced wrestlers, the Warriors started to claw back.
However it was one young wrestler who helped with the comeback as well.
Hector Cardenas was forced to wrestle in Casey Nelson's spot at 171, after usually competing at 160.
The freshman looked shaky at first, but battled back to earn a pin and his third victory of the season.
"I gave him a shot and he took advantage of it," Adkins said.
Casey Nelson wrestled up one class at 189 and earned MFPB six points with a pin. Adam Depler then earned a forfeit at 215. Trailing 40-24 heading into the final match, it didn't matter what Shawn Britton did against Hillsboro's Kurtis Shaw.
But don't tell the Warriors fans.
Britton, who sat out all of last year and the first half of this season, was 5-1 heading into the match. The only blemish of his career was to Shaw Jan. 7 in the Herington invitational.
Britton slugged it out for all six minutes, shook off a bloody nose, and dominated Shaw 7-2.
MFPB had lost by 10, but judging by the crowd noise after the match it seemed the Warriors had come out on top.
"There were more people here tonight than we've ever had," Adkins said. "We appreciate that they're here. This is new to the community and we have great support."
After a break MFPB came out a little slow and fell behind 15-3 to Lincoln. Victories from Hank Collett, Gavin Moore, Depler, and Charlie Holub enabled the Warriors to come out on top 42-24.
The youth of the Warriors showed in the two matches, but Adkins was glad to see some progress.
"It's a great problem to have," he said. "The young guys are getting better every day."
Eureka
Four wrestlers placed Saturday at the Eureka invitational.
Depler continued to lead MFPB with a third-place finish in the 189-pound class.
Moore evened his record to 10-10 with a fourth-place finish at 152 pounds.
Nelson (171) and Britton (275) both took fifth at the invitational.
Nelson still leads the team with 16 victories against only six losses, and Depler improved his record to 15-6.
Britton, who had lost just one match coming in, now stands at 9-3 on the season.
MFPB will compete Saturday at Halstead in the Mid-Central Activities Association tournament.
