By DAVID COLBURN

News editor

A Hillsboro wrestling team short on experience and long on youth got a boost of confidence Saturday when it took second among 16 teams at the Hesston Invitational.

“This was definitely a team effort as all but one wrestler scored team points,” head coach Scott O’Hare said. “To make the achievement even more satisfying is that we were also missing two wrestlers in the varsity line-up due to illness. This group really came together and supported each other in an effort to bring home some team hardware.”

The Trojans entered the final round in third place, and got the performances they needed to move up a spot in the standings.

Chief among the contributors were first-place finishers Mack Bartel, Travis King, and Jon Carrey. Bartel won the 106-pound division with wins by fall over wrestlers from Wichita Independent, Remington, and Halstead. King defeated Noah Albin of Marion by fall to win the 126-pound class. Carrey took the 132-pound crown with three wins that included a 14-4 major decision over Hesston’s Austin Sims.

“I am very happy for Mack and Travis, both earning their first ever high school varsity tournament championships,” O’Hare said. “Carey looks to be building off the success he was having near the end of last season.”

Levi Mendoza picked up second in the 182 pound class, claiming falls over wrestlers from West Elk and Remington before losing in the championship to Adam Janzen of Marion.

Austin Morgan and Jesse Meier scored third-place finishes. O’Hare called Morgan’s performance “one of the most impressive and gutsy” of the tournament, as Morgan wrestled through back pain that forced him to forfeit a semifinal match.

Hillsboro and Marion will co-host the Marion County Winter Duals on Saturday.