Thiessen loses tough match in championship final
Four Hillsboro High School wrestlers placed Saturday in the Charles McMillen Invitational at Herington.
Tanner Jones won first place in the 170-pound weight class. He won his first two matches, against wrestlers from Abilene and Bluestem, by pin. He defeated a wrestler from Chapman, 3-1 in overtime, in the championship match. Jones won the match with a single-leg takedown in overtime after showing considerable patience, Hillsboro Coach Scott O’Hare said.
“By staying in good position, keeping his composure, and staying patient against a quality opponent, Tanner saved his best attack of the tournament,” O’Hare said. “In the past, Tanner has gotten easily frustrated by strong opponents as they defended off his attacks. In his finals match, he learned he could still score on those guys; he just has to capitalize when the opportunity presents itself.”
Tyrell Thiessen lost in the championship match of the 275-pound class to a wrestler from Chapman to place second. He lost the match, 7-4; his opponent earned two of his seven points and benefited from five points in penalties against Thiessen, O’Hare said.
“Tyrell suffered what I might consider one of the most difficult losses I have seen from one of our wrestlers,” O’Hare said.
Thiessen won his first match against a wrestler from Remington by pin. He defeated a wrestler from Abilene, 6-5, in his second bout.
Austin Cross placed third in the 145-pound class, despite battling a fever much of the day. Cross lost in the second round by fall to a wrestler from Wabaunsee. He fought his way up the consolation bracket with a 6-3 win over a wrestler from Chapman and won the third-place match over a wrestler from Abilene.
Preston Nelson had a similar day to Cross in the 152-pound class. He won his first match by pin over a wrestler from Chase County but then he was pinned in the second round by a wrestler from Council Grove. He responded by winning his next two matches against wrestlers from Wambaunsee and Bluestem by pin to place third.
“With the exception of a costly mistake in his second round match, Preston put in his most solid performance of the season, dominating his other four matches of the day,” O’Hare said. “If Preston continues learning and improving his technique, he will have an outstanding second half of the season.”
Levi Mendoza, wrestling at 182 pounds, was the only other Hillsboro grappler to win a match, besting an Abilene wrestler by pin in his first match.
Although he lost both of his matches at 120 pounds, Jon Carey wrestled for the first time this season, recovering from a knee injury.
“I believe Jon will really progress quickly now that he is healthy and surprise people over the next couple of months,” O’Hare said.