Hillsboro High School wrestlers fought against illness, injuries, and opponents last week.

Coach Scott O’Hare said the team was hit with various illnesses that kept several wrestlers out of practice throughout the week.

By Thursday, only five varsity wrestlers were able to compete in a Council Grove dual, where Raymond Johnson, Kaden Ward, Travis King, and Lane Flaming all pinned opponents, and Kyle Horton won 13-8.

“Even though we were shorthanded, we made things interesting,” O’Hare said.

However, Hillsboro lost the dual 27-30 because of points given up in open weight classes.

Several wrestlers had recovered by Friday’s tournament at Hoisington.

“They certainly were not all at 100 percent,” O’Hare said.

Johnston placed second at 113 pounds, receiving a bye and pinning three opponents, only to be defeated 18-8 in finals.

King took fourth at 145 pounds, winning his first match 8-4, receiving a bye, and getting a pin before he was pinned in his last two matches.

Mac Bartel placed fifth at 120 pounds; Horton, Hillsboro’s 152-pounder came in sixth; and 138-pounder Ward and 170-pounder Jaden Priest each placed seventh in their respective brackets.

“By the time we left Saturday morning to head to Marion for the junior varsity tournament, we only had three wrestlers healthy enough to compete,” O’Hare said.” We had planned on as many as nine. Some continued to battle illness, but we also had three suffer injuries Friday evening at Hoisington.”

O’Hare said illness and injury took away opportunities for quality mat time and experience.

“Time is running short,” he said. “We are going to have to be sharp and focused over the next couple weeks to get wrestlers prepared to make a run to qualify for state.”

The Trojans wrestle again Saturday at Lyons.