Trojan wrestlers take all three at home meet
Sports reporter
Senior night proved to be good for the Hillsboro Trojan wrestling team as it improved to 3-0 on the season with a sweep of Hoisington, Smoky Valley, and Marion.
The Trojans started the night with a 54-12 thumping of Smoky Valley.
Hillsboro's Alex Jost started the night off with a pin of Eric Mitchell in just one minute, three seconds in the 103-pound weight class.
After two opens Matthew Brown defeated Jake Coney 11-2 and HHS led 16-0.
With a loss at 135 pounds, the Trojans' lead was cut to 22-6, but they would lose just one more match the rest of the way.
Nicholas Mueller, Eric Cress, Grady Stultz, Matt Brown, Andrew Bina, Jacob Yoder, and CJ Shaw all picked up victories for the Trojans.
With just eight wrestlers, Hoisington didn't stand much of a chance against HHS, falling 72-6.
Hillsboro recorded six pins in the seven wrestled matches against the Cardinals.
At 2-0, the Trojans then battled their rival to the east, Marion, who also sat at 2-0.
Each team earned six points with opens in the first two classes, making the first match-up at 119.
Marion's Riley Ross got the best of senior Chris Jensen with a hard-fought 8-3 victory.
Marion won again at 125 when Hank Collett pinned Mathew Brown in 3:33, to up its lead to 15-6.
Mueller did his job at 130, with a 36-second pin against Thomas McGee.
Marion's Charlie Holub came right back with a pin at 135 against Tyler Jones.
Trailing 21-12, HHS needed someone to step up. At 140 senior Cress decided it would be him when he pinned freshman Mark Kukuk in 1:24.
The match continued back and forth when Marion's John Barr III took an 11-4 victory at 145 against Stultz.
Hillsboro threw two former state-qualifiers at MHS with the next two classes. Matt Brown and Bina both recorded pins in under three minutes to give the Trojans a 30-24 lead.
The flip-flop continued as MHS had Casey Nelson and 2005 state-placer Adam Depler up next. Nelson won 26 matches last year, and improved to 3-0 this year with a 36-second pin against Yoder.
Depler did the same with his record, knocking off Josh Kenny in just 26 seconds.
Trailing 36-30 with just two matches left, it was up to a pair of Shaws to get the job done.
CJ at 215, and Kurtis at 275, recorded pins of 20 and 29 seconds respectively to give Hillsboro the thrilling victory.
Head coach Scott O'Hare was happy with the victories, but wished his team could have wrestled Hoisington's full team.
"I was a little disappointed they didn't bring their best squad," he said. "I wanted to see how we matched-up against last year's league champ."
He was pleased his wrestlers came through against Marion in the clutch. He praised Kurtis and CJ, but also the rest of his team.
"There were 10 matches before those two," he said. "I'd like to think everyone contributed to the victory."
Hillsboro now sits atop the Mid-Central Activities Association with a 3-0 league record.
