By NICHOLAS KIMBALL

Staff writer

Both Hillsboro and Marion were unable to dominate Friday’s 15th annual Marion County Winter Dual hosted in both Marion and Hillsboro.

Sixteen teams participated.

Hillsboro finished in ninth place as a team, defeating Douglass and West Elk in the final bracket rounds.

Marion finished in 15th place after losing a tie-breaker to Remington but then defeating Central Burden in the final bracket rounds.

An ambulance was called to the Sports and Aquatic Center for an injured Center-Burden wrestler who was put in a neck brace and wheeled out on a stretcher.

“We have a small group this season, but they seem to really want to learn and get better each day in the practice room,” Marion coach Tyler McMichael said. “We will be hitting the mats over Christmas break to ensure that our wrestlers are working their way into the heart of the season in a well of position.”

The Warriors will be in Herington Jan. 11 for their next matches for the season.

“Conditioning and more offensive moves are going to be our main focus during break to make sure that the best Warrior wrestlers come into the New Year and are ready to hit the ground running,” McMichael said.

Hillsboro will be participating Jan. 9 in the Smoky Valley dual for its next matches.

“It was nice to get another competition in before Christmas break with several of our kids getting some quality mat time,” Hillsboro coach Scott O’Hare said. “We have several young and inexperienced wrestlers in the lineup and with every match, they learn more about the sport and about themselves.

“I have a good feeling that they will step up and get better as the season goes on, but the learning curve will have to get steeper.”