GARNETT — Iola High School sent seven wrestlers to the Anderson County invitational on Saturday. Two Mustangs pinned down wins in their weight classes, while the team finished sixth with 114.5 points, a good showing amongst quality competition.
TJ Taylor (132 lb.) and Trent Jones (145 lb.) both ran the table en route to finishing first in their weight classes. Taylor won three matches via pin, the longest being his first match of the day against Santa Fe Trail High School’s Logan Caskey. That fall came 1:50 into the match. Taylor also won a match via decision and one via technical foul after gaining a 15-point lead over his opponent. Taylor dominated that round, pulling out to a 5-0 lead in the first 2:00 of round one. Taylor used his technical wrestling skills to get takedowns and cut off his opponent’s moves. Taylor is now 10-3 on the season.“It is always a good feeling when your wrestlers make it to the finals and win gold,” said IHS head coach Jason Bates.
Jones also ran the table, winning three matches via pin, and two on points. In the first-place match against Caney Valley’s Colton Walls, Jones took control early and didn’t give his opponent a chance to respond, ending the championship match via pin 50 seconds. In Jones’ two wins via points, he outscored his opponents 23-4, defeating Caney Valley’s Josh Moore 11-0, and defeating Anderson County’s Josh Wright 12-4. Jones is now 12-1 on the season.
Ryan Wools finished eighth in the 113 lb. weight class after losing his final two matches via injury. Wools’ lone win came via a bye in the first round. Wools is 3-6 on the season.Damian Wacker had an up-and-down day. Wacker finished the day fifth in the 120 lb. weight class with a record of 3-2. In Wacker’s third-round loss to Caney Valley’s Brayden Harris, Wacker dominated the first round. Wacker led for much of the match until Harris stormed back just before the buzzer to pick up a 9-7 win. Wacker won two matches via pin, and won the fifth-place match via injury. Wacker is 8-6 this season.
Korbin Cloud picked up his first wins of the season, going 2-3 and picking up a fourth-place finish in the 126 lb. weight class. Cloud’s two wins came via pin, one in round two over Wellsville’s Koy Randel and the other in round four against Caney Valley’s Jess Ellis. Cloud is 2-11 on the season.
“It is easy to quit when you meet adversity and things get tough,” Bates said. “It says a lot about Korbin to work harder rather than to quit. I anticipate better things after the Christmas break.”
Wyatt Westervelt made it to the third-place match in the 195 lb. weight class, finishing fourth after losing that match to Wellsville’s Cruz Farley via pin. Westervelt lost one other time, in round two against Labette County High School’s Cody Hambleton. Westervelt started the day in great fashion, winning his first-round match over Santa Fe Trail’s Jordan Phipps via pin in just 33 seconds. Westervelt is 6-7 on the season.
Dominic McGee went 3-2 in the 285 lb. weight class, finishing fifth. McGee gained each win via pin. McGee won the fifth-place match over Santa Fe Trail’s Cole Flory via pin in the second round. McGee is 8-7 on the season.
The Mustangs have two more competitions before the Christmas break. On Thursday, the Mustangs will compete at Humboldt High School. On Saturday, the Mustangs will compete at Cherryvale High School.
