Seven Mustang wrestlers took to the mat on Saturday at the junior varsity tournament in Cherryvale and each one posted a sterling finish ending the day with a 19-0 overall record.
Freshmen TJ Taylor, Adam Atwell, Trent Jones and Trenton Varney, sophomore Logan Brown, junior Casen Barker and senior Elijah Luedke waded their way through the field of competition on their way to one of the better finishes for Iola at any tournament over the past several seasons.
We must be doing something right, head coach Jason Bates said. We had two upperclassmen who have roughly four months of wrestling experience and a sophomore and four freshmen. We need all the experience we can get in order to be ready for postseason play in February.
In the 104-112 pound division, Taylor started things off with a win by decision over Independences Jude Stafford, followed by a 9-0 major decision win over Cherryvales Dalton Morrill. Taylor got a forfeit win over Coffeyvilles Jesse Hall in the third and final round.
In the 125-137 pound division, Atwell started with a pin over Chanutes Danny Bolling, a tech fall over Cherryvales TreJon Price and a pin of Eries Lane Pickett.
In the 138-143 pound division, Jones opened with a pin of Carl Junction, Mo.s Ethan Hall. After a second round bye, Jones wrapped things up with a 15-0 tech fall over Fort Scotts Cameron Harper.
In the 144-154 A division, Varney pinned Jacob Brinkman from Chanute in the first round before pinning Southeast-Cherokees Seth Ferguson in round two. Varney kept the pins going with a round three fall of Burlingtons Jordan Hartpence.
In the 144-154 B division, Barker pinned Fort Scotts Caine Posa and Chanutes Trenton McIntire in the first two rounds before a win by decision over Caney Valleys Brec Wiliams.
In the 160-169 pound division, Luedke opened with a 23-6 tech fall over Dayton Blackburn in round one and followed that up with a pin of Chanutes Jacob Adams. Luedke won by decision over Carl Junctions Clayton Ross.
Brown kept his undefeated streak alive and well with a win by decision over Southeast-Cherokee in round one and a 16-1 tech fall over Labette Countys Noah Simmons.
The Mustangs head into winter break after this week of practice, returning Jan. 5 for Burlingtons Invitational.
