Wrestling Team Competes in First Tournament

The Waitsburg High School wrestling team competed in their first tournament in Connell on Saturday, December 9.

Koyen Fortune, the most experienced wrestler on the team, had to move up a weight class. Usually, he is in the 190-weight class. In his first match, Fortune got pinned in the second round at two minutes 45 seconds, and in the second, he pinned his opponent in 29 seconds.

Fortune wrestled Cardinal teammate Jarod Hankins in his third match, winning with a score of 7-3. Fortune lost 4-2 after three rounds in a hard-fought fourth match.

Hankins (190-weight class) is a first-year wrestler and ended the day with a 1-2 record.

Victor Whitmore (175-weight class) is another first-year wrestler who went 0-2 in his first tournament.

Coach Lash LaRue said, "Whitmore is going to do great when everything clicks, and I know it will click for him."

First-year wrestler Graycen Teal (175-weight class, had a record of 1-2 at Connell. He won his first match after three rounds, 14-8.

Tucker Hamilton (138-weight class) went 0-2 for the day. Hamilton went three rounds in his first match, losing 15-9, and was pinned by his opponent in his second match.

Akayden Mikesell (165-weight class) ended up 1-2 as a freshman on the Cardinal team. He did exceptionally well, considering he also had to move up a weight class. Mikesell won his first match by pinning his opponent in 43 seconds. He lost his second match by a score of 9-3, and he was pinned in his third match.

The team's next tournament will be in Pomeroy on December 30.