Four Champions pace Runner-up finish at Clay

The eleven-team Clay Center Invitational involved ranked teams from all four classes, from 321A to 6A. Included in the field was Andale, ranked #1 in 4A and all-class. When the dust settled at the end of the day, the Vikings made a statement with nine place-winners, including five finalist and four champions. The performance was good enough for a second place finish, twelve points behind Andale.

Individual champions included; senior Geoff Garrison (138), junior Nathan Stanley (195), senior AJ Brown (220), and junior Dylan Hall (285). Senior Zach Pittman (120) also made the finals, but came up short. Junior Brandon Fuller (145) was third and seniors Dylan Kadous (152) and Branden Watson (182) were fourth. Finishing fifth were seniors Jonathan Boucher (126) and Aaron Cool (170). Also participating were; freshmen Jaelynn (106) and Daemeion Gay (132), and senior Alex Statelman (160).
Garrison finished 5-0 on the day with two falls, one of which came in dramatic fashion in the finals. With only seconds remaining in the match and down by three points, Garrison hit a powerful feet-to-back technique and secured the fall. Stanley went 4-0 on the day with three falls. He continued his domination in the finals with a solid 4-0 decision over his ranked Salina South opponent. Brown is back in the line-up after a year’s absence and demonstrated why he is a welcomed addition. He finished the day 3-0 with two falls and a 14-1 major decision. Hall made it three Seaman titles in a row when he tallied his fourth fall of the day in only twenty-two seconds. His 4-0 record on the day with four falls brings his season total to 8-1 with a team-leading seven falls. Pittman continues to be the engine that gets the team started in the lower weight classes. His 4-1 record on the day ups his cumulative to 8-2 on the young season. He has now made the finals in the first two tournaments and has recorded five falls this season. Fuller ended with a 4-1 record that included an important one-point nail biter over his Centennial League foe from Junction City and a controlled decision in his third-place match. Kadous and Watson continue to be competitors that the team can count on. Kadous was 3-2 on the day, Watson 2-2. In his match for third-place, Watson fell behind 13-0 heading into the final period. He gathered himself and nearly earned a fall in the third. He came up short by a 13-6 score, but demonstrated the concept of never giving up and wrestling the entire match. Boucher was 2-2 and Cool 3-2 on the day. Cool was in a deep weight class with several talented athletes. He earned a decisive 8-3 win over his Junction City opponent for fifth-place. Jaelynn and Daemeion, along with Stattelman did not place, but contributed to the success of the team and continue to show improvement.

Guillen was still out of the line up at 160 and is expected to return to the mat soon.


2011 Clay Center Invitational
Andale 162.5 (#1 - 4A and All-class)
SEAMAN 150.5 (#10 - 5A)
Clay Center 103.5 (#6 - 4A)
Holton 103.5
Salina South 79.5
Beloit 79 (#6 - 321A)
Marysville 72
Norton 64
Junction City 57.5 (#9 - 6A)
Ellsworth 27.5
Rock Creek 23