This was in today's (Wednesday, 12/17) ElDorado Times:
Open weights torpedo EHS' tourney chances
By LIONEL TIPTON Sports Editor
As it had just a couple of nights earlier, El Dorado High had some standout performances from individual wrestlers.
But just as in Thursday night's matches, the Wildcats didn't have enough individuals to keep from losing points where they had to have open weight classes and could manage just a fifth-place finish in Saturday's El Dorado Invitational in the EHS gym.
Augusta won the tournament with 196 points, even though the Orioles had only two wrestlers who won their weight class - same as EHS.
For the Wildcats, Cale Demel at 119 pounds and Wes Barrett at 135 maintained dominance in their respective weight classes.
Wildcats coach Rob Gray said Monday that no wrestler scored on Barrett in the entire tournament.
The Wildcats also had runner-up finishes from Lukas Long at 140 pounds and Ryan Allison at 145.
“We had some good things happen, but some weights are still a problem,” Gray said.
El Dorado finished with two firsts, two seconds and two thirds. Finishing third were Tyler Sutherland at 125 pounds and Chris Bullock at 189.
With a tough meet ahead at defending Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division III champion Buhler on Thursday, Gray said the Wildcats will be hard-pressed to win a meet without being able to field more wrestlers.
“Our best guys are going to have to win every match with pins,” Gray said.
And, with a formidable Buhler squad looming just ahead, Gray said the Wildcats' battle plan is a simple one.
“We want to hang close to their kids,” he said. “If we do that, we'll be all right.
“But, if we don't address the weight issue, we could have problems.”
El Dorado Invitational
Team scores: 1. Augusta 196, 2. Altamont-Labette County 158.5, 3. Wichita Northwest 157, 4. Buhler 148, 5. El Dorado 119, 6. Council Grove 106, 7. Circle 83, 8. Wichita North 72.5, 9. Parsons 65, 10. Wichita East 31.
EHS wrestlers who placed
119 - Cale Demel, first place; 125 - Tyler Sutherland, third; 130 - Joe Thomas, sixth; 135 - Wes Barrett, first; 140 - Lukas Long, second; 145 - Ryan Allison, second; 189 - Chris Bullock, third.
Circle wrestlers in top four
112 - J.J. Criss, first; 119 - Andrew Hoyt, third; 145 - Ben Ruth, third; 152 - Matt Prohn, third.
