By Fred Liggett
FredL@lstribune.net
Since the month of January started the Lee’s Summit Tigers wrestling team has found it difficult to hit the mat for some competition. Thanks to inclement weather, the much anticipated 16 team Greater Kansas City tournament set for Staley High school was canceled. Then on Tuesday, January 22nd Mother Nature again intervened in the Tigers schedule this time postponing a home match against Park Hill South. Despite these setbacks the Tigers continue to work hard in practice and prepare for their next meet.
On Tuesday of this week the Tigers kept their original schedule plans to visit Van Horn High School for a triangular meet against the host Falcons and the Ruskin Eagles. Up first was the Tigers going up against the host team, Van Horn. The visiting Tigers saw success from the start thanks to a forfeit in the 106 pound match as Nathan Wishne did not have an opponent to wrestle. At 113, Trevor Wishne did have an opponent who he beat 6-2. A pair of pins by the Tigers happened at the 120 and 126 pound matches. Bryce McKeone pinned Van Horn’s Payton Moses with just 44 seconds left in the 120 pound match. Lorenzo Turney then pinned Juan Amparan just 47 seconds into the 126 pound match.
At 132, the Tigers Ayden Sheets kept the pin fever going as he pinned Steven Kampos in the first period. After no match in the 138 pound weight class the Tigers went back to work at 145 where Brennan Moore won by a pin with 1:09 left in the first period. Taylor Divers got in on the pin fun by pinning his opponent at 152 pounds with 39 seconds left. Later in the match, the Tigers scored a couple more wins by pin. Sean O’Conner took the 170 pound match with 1:36 left in the second period. At 195 the final pin of the night belonged to the Tigers Carter Pikulski as he got the best of Falcons Roberto Arias with 1:25 left in the first period. Lee’s Summit was able to win the match over Van Horn 45-30.
The Lee’s Summit Tigers wrestling team now prepares for the district tournament set to start on Saturday, February 9.
