During the course of the three-day state tournament, the wrestling team scored 51.5 points to finish eighth out of 20 teams, improving over last year’s 11th place finish by six points.
Sophomore Sam Crane led the Bruins with his victory in the 132 weight class championship bout yesterday over Parkhill junior Russell Coleman, who had defeated first-ranked Seckman senior Matt Kraus in the semi-finals.
The victory was Crane’s first state championship after he lost last year’s championship bout in the 125 weight class.
The Bruin’s other top six finisher was senior Trent Johnson in the 145 weight class. Johnson finished fourth after two overtime matches in consolation wrestlebacks. He defeated Winnetonka senior Mario Partridge 2-1 in fourth-round wrestlebacks to secure a spot in the third place match, where he lost to Francis Howell Central junior John Wood.
“I’m sure at some time I’ll look back and be really happy about this, but right now I wanted better,” Johnson said after his fourth place finish. “But it happens.”
Rounding out the Bruins’ squad was sophomore Quinn Smith, winning two matches to score four team points in the 113 weight class; sophomore Jason Kiehne winning two matches and scoring five points in the 120 weight class; senior Harry Schauwecker winning two matches to score three points in the 170 weight class; and sophomore Cody Maly won one match to score one team point in the 182 weight class.
By Jack Schoelz