[heading]Sam Crane takes individual title[/heading]

The Bruin wrestling team stayed close to home this weekend competing at the annual Hickman tournament. The Bruins got off to a strong start with six wrestlers advancing through pool wrestling Friday evening and Saturday morning undefeated.

The good times would continue to roll for the Bruins entering the semi final bouts, going a combined 5-1. Seniors Quinn Smith and Sam Crane both recorded first period pins at 132 and 145 pounds respectively. Senior Jason Kiehne earned a major decision victory over Will Minton of Northwest Cedar Hill 11-1 at 138 pounds and sophomore Josiah Kline recorded a decision over Dalton Kenig 10-3 at 120 pounds. The only semi final blemish came at 152 pounds where junior Graham Ratermann dropped a 4-3 decision against Caleb McIntosh. At 182 pounds senior Cody Maly advanced on an injury default against Andrew Erxleben of Northwest Cedar Hill.

In the championship bouts the Bruins kept rolling crowning four individual champions. At 120 pounds Kline defeated Jefferson City’s Corbin Howard 4-2 to claim his second Hickman Tournament title in as many years. At 132 pounds Smith defeated Jeff City’s Jacob Brune 4-3 to take home the title. Continuing with the trend Kiehne beat Alec Bise of Jeff City 7-2 at 138 pounds. At 145 pounds Crane faced off against Jeff City’s Logan Moriaty. Previously Moriaty defeated Crane 7-6 this time around Crane avenged the loss recording a 4-0 decision. At 182 pounds Maly dropped a hard fought match 6-5 to Wyatt Parker of Blue Springs South.

Additionally Ratermann finished third at 152, freshman Brock Davis finished fifth at 106, seniors Jonah Smith and Harry Stanton finished sixth at 170 and 220 and senior Tanner Czaicki finished seventh at 195.

Despite the Bruins going 4-0 against Jefferson City in title bouts and the Jays going a combined 1-6 in championship matches with their sole individual title coming at 170 pounds behind Jalen Martin the Jay’s took home the team title with 286 points. Parkway South finished second with 259 points, and Northwest Cedar Hill barely edged the Bruins for third with 251 team points compared to the Bruins 247 points.

By Graham Ratermann
The Bruins next see action this Tuesday against class four sixth ranked Seckman and class three second ranked Staley. The upcoming dual will be senior night for the fifth ranked Bruins and features a very possible state finals match up as Sam Crane will square off against Seckman’s Brock Wingbermuehle, both wrestlers have spent time this season as the number one ranked wrestler at 145 pounds.