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THS grapplers struggle at Kearney tourney

By Shawn Linenberger - | Dec 8, 2004

The guest from the Sunflower State didn’t receive a warm reception Saturday in Nebraska.

After a six-hour trip from Tonganoxie to Kearney, Neb., the Chieftain wrestling team found itself in a tough spot.

Tonganoxie finished last out of 11 teams in its inaugural trip to the Kearney Invitational. Grand Island won the tournament with 220.5 points, while Tonganoxie finished 11th with 60.

“We’ve got a lot to work on,” Tonganoxie coach Jeremy Goebel said.

Opponents pinned Tonganoxie grapplers 18 times. Opponents also had 51 takedowns to Tonganoxie’s 26.

“As a coach those should be reversed, as much as we work on our feet,” Goebel said.

Seniors Ross Starcher, Garrett Palmer and Hunter Samuels provided bright spots for Tonganoxie.

Starcher finished the day at 3-1 and placed second. Samuels finished 3-2 and placed fifth, as did Palmer.

“It was good for our seniors,” Goebel said. “They know where they’re at and how hard they need to work.”

Also placing for the Chieftains were Cameron Adcox (fifth) and Jeff Frank (sixth).

Host team Kearney placed second with 196.5 points, while Lincoln Southwest finished third with 176. Lincoln East placed fourth with 160.

It was a tough day for the Chieftains, but Goebel found some highlights. Shane Banks did well as a freshman, Goebel said, while another freshman had signs of success in his first high school meet.

“Ryan Stockman didn’t win a match, but he competed pretty well,” Goebel said.

Along with wrestlers who placed, Banks and Josh Maxon also earned victories for Tonganoxie.

Overall, THS went 13-27 in the tournament.

“It isn’t like we’re going to state next week,” Goebel said. “We’ve got time to heal some of the areas of problems we have on the mat until it really counts.”

Tonganoxie will have a much shorter bus ride when they travel Friday and Saturday to the Eudora Invitational.

The next weekend, however, the Chieftains will travel eight hours to the Goodland Tournament.

“Goodland’s going to be tougher than this tournament by far,” Goebel said, referring to the Kearney meet.

Team scores

1. Grand Island 220 1/2; 2. Kearney 196 1/2; 3. Lincoln SW 176; 4. Lincoln East 160; 5. North Platte 135 1/2; 6. Columbus 127 1/2; 7. Bellevue West 118; 8. Platteview 109; 9. Alliance 101; 10. Hastings 72; 11. Tonganoxie 60

THS Takedown leaders

Garrett Palmer 8, Hunter Samuels 4, Ross Starcher 4,
Shane Banks 3.

Records

Ross Starcher 3-1, Garrett Palmer 3-2, Hunter Samuels 3-2, Shane Banks 1-2, Josh Maxon 1-2, Cameron Adcox 1-3, Jeff Frank 1-3, Wyatt Coffin 0-2, Jeremy Dobbins 0-2,Shawn Everhart 0-2, Jonathan Ferris 0-2, Ryan Stockman 0-2, Beau Waters 0-2.