Wrestlers Take Down 5A #1 Maize

The Rockets, currently ranked #2 as a team in Class 4A, traveled to Maize on Thursday to take on the Maize Eagles, the current #1 ranked team in Class 5A. Maize took 2nd this past weekend at the Newton Tournament of Champions ahead of the Rocket’s 4th place finish. However, Maize actually had the tournament won but lost points when a wrestler was disqualified from the tournament. Going into Thursday’s dual, both teams were missing quality wrestlers due to injuries and sickness. Nevertheless, this set up as a dual between two very good teams. Trent Richwine, filling in for Defending State Champion Johnny Leck at 106 lbs., got the Rockets on the board first as he took a forfeit giving the Rockets a 6-0 lead. However, the Rockets gave those points right back as they were open at 113 lbs. due to Adam Bilby, the top ranked 113 lb. wrestler in Class 4A, being sick. With the score tied 6-6, Sebastin Bentley took the mat for the Rockets and recorded a quick 0:31 fall over Colt Bowers of Maize in the 120 lb. match to give the Rockets a 12-6 lead. At 126 lbs., Damon Ingram recorded a 17-0 technical fall over Reece Parks to increase the Rocket lead to 17-6. Wrestling at 132 lbs., Boeden Whitted also recorded a first period fall in 0:57 over Luke Kelly of Maize giving the Rockets a 23-6 lead. The Eagles then mounted a comeback and recorded falls over the Rockets at 138 lbs., 144 lbs., and 150 lbs. to take a 24-23 lead over the Rockets. Maize was open at 157 lbs. and Lane Culbertson took the forfeit putting the Rockets back in the lead at 29-24. At 165 lbs., Leven Jones recorded a buzzer beating 1st period fall over Jonah Jackson of Maize to increase the Rocket lead to 35-24. However, the Eagles mounted their second comeback of the night as they recorded falls at 175 lbs. and 190 lbs. to again give the Eagles a one-point lead over the Rockets at 36-35. Bronx Wood took a forfeit at 215 lbs. to give the Rockets a 41-36 lead. The result of the entire dual now was placed on the shoulders of sophomore 285 lb. wrestler Milan Colvin, the current #1 ranked wrestler in Class 4A at 285 lbs. If the Eagles were able to record a fall, they would win the dual by one point. However, Colvin made quick work of Basilio Wilson of Maize pinning him in just 0:24 to clinch the 47-36 dual win for the Rockets. The wrestlers will be at the Eureka Tournament on Saturday. This is a tournament that the Rockets have done well in the last few years and hope to bring home another 1st place finish.