Holton takes fifth, Rieschick takes a first at Sadowski Invitational
More than half of the Holton High School wrestlers participating in the annual Gerald Sadowski Memorial Tournament found themselves on the medalist’s stand Saturday, including a first-place showing from senior Justin Rieschick and three second-place efforts.
“We performed about where I thought we would,” HHS head wrestling coach Cullen Jackson said of the Wildcats’ performance at the annual Holton-hosted tournament, featuring 12 teams in all. “We came up a little short in some spots, but overall, the team we are is where we finished today.”
Overall, the Wildcats finished in fifth place behind Shawnee Heights, which finished at the top of the Sadowski tournament for a second year in a row, followed by Andover Central, Gardner-Edgerton and Rossville. Holton finished in second place last year and last won the tournament as a team in 2014.
Leading the Wildcats was Rieschick, who pulled off a come-from-behind, 9-8 win in the 145-lb. category over Jake Patterson of Shawnee Heights to earn first place in his division. Jackson praised Rieschick on “another gutsy performance.”
“He’s never one to quit,” Jackson said of Rieschick. “He’s always coming, whether he’s up by 10 or down by 10. He’s going to be in your face, and that’s what we expect from him. He’s fun to watch.”
Three other HHS wrestlers also made it to the final round, but finished in second place in their respective categories. HHS junior Tyler Price, in the 152-lb. division, lost a 10-5 decision to Rossville’s Isaiah Luellen; junior Spencer Baum, in the 160-lb. division, lost by fall to Dakota Rodd of Andover Central; and sophomore Kyler Tannahill, in the 195-lb. division, lost by fall to Shawnee Heights’ Brett Yeagley.
Jackson said the second-place finishers were “disappointed” not to be at their top of their respective divisions, but overall, they “had a really good day.” He praised the work of Price and Baum, adding that the latter is “really starting to come on for us” and is “headed in the right direction” as a wrestler, but also noted Tannahill’s progress as a wrestler.
“Kyler’s really starting to come on as a sophomore, and he’s starting to grow up a little bit and see some things that he missed in prior matches and weeks that he needs to see,” Jackson said.
Two other HHS grapplers also earned a spot on the medalist’s stand during Saturday’s tournament action. Juniors Tel Wittmer and Jameson Lutz made it to the semifinal round, with Wittmer beating Onaga’s Quentin Lara 3-2 to earn third place honors in the 220-lb. category and Lutz losing to Shawnee Heights’ Damon Ward 19-10 to take fourth in the 170-lb. division.
Other Holton wrestlers placing at the tournament were freshman Jayger Carson in fifth (138-lb. division) and sophomores Lawson Henry (132-lb. division) and Clay Baumgartner (285-lb. division) each taking sixth.
Saturday’s wins followed a Thursday afternoon home dual with Baldwin High School which saw the Wildcats taking a 50-19 defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs.
The Wildcat wrestlers will travel to Hoyt on Thursday for a three-way match with Royal Valley and Atchison County starting at 5:30 p.m. Then, on Saturday, the team will split up for a couple of invitational tournaments, with the varsity wrestlers going to Baldwin and junior varsity grapplers headed to Pleasant Ridge; both tournaments start at 9 a.m.
