With the District tournament coming up this weekend and the State tournament following that, the Hannibal wrestling team had one more tournament on its schedule for the 2009-10 season.
On Saturday the Pirates headed to Francis Howell Central for the final regular-season tournament.
Four Pirates picked up four wins at the tournament, but no one could get the elusive fifth win for a tournament title. The result of the four wins was three second place finishes and a third place finish.
“We didn’t have the best weekend in the world,” Hannibal head coach Derek Greening said. “I think most of us lost a match that we felt like we should have won. Thankfully it’s still the preseason, pretty much, so we’ll get the few little things fixed and get ready for Districts this weekend”
Jacob Janes (140 pounds) and Phillip Perry (160 pounds) both earned second place finishes with their matching 4-1 records. Prior to the tournament, Janes had lost just three times this season while Perry has only been beaten once.
“We lost to some competition,” Greening said. “Those things happen. Better to happen now than at the end of the year.”
Jake Borgemeyer (215 pounds), was the other second place finisher. The freshman fought his way through the field to a 4-1 finish.
“Jake’s wrestling really well,” Greening said. “You don’t get many freshman at 215, so he’s beating juniors and seniors. He’s really wrestling well. Hopefully we can keep improving on the little things he’s been working on and see where it gets us.”
Kyle Wessel (135 pounds) also had a 4-1 record, but his one loss didn’t come in the finals. Wessel lost earlier in the tournament, but came back to win the third place match.
Blake Jarman wasn’t in the four-win club, but he did manage to pick up a second place finish. Jarman (145 pounds) went 3-2 on the day for his No. 2 placing.
Brady Ruby (152 pounds) and Jordan Strickland (285 pounds) were the other placers for Hannibal. The duo went 3-2 and placed fourth for the Pirates.
Jordan Shipley (125 pounds) and Bryant Ruby (130 pounds) were both 2-2 and did not place in the tournament.
Hannibal will be back on the mat tonight. In the final dual of the season, the Pirates will visit Helias High School in Jefferson City to take on the Crusaders. The meet will start at 6 p.m.
“My main goal for tomorrow is to go down there, get a little experience and come out healthy,” Greening said. “That’s a concern this time of year — especially when we wrestle live and against a team like Helias. There’s always that chance that something weird could happen and I’d be tickled if we came out of there healthy.”
