Randy Eaton at MSHSAA State wrestling tournament.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Find out how to advertise here - Email us! [email protected]
Randy Eaton’s path toward a medal at last weekend’s MSHSAA State Wrestling Championships could hardly have taken a route lined with more roadblocks and pitfalls. Making his second appearance at the state tournament, Eaton lost twice against the stiffest possible competition in the 160-pound weight division, and came home empty- handed.
Eaton entered the tournament with a healthy 24-6 record but as the #4 finisher at sectional, he was destined to go up against one of the very best 160-pounders in his opening match. Seneca’s Matt Miller won his sectional tournament and came to state with a 35-0 record. Miller beat Eaton by fall in their opening match on Thursday but by virtue of Miller’s victory in his next match, Eaton earned another shot in the wrestleback round.
This time Eaton squared off against Lawson’s Rich Schwab, the #2 finisher in his sectional tournament. Schwab piled up points throughout the match and took a 9-0 major decision that knocked
Eaton out of the state tournament.
Miller went on to capture the title in the 160-pound division. Schwab, whose only loss came to Miller in the quarterfinal round, eventually finished 3rd. The 2nd place state finisher in the 160- pound class was Platte County’s Kiel Giese, who beat Schwab, 2-1, in last week’s sectional.
Eaton, a 3-time sectional qualifier, wrapped up the 1999-2000 wrestling season with a 24 victories and 8 losses, all at the hands of eventual state medalists. He will take a record of 67 wins and 33 losses into his senior season.