Gallatin varsity wrestlers are on a roll … one they hope will continue to pick up momentum as the season winds down toward conference and district tournaments.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
The Bulldogs knocked off Lathrop, 45-35, last Thursday in dual action, then finished second to the #7 ranked Mules in Saturday’s Lathrop seven-team invitational.
"We wrestled really well at Lathrop," said Bulldog head coach Phillip Limb. "Terrill (Wood) and Tyler (Brackett) were out this tournament," he added. "I was very pleased to bring home a team trophy."
Justin Taul beat Lathrop’s Tyler Rader (ranked #3 in the state), 10-8 in overtime, but lost a controversial match to Maysville’s Garrett Wightman by a 7-6 score. Taul received the second place medal because of a tie-break when Rader beat Wightman, 4-0.
"Levi Michener (135), Nick Lagodny (275) and Matt Atkinson (152) all looked really good on the day," their coach said. "Matt lost to #3 Rhoad (Jake) and Lagodny lost to #2 Cowherd (Adam). Ness (Brandon) got another big win against Maysville’s Max Whitsell for third place," Coach Limb added.
Peter Steele finished fourth in the 112-pound class for Gallatin. Michener captured first in the 135-pound class. Ryan Hicks placed third at 189 pounds. Jordan Phelps was a fourth-place finisher in the 215-pound class.
Gallatin hosted Lathrop and South Harrison last Thursday in a double dual. Taul, Wood, Michener, Ness, Hicks and Lagodny each won contested matches against Mule opponents.
Taul, Michener and Bo Malo won matches in Gallatin’s 60-15 victory over South Harrison.
Last Thursday was another great night for Bulldog grapplers.
"I feel we are starting to come around, and it is a good time of the year for this to be happening," said Limb. "We all wrestled well, including those who lost," he added. "Levi wrestled a tough kid from Plattsburg and just dominated him. Nick came through at the end of his match; he was down, 2-0, and came back to turn the kid in the third period and pin him. This was a pretty big heavyweight, much like him."
Gallatin torched West Platte, 69-9, with Peter Steele, Mitchell Lewis, Phelps, Hicks and Lagodny winning contested weight classes. Earning wins in a 57-22 triumph over Plattsburg were Wood, Michener, Ness and Lagodny.
The Bulldogs travel to Mid-Buchanan on Thursday for a double dual that also includes West Platte. Gallatin travels to Polo on Saturday with high hopes for a solid showing in the GRC Tournament.