Led by first place finishes from senior Levi Michener and junior Dylan Leeper, Gallatin’s varsity wrestling team captured the team title on Friday in the Carrollton Invitational Wrestling Tournament.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
In their first tournament action of the season, the Bulldogs piled up 230 points to edge runnerup Versailles, with 218 points. Gallatin brought home 12 individual medals from the seven-team competition.
"We went into the tournament thinking we could finish in the top three," said head wrestling coach Barron Gann. "We had some of our young kids step up and win some big matches and our older kids did what they were supposed to do," he added. "I have been coaching this sport a long time and this is by far the hardest working team I have ever coached."
Michener won by fall over Tarkio’s Chris Sloop to capture the championship in the 160-pound weight class. Leeper pinned Carrollton’s Dillon Adams to win the 215-pound weight class.
Gallatin earned four second-place finishes in the tourney.
Terrill Wood fell by decision to Isiaih Clark of Versailles in the tile match of the 135-pound class. Chad Ness fell to Plattsburg’s John Hales in the 140-pound class. Matt Atkinson finished runnerup to Lathrop’s Kaleb Hartzell in the 152-pound class. Myrick McLey finished second to Carrollton’s Bill Grohs in the heavyweight division.
Sterling and Peter Steele each won final matches of the day to finish in third place. Sterling won by fall over Andrew Teel of Versailles. Peter pinned Lathrop’s Jake Glidewell for a similar honor.
Earning fourth place finishes for the Bulldogs were Blake Cornett (103), Zach Lollar (119), Jordan Bradley (171) and Hayden Bott (189).
Coach Gann hopes his Bulldogs can build upon last week’s success as they move on to another tournament.
"This tournament was a good confidence builder for the young kids," he said. "This will be a big boost going into the Trenton Tournament this weekend, with teams the caliber of Cameron, Maryville and Lathrop it’s going to be a tough tournament," he added. "I think if we can finish in the top three that will be a successful tournament."
Gallatin wrestlers travel to Trenton on Saturday for more tournament action. The double dual originally scheduled for Dec. 8 has been rescheduled for Dec. 22 in the Gallatin Middle School gym.