Wrestlers Compete in Winnemucca

“Because we’re young and inexperienced, and involved in our first matches of the season, we didn’t perform very well at the 24-team Lowry Cody Louk Invitational wrestling meet in Winnemucca last week.”

Those were the thoughts of Eureka head wrestling coach Jeremy Auch. “It was a shocker for the kids because they are going up against 3A and 4A kids, most of whom had already gone to at least two tournaments and this was our first. We scheduled this one because it is about the only one in our northern area this given weekend, or you could go down south or out of state,” he said.

Auch reported that Ashton Sanders (120) was 1-2. Wyatt Anderson (132) was 2-2. Garrett Todd (138), Preston Hubbard (145) and Chris Dolan (152) each lost both of their matches.

Anderson was pinned in his first match with Michael Garcia of Fernley. He had a bye in his first match in the consolation round. Won his next two consolation matches by pin over Nate Dimitroff of Wooster, and Alex Monroe of Galena, but then was himself pinned by Walter Gudiel of Sparks.

Auch said his wrestlers have not reached the level they should be performing at, although it is early in the season. “What is happening is that the kids are looking at the name of the school the opponent comes from and being overwhelmed by that when instead you need to look at the person and not where he comes from. We need to be more mentally prepared, wrestle the kid and not the school. Every kid is beatable.”

This weekend Eureka is participating in the Mustang Invitational in Lovelock. Auch said, “There will be a lot of the same teams as at Winnemucca, but quite a few of them will bring their JV squads also.”

During the Christmas break the Vandals will be involved in the Ely Lions tournament Dec. 21.