By Michael Buhler
TSnews
The Eisenhower Tigers got a pair of strong performances on the mats last week as they head into the home stretch of the high school wrestling season.
Eisenhower took ninth while placing three wrestlers in the top four at the Andover Trojan Wrestling Tournament last Saturday, just two days after the Tigers defeated Salina Central 35-31 in an Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division II dual.
At Andover, Derek Yuza (285 pounds) and Israel Garza (145) each took second, with Yuza just missing first place in a 4-3 loss to Cole McAuliffe of Kapaun-Mt. Carmel in the finals. Chance Holmgren (138 pounds) pinned Rhett Briggs of El Dorado to take third, while Ashton Smith (152) finished fourth and the duo of Gabe Rosenstiel (113) and Brayden Blasi (120) each finished fifth. Dakota Cook (160 pounds) and Carter Dickman (182) both finished sixth.
Against Salina Central last Thursday, Blasi (120 pounds), Kerigan Burkhart (160) and Yuza (285) all pinned their opponents, while Holmgren (138) won by technical fall and two more wrestlers – Williams (126) and Dakota Cook (170) – won by decision. Noah Packard (195 pounds) also picked up a forfeit win as the Mustangs were open at his weight.
The Tigers are tentatively scheduled to host AVCTL II rival Andover on Thursday.
