Kirtland placed three wrestlers among the top six in their respective weight classes at the Perry Pin City Invitational over the weekend.
Konnor Duncan, Ethan Thomas and Brayden Adkins each finished in sixth place for the Hornets, who were one of just three Division III teams in the 17-team event.
“We’re making sure our guys are getting better quality tournaments by going to Willoughby South, Kenston and Perry,” said Kirtland coach Scott Francis. “We’ve got a lot of young guys on the team and they’re seeing some good wrestlers. We’re seeing steady improvement from them.”
Duncan finished pool wrestling with a 1-1 record then went 1-3 in the 126-pound championship bracket. Thomas finished sixth at 138 with a 3-4 record and Adkins finished 2-4 at 152.
Carter Williamson (106), Brandon Hepper (132), Aidan Marsh (145), Will Robertson (160), Austin Mayo (195) and Jeff Kusar (285) also competed for the Hornets. Kusar opened the tournament with back-to-back losses then reeled off three straight pins and a decision to finish 4-2.
“We’re learning lots of things against good opponents,” Francis said. “Every tournament they’re getting a little bit further in the tournament and every time they do that they do a little bit more learning.”
Kirtland hosts VASJ and St. Ignatius on Thursday then travel to Cardinal on Friday for a head-to-head dual against the Huskies.
