By Students Ashlyn Metz, Kesley Reed, Rocky Johnson
The triangular in the Saints high school gym became a dual between Southeast Warren/Melcher-Dallas wrestling (SEW-MD) and Colfax-Mingo as Baxter was unable to attend.
Out of the six Melcher-Dallas wrestlers, only three competed; freshman Kyler Reschly, junior Marshawn Thordarson, and senior Tucker Branson.
Freshman Hudson Cox, sophomore Trace Mann, and senior Eric Kirkpatrick did not compete. Freshman girls wrestler Layla Starckovich did not wrestle either.
The triangular was also senior night for Branson and Kirkpatrick.
Eric Kirkpatrick celebrates senior night with his parents
Branson enjoyed the meet, winning his singular match by pinfall. He said the feeling of the home meet was “awesome. The last time I wrestled at home, I was in 7th grade.” He added he was happy with the result of most of the shots he had taken this season. “Most of my matches, the shots were positive.”
Tucker Branson moments before his win by pinfall
Kirkpatrick, in his first year back on the mat, said that repetitive practice and hard work were driving him through the season. His goals through the rest of the season were taking more risks and shots, and “to win more matches and finish up strong.”
Thordarson also went 1-0, winning his solo match by pinfall, claiming “It was my best one.” He credited the support of the crowd. “Everyone was hyped.”
On January 24th, Cox wrestled at the I-35 tournament, with “a lot of tough competition” but “wrestled well and kept a high lead.” He placed first at the tournament in his weight class. He added, “I feel like I have improved on the mental aspect of it and a lot of different positions of wrestling.”
Throughout the season, Reschly felt like he improved on “takedowns and finishing them on top.” His favorite moment so far this season was at AGWSR, where he won the bracket.
The AGWSR meet was a strong one for the Saints, with Cox finishing first as well. Kirkpatrick, Branson, and Thordarson placed second, third, and fourth, respectively to help SEW-MD wrestling win the meet.
The group feels they have improved on taking shots since the beginning of the season. They all said this comes from their coaching and work put in at practice. Starckovich specified her shots to the right leg have improved working with her practice partner.
Starckovich’s goal for the season is to get five pins. Currently, she is at three, with two of those coming from the Central Decatur meet.
There is excitement about the future of Melcher-Dallas wrestling, with good numbers in the middle school coming up. Branson mentioned "more kids are going out, which makes me happy.”
Cox shared the same view, hoping for more numbers to bolster the Melcher-Dallas side of the shared school roster in future seasons.
Cox is undefeated in the season and is ranked 3rd in the state in his weight class at the time of this article. He has high hopes of competing at state this year. Other wrestlers share the same goal to wrestle at Casey’s Center (formerly Wells Fargo Arena).
SEW-MD wrestling continues on January 29th at the Southwest Valley Triangular. January 31st is the AC/GC Charger Invitational. February 2nd is the East Union Dual Tournament.