By RYAN RICHTER

Staff writer

Despite the Christmas season just ending, the Trojan wrestling team received a late gift—enough competitors to acquire a team score at tournaments.

In its first action of 2018, Hillsboro was able to score 44 points and finish 12th out of 15 competitors Saturday at the Herington Invitational.

Chapman was the overall winner, comfortably beating runner-up Abilene, 220-186 1/2.

Highlights for Hillsboro were fifth-place finishes by Mack Bartel and Jordan Bachman and a sixth-place finish by Andre Patton.

“It was nice to get all of them in the lineup for the first time this season,” Trojan coach Scott O’Hare said. “The individual results and team scores paint a picture of a rough, unsuccessful day and it was rough as far as wins and losses.

“However, it was not entirely unsuccessful. I think we learned some important lessons from many matches today. In some situations, individuals figured out some techniques that they’re capable of and hopefully gained some confidence in using them.”

In the 120-pound class, Bartel finished 3-2, outlasting Abilene’s Chevy Faunce, 6-5, for fifth place.

The 126-pound Bachman was also 3-2, pinning Mulvane’s Jacob Bush in 4:49 in the fifth-place match.

Andre Patton’s highlights were avenging a previous loss to Halstead’s Ivan Gutierrez, securing a 14-12 decision by scoring the winning points with less than 10 seconds remaining.

Patton finished 2-3 in the 138-pound division. Abilene’s Colby Mohr clinched fifth place with a 3:54 pin fall.

Also competing were Charlie Major (1-4), Taryn Norstrom (0-5), Dylan Horton (1-5), and Ethan Plenert (1-5).

The Trojans will travel Friday to Halstead for the Halstead Tournament with action starting at 4 p.m.