News editor
Hillsboro High School Trojans wrestlers won two championships Friday and Saturday at the Halstead Invitational, and the Trojans placed sixth out of 21 teams.
Senior Tyrell Thiessen won the 285-pound division, defeating Billy Mersereau of Cherryvale in the finals, and freshman Austin Cross won at 145 pounds, defeating Nic Johnson of Halstead.
Thiessen fell behind on points in the first round against Mersereau, 5-3. But he tied the match at 5 points in the second round, and pulled away to win, 9-7.
Similarly, Cross fell behind 2-0 in the first round, and Johnson maintained the two-point margin in the second round, 5-3. Cross roared back with a five-point third round to win, 8-5.
Senior Tanner Jones and freshman Levi Mendoza also received medals for placing in the top six. Jones placed fourth in the 170-pound division.
Mendoza lost by default in the fifth-place match after suffering an injury in the consolation semifinals against Adam Janzen of Marion. Mendoza was holding on to Janzen as the Marion wrestler stood up and shook him off. Mendoza fell on the back of his head and neck.
Emergency medical technicians immobilized his head and neck and took him to be treated. Head coach Scott O’Hare said Mendoza had movement and feeling in his extremities when he was taken from the gym. O’Hare said the injury might be a neck sprain or a stinger.
Junior Preston Nelson was 1-2 at 152 pounds and did not place. Sophomore Jesse Meier was 1-2 at 160 pounds and did not place.
“Overall, I was pleased with our performance,” O’Hare said. “To have four out of six finish in the medal round and have two individual champions was a good way to finish out the weekend.”
The next tournament is the Eureka Invitational on Saturday.