The Trenton High School wrestling team traveled to Maryville Saturday for the Quad State Classic. In a field of nine teams from four different states, the Bulldogs took home fourth place with 135 points. Bedford-Lenox, IA won the tournament with 168 points, followed by Maryville, Cameron and Trenton.
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Trenton had two wrestlers bring home first place in their respective weight classes and in doing so, won their 100th career matches. Seniors Zach Kinnison and Kody Hill were able to reach the milestone win total in the tournament.
Hill hit his 100th win in the finals of the 152-pound division. After a win by fall and a win by an 11-2 major decision, Hill faced off with Seth Thomas of Bedford-Lenox. Thomas was 36-3 on the season, but Hill pulled out the win when he pinned Thomas at the 6:19 mark in sudden death overtime.
“Kody Hill is really wrestling well,” Coach Bill Hill said. “His finals match was a great one and it was a great way to pick up his 100th THS varsity career win.”
Like Hill, Kinnison also recorded his milestone win in the finals of the 285-pound weight class. Kinnison entered the tournament with a spotless 13-0 record and when he was finished, it had improved to 16-0. Kinnison won all three of his matches by fall on his way to the 285 title. Kinnison pinned Jason Davis of Maryville at the 0:31 mark in the finals to clinch the title.
“Zach Kinnison also hit the century mark for THS in the finals with a pin over a Maryville wrestler with a 23-1 record,” Hill said.
In addition to Kinnison and Hill winning first-place title, the Bulldogs had six other wrestlers medal in the top four.
Ethan Tabbert and Jason Bailey took home second-place medals, coming up just short in the finals.
Tabbert went 2-0 in the 215-pound division on his way to the finals. Both of Tabbert’s wins came via falls. In the finals, however, Tabbert lost by an 8-5 regular decision to Kyle Thompson of Cameron.
“Tabbert had another close battle with Thompson of Cameron,” Hill said. “It was another good match, even though we came up short.”
Bailey took second in the 125-pound weight class. Like Tabbert, Bailey advanced to the finals with two straight wins by fall. Both wins came in the first periods of his matches, sending him to his first tournament final of his career. Bailey was pinned, however, in the finals by Branden Cline of Bedford-Lenox.
Trenton also had a third-place winner in Mitchell Bailey in the 130-pound division. Bailey lost his first match, but rebounded with three straight wins to claim third place. In the final match-up, Bailey took an 8-2 decision win over Lathrop’s Wesley Bishop.
“Mitchell Bailey really impressed me with a third-place finish in a weight that was absolutely stacked with good wrestlers,” Hill said. “To get into the third-place match, Mitchell pinned a Bedford wrestler who already had 32 wins this season.”
Rounding out the Trenton medalists were Kade Kinney, Kody Hicks and Dalton Preston, all of whom captured fourth-place finishes.
Kinney took fourth in the 171-pound division with a 2-2 record. Kinney’s wins came by a fall and a 9-4 decision.
Hicks ran a 2-2 record as well, winning his matches by falls. Preston went 1-2, his one win being a bye.
Also wrestling for the Bulldogs in the tournament were Bruce Fair, who went 1-2 in the 112-pound division; Corey Holloway, who went 1-2 in the 119-pound division; Colton McClure, who went 1-2 in the 140-pound division; and Justin Brinser, who went 1-2 in the 189-pound division.
“We had a good tournament,” Hill said. “I was pleased to have eight kids medal, but honestly felt like we were capable of medaling at every weight. With schools from four different states there, we were able to see a lot of new competition.”
The Trenton wrestling squad will be back in action tonight as they play host to Marceline for what will be Senior Night in Trenton. The first match is scheduled for a 6 o’clock start.