Bulldogs Send Eight To Sectionals

McAtee, Gibler, Johnson Grab District Titles

There have been better days at the district wrestling tournament for the Trenton High School program. With the pedigree of Trenton wrestling, that will almost always be the case. But, that doesn’t mean Saturday’s showing at the Class 1, District 7 wrestling tournament in Marceline wasn’t a resounding success.
Though the team standings showed Trenton in third place out of seven teams when everything was all said and done, the Bulldogs had six wrestlers competing in the title match of their respective weight classes. Another two Trenton wrestlers finished in the top four, making for a total of eight Bulldogs who will continue their season at this Saturday’s sectional tournament at Mid-Buchanan High School in Faucett.
Trenton’s two returning state medalists took the first steps toward repeating that feat as Hunter McAtee (113) and Caleb Johnson (220) each laid claim to district championships at their respective weights.
McAtee, a third-place medalist at 106 at last year’s state tournament, received a double-bye into the championship match of the 113-pound bracket. There he faced South Harrison’s Mason Hamilton. It was a battle of two 30-plus win wrestlers and McAtee came out on top by a 7-4 decision.
For Johnson, it was a decision win for the title as well. He made short work of South Harrison’s Jarrett Eivins in the semifinal, winning by a first period pin, but went the distance against Fisher Nixdorf of Hamilton in the finals before winning by a 5-3 decision.
Johnson and McAtee were odds-on favorites to win their respective weights when the day started, but they wouldn’t be Trenton’s only champions. Brice Gibler came through at 132 to claim his first career district title in his senior season. Gibler needed two wins to claim the top spot, defeating Marceline’s Braden Brown by fall in the semifinals before ousting Brookfield’s Colton Parn in the finals by an impressive 6-0 decision.
“Brice had the best day of his wrestling career,” Trenton coach Charlie Bacon said. “I was really proud of him for being just a consistent hard worker in the practice room and then to see it pay off after four years today.”
While three Trenton wrestlers claimed district titles, three more fell one win shy, finishing runner-up at their respective weights.
Of the trio, Sam Gibson came the closest to winning a title, falling in the championship match of the 182-pound bracket by a 4-2 decision to Dawson Baker of Brookfield. Gibson picked up a win by fall in the semifinal match to advance to the championship.
Coleman Griffin (152) and Kaden Owen (170) each lost by fall in their title matches. Owen needed an 11-7 win to advance to the finals while Griffin used a second-period pin to advance to his championship bout.
Gavin Chambers (126) and Nate Burkeybile (195) were each able to advance but both fell in third-place matches. Chambers was pinned in the semifinals, sending him to a bubble match where he prevailed with a win by fall. That victory ensured he would wrestle at sectionals and put him in the third-place match where he lost a close one by a 4-2 decision. Burkeybile lost a 7-4 decision to start his day in the semifinals. He received a bye into the third-place match, though where he was pinned to relegate him to a fourth-place finish at the weight. That was enough to move him on, though.
“We looked a little flat overall,” Bacon said. “We have two weeks to get back in the room, reset and fix some things.”
Gaven Kelsall (160) and Kael Brock (285) were also in action for Trenton, but did not advance. Kelsall was pinned in the quarterfinals and then pinned in the consolation bracket to end his season. Brock lost in the quarterfinals by a fall and then was pinned in the bubble match to cap his year.
Brookfield won the team title, finishing with 165 points. Marceline passed Trenton late in the day to finish second with 121 points and the Bulldogs wound up third with 115. Gallatin (105) and Macon (97) rounded out the top five.
Trenton’s eight qualifiers will see sectional action at Mid-Buchanan on Saturday. A top-four finish in their respective weight classes will move them on to the state tournament in Columbia the following weekend.