TJHS grapplers dominate at Lansing wrestling meet
By Shawn Linenberger, Reporter
Monday, November 21, 2005
Team scores weren't kept Saturday at the Lansing Invitational junior high wrestling meet, but it was clear that Tonganoxie had one of the top teams at the meet.
The Warriors had 11 first-place finishers. TJHS also had five wrestlers take home silver medals and five win bronze medals.
"Even at the junior high level, we're not looking at wins and losses, but improvement," TJHS coach Jeremy Goebel said. "All these kids are improving every week."
Jeff Sims, Andrew Bouza, D.J. Lindsay, Tanner Newman, Tucker Hollingsworth, Jeremy Elliot, Austin Holloway, Zach Langston, Tyler McCutchen, Zach Kaigan and Dylan Pendleton all won gold medals.
Another wrestler, Jeremy Maus, also seemed on course for a first-place finish, but he had to leave the tournament early. He finished in third place.
In two championship matches, teammates had to face each other. Lindsay defeated Matt Titterington in one match, while McCutcthen defeated E.J. Fields in another championship match.
Overall this season, the Warriors have a 145-116 record and have pinned 131 opponents. The team also has four wrestlers who still are undefeated -- Langston (9-0), Kaigan (9-0), McCutchen (6-0) and Dane Gonser (3-0).
"They're fun to coach," Goebel said about the junior high wrestlers. "They're motivated all the time and they're wanting to learn. They're doing a good job, practicing hard and having fun at the same time."
Wrestling officials also are taking notice of the team's ability. On Saturday, a referee told Goebel that his team was the most technically sound squad he had seen this year, the TJHS coach said.
This is Goebel's first year as the junior high coach. He also entered his fourth year as the high school coach when practices started Nov. 14.
"Me being the high school coach, my goal is to keep all of them interested in the sport and that they'll pursue it longer than their middle school years," Goebel said.
Top finishers at Lansing
First place
Jeff Sims, Andrew Bouza, D.J. Lindsay, Tanner Newman, Tucker Hollingsworth, Jeremy Elliot, Austin Holloway, Zach Langston, Tyler McCutchen, Zach Kaigan and Dylan Pendleton.
Second place
Justin Crotty, Tyler Hand, Matt Titterington, Ian McClellan, and E.J. Fields.
Third place
Brett Bailes, Jacob Raines, Jeremy Maus, Jason Esepeland and Patrick Crockett.
Wrestling records
(Number of pins are in parentheses)
Jeff Simms 7-2 (6)
Justin Crotty 7-2 (7)
Brett Bailes 2-5 (2)
Derrick Wright 2-3 (1)
Aber Jacobs 2-6 (1)
Jeff Carlan 0-9
Tyler Hand 5-4 (1)
Andrew Bouza 7-1 (7)
D.J. Lindsay 6-2 (6)
Matt Titterington 6-2 (6)
Connor Olson 3-7 (3)
Ian McClellan 4-4 (3)
Caleb Wager 2-6 (2)
Jacob Rains 1-8 (1)
Nathan Stauch 2-10 (2)
Tanner Newman 10-1 (9)
Tucker Hollingsworth 7-2 (5)
Jeremy Elliot 5-5 (5)
Alex Fox 2-5 (2)
Nick Irick 1-6 (1)
Austin Holloway 8-1 (8)
Zach Langston 9-0 (9)
Dylan Young 2-8 (2)
Jeremy Maus 7-0 (7)
Dane Gonser 3-0 (2)
Jason Espeland 3-4 (3)
Hank Summers 2-5 (1)
Tyler McCutchen 6-0 (6)
E.J. Fields 3-1 (3)
Zach Kaigan 9-0 (9)
Patrick Crockett 3-5 (3)
Dylan Pendleton 9-1 (8)
