Hounds place second at Quad State

For the second week in a row, the Spoofhounds placed as the tournament runner up, finishing behind Millard South (Neb.) during the Quad State tournament.

The ’Hounds placed five wrestlers in the top three while crowning two individual champions. Dannen Merrill, 130 lbs. weight class, and Bryce Alexander, 160 lbs., pinned all three of their opponents.

Alexander earned his title by pinning Millard South’s Tyler Stender midway through the second period. Stender was the No. 3 ranked wrestler in Nebraska’s Class A coming into the tournament.

Merrill won by a fall, seconds before the second period ended, over Cameron’s Dakota Goll.

“I think they (Merrill and Alexander) did what is expected of them,” head coach Joe Drake said. “We put high expectations on those two and winning is part of it. Winning by pin is even more important.”

The ’Hounds other medal winners were sophomore Matt Barnett (140), junior Will Twaddle (145) and senior Tyler Hayse (215).

While the champion’s six pins helped clinch second place, their efforts were not enough to overcome Millard South’s tournament dominance. The Patriots placed 13 of 14 wrestlers in the top three spots, including five individual champions.

“Millard South is in the biggest class in Nebraska,” Drake said. “Two years ago they won it (State Championship), last year they were second and this year they are ranked third. They are a powerhouse team. They are bigger and kind of an out-of-our-league school, but it gives us good competition and that’s what we need to see as we get ready for districts.”

Merrill expects nothing less than the level of competition he and his teammates have constantly been facing in recent tournaments.

“Whenever you can wrestle tougher competition, it’s always better for the team,” Merrill said. “It gives them a harder match and shows either if you have it or not, and what you need to do to get better. It always helps. Even if you have a tough match and win, it still makes you better no matter what.”

The ’Hounds will see a barrage of tough opponents this weekend as  the majority of their district will compete in a 12-team dual tournament at Albany.




 

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