The wrestling team has placed second and third in every tournament they have competed in so far. Ten weeks into the season, the wrestlers have attended four tournaments and will potentially attend five more including regionals and state.

The first varsity tournament was the 16-team Park Hill Tournament on Sunday, Dec. 8 where the wrestlers placed third in a very competitive field. Sophomore Peyton Bendure was the wrestler of the week with a record of 5-0.

“I felt great after the tournament. I knew that I had more work to do, but it felt good being recognized for all the hard work I put in,” Bendure said. “I had been practicing since summer, and prepared by cutting weight and just having fun with my teammates.”

The wrestlers then traveled to Eudora for the 24-team Eudora Tournament of Champions on Monday, Dec. 16. After leading the tournament for most of the day, the Jaguars lost the last match to place second.

On Monday, Dec. 23, the wrestlers competed in the 20-team Johnson County Classic Wrestling Tournament where they placed second. Although junior Logan Marx placed fourth, he felt he could have placed higher.

“It felt good to place in that tournament, although I could have done a little better,” Marx said. “To get ready for the tournament I had to go as hard in practice as I would in a match.”

The most recent tournament was on Sunday, Jan. 12 for the 18 Team Derby Tournament. The team placed third and five wrestlers proceeded into the championships. Senior Jake Gramke placed at the tournament and hopes to compete well at State.

“I was excited and nervous to be wrestling for first place,” Gramke said. “I will keep working hard and hopefully place in the top three at state.”

The team is currently at the Newton Tournament Saturday, Jan. 18 at Newton High School. Bendure hopes the Jaguars will place first.

“Hopefully we will be team champions,” Bendure said. “Personally, I hope to place in the top four.”