Bullpups Wrestlers Claim Second Place at Valley Center Invitational
Six individual champions lead McPherson to runner-up finish in competitive tournament
The McPherson Middle School wrestling team placed second overall at the Valley Center Invitational, showcasing their depth and talent with six individual champions and multiple other top finishes. The Bullpups dominated throughout the tournament with an impressive display of technical wrestling and finishing ability, recording numerous pins and technical falls across all weight classes.
Eli Brown at 90 pounds (2-0), Eli Barnett at 105 (3-0), Mark Montgomery at 110 (2-0), Dalton VanEaton at 115 (3-0), Tatem Schulz at 120 (3-0), and Gavin Williams at 127 (3-0) all captured individual championships for McPherson. Brown recorded back-to-back pins in under a minute to claim his title, while Barnett won a thrilling sudden victory in the semifinals before pinning his championship opponent. Montgomery and VanEaton both dominated their brackets with technical falls in their championship matches, while Schulz remained undefeated with three commanding victories including two technical falls.
The Bullpups received additional contributions from several wrestlers who placed in the top four of their weight classes. Kaiden Brown at 75 pounds (1-1) and Trace Dearing at 100 (2-1) both earned third-place finishes with pins in their consolation finals. Easton Gehring (2-1) rallied through the consolation bracket to take third at 148 pounds. Gavin Montagne (2-1) at 134, Towns DeLaney (1-1) at 141, and Maverick Mendoza (1-1) at 215 each placed second in their respective divisions, with Montagne and DeLaney recording pins in their semifinal victories. The team's success was built on aggressive wrestling and strong finishing ability, with multiple wrestlers recording falls in under a minute throughout the tournament.
Greg Loving
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