FORT BRAGG — Without even its full compliment in action, the young Middletown High School wrestling squad made a big impression Saturday during the Holiday Bash Invitational at Fort Bragg High School.
Leaving many of their veteran wrestlers at home to heal up from minor injuries, the Mustangs claimed 14 medals, including four firsts, and captured second place in the team standings behind a full Clear Lake squad.
“Overall I’m looking forward to this group,” Middletown head coach Brian Hunt said. “We have one senior, one junior and all the others are underclassmen.”
A number of new wrestlers shined in the spotlight, according to Hunt.
“I’m quite happy with how they performed, there were quite a few surprises,” he said. “All in all not a bad day for us.”
First-year wrestler Caleb Sternberg was one of the surprises Hunt mentioned. Competing in the 125-133 class, he finished first with a 3-0 record. Also taking home first-place medals were Jake Judson, who was 3-0 with two pins in the 133-140 weight class; Joziah Pyzer, who went 2-1 in the 145 division; and Jackson Bomberrry, who pinned all three of his opponents in the 142-147 division.
“He was on fire,” Hunt said.
Second-place medal winners were Andrew Mikel, who went 2-1 in the 116-124 division; first-year wrestler Parker Boden, who went 2-1 in the 114-125 division; Shane Guill, who went 2-1 in the 132 division; Anthony Nudi at 160 pounds; Jonathan Reyes at 170 pounds; and Donny Turknett at 220-230 pounds.
“It was his first tournament of the year and he was in one of the toughest divisions there,” Hunt said of Mikel. “Parker is a first-year wrestler who wrestled real well in his first tourney.”
Claiming third-place medals were Joseph Cortez at 110-117 pounds, Vincent Hernandez at 142-147 pounds, Ruben Cortez at 138 pounds, and Chase Frank at 175-180 pounds.
“We had a great day of wrestling,” Hunt said.
The Mustangs return to the mat for their own tournament, the Dennis Jensen Invitational, on Jan. 3-4.
