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Young Bobcats 5th in Benson Invitational
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| Locked in: Benson's David Ens has Sebastian Guzman of Anza Trails in a predicament in a 78-pound weight class bout Saturday in the Benson Middle School Wrestling Tournament. The Bobcats finished fifth overall in the 22-team tournament. (Chris Dabovich/Photo.) |
Chris Dabovich/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Up against formidable and more seasoned wrestling teams, Benson put up a strong showing Saturday in the annual Benson Middle School Wrestling Tournament.
Bradley Maxwell led the young Bobcats to win the individual championship in the 167- pound weight class, leading Benson to a fifth-place finish in the 22-team field.
And despite the decent showing, Benson Head Coach Mike Sherman was not happy with the fifth-place effort.
"We were not happy with it," said Sherman. "The matches we lost were close, that could have gone either way.
"We are at somewhat of a disadvantage with the schools that finished ahead of us because they are on a traditional schedule that has them near the end of their season while we are at the very beginning of ours," Sherman continued. "Having our kids come into the tournament with two or three matches against kids with 20 or 30 is tough to overcome."
Benson school uses a modified schedule, which allows athletes to play basketball in addition to wrestling.
"I feel this is the difference in many of the close matches we lost. We just didn't have our best day."
Maxwell was Benson's lone individual champion after he won by a fall against his Morenci opponent in the second period of the title bout.
"[Maxwell] got in tight on a good double leg, lifted his opponent high in the air and took him straight to his back to start the match," said Sherman. "It was the highlight of the tournament for me."
The Bobcats did have seven medalists in Josh Manuel at 180, Brandon Laird at 104 and Ty Moncada at 73 advanced to the championship finals in the daylong event with five matches going simultaneously in the new and old gym.
For a wrestling fan, Benson was the place to be Saturday.
And there was a first for the young Bobcats. Ty Moncada at 73 is Benson's first fifth-grader to wrestle his way to the championship finals "since going to the large tournament format," said Sherman. David Ens, another fifth-grader, placed a solid fourth. Rounding out the Benson medalists were Anthony Contreras at 118 and Logan Moncada at 98 placed sixth.
The Morenci Wildcats won the tournament and followed by Sahuarita, San Manuel and Thatcher took the top four spots.
On Monday, Sherman said the final scores were not available.
The top five teams remained unchanged in their order of finish heading into the consolation and championship finals. Morenci led with 215, Sahuarita 158, San Manuel 157, Thatcher 151 1/2 and Benson had 147. Rounding out the rest of the field headed into the finals were Willcox, 140 1/2, Challenger, 137; Tortolita, 125 1/2; Sierra, 117; Desert Sky, 116; Old Vail, 102; Anza Trail, 100; Flowing Wells, 74; Pima, 72; Corona, 69; Apollo, 46; Joyce Clark, 40; Coronado, 29; Pomerene, 27; Huachuca City, 33; Lowell, 20 and Palominas, 9.
"We're just getting started and have high expectations for the rest of the season," said Sherman.
Up against formidable and more seasoned wrestling teams, Benson put up a strong showing Saturday in the annual Benson Middle School Wrestling Tournament.
Bradley Maxwell led the young Bobcats to win the individual championship in the 167- pound weight class, leading Benson to a fifth-place finish in the 22-team field.
And despite the decent showing, Benson Head Coach Mike Sherman was not happy with the fifth-place effort.
"We were not happy with it," said Sherman. "The matches we lost were close, that could have gone either way.
"We are at somewhat of a disadvantage with the schools that finished ahead of us because they are on a traditional schedule that has them near the end of their season while we are at the very beginning of ours," Sherman continued. "Having our kids come into the tournament with two or three matches against kids with 20 or 30 is tough to overcome."
Benson school uses a modified schedule, which allows athletes to play basketball in addition to wrestling.
"I feel this is the difference in many of the close matches we lost. We just didn't have our best day."
Maxwell was Benson's lone individual champion after he won by a fall against his Morenci opponent in the second period of the title bout.
"[Maxwell] got in tight on a good double leg, lifted his opponent high in the air and took him straight to his back to start the match," said Sherman. "It was the highlight of the tournament for me."
The Bobcats did have seven medalists in Josh Manuel at 180, Brandon Laird at 104 and Ty Moncada at 73 advanced to the championship finals in the daylong event with five matches going simultaneously in the new and old gym.
For a wrestling fan, Benson was the place to be Saturday.
And there was a first for the young Bobcats. Ty Moncada at 73 is Benson's first fifth-grader to wrestle his way to the championship finals "since going to the large tournament format," said Sherman. David Ens, another fifth-grader, placed a solid fourth. Rounding out the Benson medalists were Anthony Contreras at 118 and Logan Moncada at 98 placed sixth.
The Morenci Wildcats won the tournament and followed by Sahuarita, San Manuel and Thatcher took the top four spots.
On Monday, Sherman said the final scores were not available.
The top five teams remained unchanged in their order of finish heading into the consolation and championship finals. Morenci led with 215, Sahuarita 158, San Manuel 157, Thatcher 151 1/2 and Benson had 147. Rounding out the rest of the field headed into the finals were Willcox, 140 1/2, Challenger, 137; Tortolita, 125 1/2; Sierra, 117; Desert Sky, 116; Old Vail, 102; Anza Trail, 100; Flowing Wells, 74; Pima, 72; Corona, 69; Apollo, 46; Joyce Clark, 40; Coronado, 29; Pomerene, 27; Huachuca City, 33; Lowell, 20 and Palominas, 9.
"We're just getting started and have high expectations for the rest of the season," said Sherman.
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| Lady Bobcats win three |
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