By Jim Muir
The Benton Rangers wrestling team turned in a solid 5th place finish Saturday in the 17-team Cumberland High School “Skull & Crossbones Invitational Tournament.
Benton tallied 120 points in the prestigious event trailing Prairie Central (246.50), Shelbyville (179.50), Herrin (147.50) and Lawrenceville (124.00).
Individually the Rangers were led by freshman Peyton Smith who improved to 17-1 overall during the first year of his high school wrestling career. Smith registered three wins on the day in the 132-pound class by pinning Jimmy Pearsley(Herrin) in 1:30, Zach Kocher(Lawrenceville) in 3.00 and Paul Garcia(Prairie Central) in 1:30.
Brothers Chris and Chase Worthey also had an outstanding day in Cumberland – Chris Worthey finished second and Chase Worthey finished third in the 126-pound and 120-pound classes respectively.
Benton coach Duane Bean said his young team “grew up a lot” during the tough competition.
“We wrestled well,” said the Benton coach. “It is a good tournament and we’re a better team after competing this weekend. Even some of our kids that didn’t win really improved.”
Bean pointed out that Benton was only four points out of fourth place and took only 10 wrestlers to the tournament that had 14 different weight classes.
He gave high marks to Chris and Chase Worthey and also to Smith.
“Chris and Chase wrestled very well and both were in a tough bracket,” said Bean. “And Peyton beat a kid who is ranked in the state, pinned him in 90 seconds. Peyton had a great day.”
TEAM SCORES
PRAIRIE CENTRAL 246.50
SHELBYVILLE 179.50
HERRIN 147.50
LAWRENCEVILLE 124.00
BENTON 120.00
CUMBERLAND 116.00
CARLYLE 112.00
OLNEY 111.00
MT. OLIVE 98.50
MT. CARMEL 88.00
OAKWOOD 80.00
CARMI-WHITE COUNTY 54.00
CARTERVILLE 46.00
HARRISBURG 42.50
DECATUR EISENHOWER 35.00
EFFINGHAM 33.00
EFFINGHAM ST. ANTHONY 9.00
CASEY-WESTFIELD 6.00
(Benton wrestlers listed in all CAPS)
132 LBS – PEYTON SMITH– Champion
Pinned Jimmy Pearsley(Herrin) in 1:30
Pinned Zach Kocher(Lawrenceville) in 3:00
Pinned Paul Garcia(Prairie Central) in 1:30
126 LBS—CHRIS WORTHEY finished in 2nd Place
Pinned Levi Baker(Effingham) in 1:16
Won by major decision 10-2 over Antonio Alvarez
Lost 6-2 to Eli Roberts(Herrin)
120 LBS—CHASE WORTHEY finished in 3rd Place
Pinned Jacob McKinstry(Lawrenceville) in 0:46
Lost 6-3 to eventual champion Zach Zvonar(Carlyle)
Beat Colton Carmody(Olney) 10-5 for 3rd Place
138 LBS—DANIEL KRUG finished in 5th Place
Pinned Hunter Welch(Carmi-WC) in 1:58
Lost to Wyatt Fox(Shelbyville) 4-1
Pinned James Kruep(Carlyle) in 3:30
Pinned Braden Dees(Carterville) in 3:20
Pinned Shon Calvert (Mt. Olive) in 5:20 for 5th Place
170 LBS—ZACH MOCABY finished in 6th Place
Pinned Cody Ayers(Oakwood) in 3:06
Lost 9-0 to eventual champion Josh Hicks(Shelbyville)
Won by major decision 10-0 over Tim Sturm(Olney)
Won 9-5 over Kane Garcia(Mt. Carmel)
Lost 6-2 to Tyler Godden(Cumberland)
106 LBS—Jarred Burnett finished in 6th Place
Lost by pin to AJ Dees(Carterville) in 0:46
Won by pin in :57 over Aaron Nettles(Carlyle)
152LBS—Jarron Bennett(did not place)
Pinned Tyler Flood(Carlyle) in 0:39
Lost by technical fall 15-0 to eventual champion Sam Schuler(Prairie C)
Pinned Jeff Klelel(Effingham) in 2:22
Lost by Pin in 5:39 to John Sandschafer(Eff. STA)
285 LBS—Tyler Wiliiams(did not place)
Lost 8-4 to Dillon Walters(DEC. Eisenhower)
Won by Pin in 0:16 over Trent Carll(Casey-Westfield)
Lost by pin in 1:14 to Brent Morgan(Mt. Carmel)
195 LBS—Devon Siveking(did not place)
Pinned David Nibbe(Oakwood) in 3:22
Lost by pin in 3:04 to Timmy Carll(Cumberland)
Pinned Scott Jones(DEC Eisenhower) in 1:03
Lost by pin to Dakota White(Mt. Olive) in 1:02
145 LBS—Luke Blackman(did not place)
Lost by pin to Zach Poe(Cumberland) in 1:22
Lost by pin to Zach Horatscki(Oakwood) in 2:25
BENTON PLACED 5TH PLACE AS TEAM IN THE 18 TEAM TOURNEY!!
BENTON TOOK 10 WRESTLERS TO CUMBERLAND AND 6 OF THEM PLACED IN THE TOP 6.
Benton will return to action TONIGHT when they travel to Anna-Jonesboro with the meet starting at 6:30pm.
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