For many years the Guthrie Center, and more recently, the ACGC wrestling teams have participated in the Coon Rapids-Bayard Invitational, but this year the Chargers have forsaken the Crusader invite--perhaps in search of tougher competition--for the Tri-Center Invitational in Neola. Yesterday the Chargers found just that at Neola--tough competition. With several weight classes unfilled, eight Chargers battled wrestlers from the likes of Harlan, Bellevue NE, and Carroll Kuemper in the sixteen team tournament.

"This Tri-Center tournament, along with our Charger invitational, is considered one of the top tournaments in the state. We wanted to change some of the competition that we see. With sixteen man brackets it meant some of our guys had five matches," Charger mentor Shawn Danker said. "Our guys performed well yesterday and I was very happy with everyone's effort and competitiveness."

The Chargers claimed one champion and one runner up yesterday, as Seth Danker won the gold at 126 pounds and Gunnar Larsen took silver in the 132 pound weight class. Danker pinned his way to the finals where he won by decision,10-4, over Connor Atkisson of Tri Center in the title match. In the process Danker improved his individual record to nineteen wins against just three losses on the season.

Larsen's second place finish enabled him to win his twentieth match of the season, giving him a record of twenty wins against four losses. The Charger junior used about every possible means of victory to reach the finals, as he won by pin, by technical fall, and by decision. He lost in the finals to Daniel DeRosier of Bellevue East by fall in 1:48.

Other Charger place winners included Cale Rowley who finished sixth at 145 pounds (and picked up win number twenty) and Cayden Jensen who finished eighth at 138 (and claimed his nineteenth win).

As a team ACGC finished with seventy six points which placed the team in fourteenth place. Harlan won the meet with one hundred and eighty two points, with Missouri Valley claiming second place with one hundred sixty three and a half.

On Thursday of this week the Charges will return to Tri-Center for a four team dual meet including Riverside, Woodbine, and host Tri-Center. The wrestling will get under way at 5:30.

Go Chargers!

Charger results:

120 lb: Dawson Muller did not place

First round: Kayden Dirks (Treynor) over Muller by dec, 8-4

Consolation first round: Muller drew a bye

Consolation quarterfinals: Alden Rhia (Plattview) over Muller by dec, 11-6

126 lb: Seth Danker placed first

First round: Danker over Ryan Eli (Hinton) by fall, 1:24

Quarterfinals: Danker over Jayden Lahmann (Westwood)by fall, 3:48

Semifinals: Danker over Kuem Reicks (Kuemper) by fall, 4:38

Finals: Danker over Connor Atkisson (Tri Center) by dec, 10-4

132 lb: Gunnar Larsen placed second

First round: Larsen over Andrew Crawley (St. Albert) by fall, 1:58

Quarterfinals: Larsen over Jevin Christensen (Nodaway Valley) by TF, 16-0

Semifinals: Larsen over Ethan Lemon (Harlan) by dec, 5-4

Finals: Daniel De Rosier (Bellevue East) over Larsen by fall, 1:48

138 lb: Cayden Jensen placed eighth

First round: Jensen over Dustin Leitru (Hinton) by fall, 1:02

Quarterfinals: Shea Parkis (Kuemper) over Jensen by fall, 3:16

Consolation quarterfinals: Jensen over David Helton (St. Albert) by MD, 12-3

Consolation semifinals: Tyler Prokop (East Mills) over Jensen by dec, 10-5

Seventh place: Kaden Broer (Westwood) over Jensen by dec, 6-3

145 lb: Cale Rowley finished sixth

First round: Rowley over Jacob Francois (Bellevue East) by dec, 8-3

Quarterfinals: Garrett Johnson (Platteview) over Rowley by dec, 6-0

Consolation quarterfinals: Rowley over Collyn Zang (LB) by fall, 1:20

Fifth place: Logan Sewell (Hinton) over Rowley by fall, 0:49

160 lb: Reid Rumelhart did not place

First round: Austin Wilson (Nodaway Valley) over Rumelhart by fall, 2:57

Consolation first round: Rumelhart over Ashton Evans (Bellevue East) by fall, 0:01

Consolation quarterfinals: Braulio Munoz (Westwood) over Rumelhart by fall, 4:41

170 lb: Cole Plowman did not place

First round: Carter Nichols (West Monona) over Plowman by MD, 13-1

Consolation first round: Plowman drew a bye

Consolation quarterfinals: Steve Heilman (Westwood) over Plowman by fall, 1:02

182 lb: Devon Jackson did not place

First round: Sendeska Kalskett over Jackson by fall. 4:52

Consolation first round: Jackson drew a bye

Consolation quarterfinals: Nick Horst (Platteview) over Jackson by TF, 16-1

Team scores:

Harlan 182

Missouri Valley 163.5

Platteview 145

Keumper 140

Westwood 135

Belleview East 130

Hinton 116

West Monona 103.5

Nodaway Valley 86

Tri Center 76

East Mills 71

ACGC 70

Treynor 66

St. Albert 42