DUNNING – The Elwood Pirates’ wrestlers could only manage two placers over the weekend, as the Pirates small numbers caught up to them at the Sandhills Invite.
Elwood took 11th out of 16 teams total, scoring 30 team points all together.
Michael Daake was one of the two top finishers for the Pirates, taking third overall.
Daake took the first match, defeating Tyler Darnall of Banner County by major decision of 10-0. Daake lost his second to fifth-ranked Lane Barry of Amherst in a close one, a 5-4 decision. Daake then won his next two matches, over Trent Porath of Mullen by pin, and Tyler VanPelt of Southwest by a 6-4 decision.
Hunter Ertz was the second Pirate to finish with a medal over the weekend, taking home fouth place. Ertz lost his first match to Tyrell Wilson of Mullen by a 9-2 decision. Ertz pinned his way to the finals, we he met up with Wilson again in the third-place match. Wilson got the best of Ertz again, winning by pin at the 2:36 mark.
Last year’s state qualifiers Walter Flint went 1-2 on the day, with Will Rahjes going 1-2 as well, both falling short of placing.
Class D number one Amherst took the team title with 215 points, while second fell way behind of the Broncos, with Ansley/Arcadia finishing in second with 95 points.
The Pirates travel on Saturday to Mullen to take part in the Mullen Invite on Jan. 23. The meet is set to start at 10 a.m. MST.

• Elwood Pirates
• Elwood Wrestling

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