Red Oak’s Bentley, McCunn place 2nd at KC Stampede

The Red Oak wrestling team competed in the national Kansas City Stampede Dec. 21-22, returning home with two second-place grapplers.
“The reputation of this tournament will live on as one of the toughest in the nation,” Red Oak head wrestling coach Tiegen Podliska said. “The reputation of the Red Oak wrestling program will live on with the teams who competed, as a bunch of hard-nosed kids who fight and never give up. I was proud of the way we conducted ourselves both on and off the mat. We had countless numbers of coaches, officials, and spectators coming up to us, and thanking us for showing up and telling us how surprised they were with how tough we were.”
Justin McCunn went 7-1 in the two-day tournament with three falls, two major decisions, and two decisions to earn second place in the 160 division.
Thomas Bentley went 6-1 with four falls, and two decisions, earning second at 195.
“We had a number of our guys beat state qualifiers, place-winners, finalists, and champions from other states,” Podliska said. “It was great to see 10 guys get wins at such a tough tournament, and the two other guys contributed not only by competing hard, but continuing to warm up with and support their teammates.”
Red Oak finished in 20th place out of 40 teams with 261.5 points.
Tuttle High School reigned as champions of the tournament, finishing with 686 points.
Red Oak Tigers compete at Lewis Central for a quadrangular on Thursday to begin the second-half of the wrestling season.

Red Oak 261.5
106- Chase Sandholm went 2-6             with two decisions, placing         30th.
113- Jonathon Erp went 4-4 with         two falls, two decisions,
    placing 14th.
126- Bryan Erp went 0-4, and did         not place.
138- Cam Vanderhoof went 4-5 with         two pins, one major
    decision, one decision,
    placing 20th.
145- Jake Echternach went 0-4, and         did not place.
152- Bruce Lukehart went 3-6 with         three falls, placing 27th.
160- Justin McCunn went 7-1 with         three falls, two major
    decisions, two decisions,
    placing second.
170- Carter Maynes went 3-3 with         one fall, one decision, one
    medical forfeit, placing 15th.
182- Hunter McMann went 5-4 with         four falls, one decision,
    placing    23rd.
195- Thomas Bentley went 6-1 with         four falls, two decisions,
    placing second.
220- Colton Kinnison went 4-4 with         three falls, one medical
    forfeit, placing 15th.
285- Liam Mahoney went 2-6 with         two falls, placing 26th.