The team scores didn’t reflect the effort and execution from Highland’s little wrestling squad at Mediapolis on Thurday. The Huskies lost all three duals, but went 10-2 in the matches wrestled.  

On Saturday, Highland followed up that effort with a solid day at the WACO Warrior Invitaional, leaving with two champs and a runner-up. 

Against Muscatine, Wapello and Mediapolis on Thursday, Carlos Valenzuela won two matches by tech fall, and won a third with a first-period pin while Bryce Thompson won all three of his matches by tech fall.

Easton Schlabaugh wrestled two matched and won by tech fall and major decision. Jack Peiffer went 1-2 with a pin  Braxton Davis (Mediapolis) in the final period.  

“Thursday was the best we looked all year,” coach Derick Ball said. “The plan was to score points. We wanted to go out and attack and score bonus points.” 

The Huskies scored bonus points in all ten wins. 

“We lost all three duals but as a whole, we wrestled well,” Ball said. “Especially after a grueling couple of days of practice. These guys and gals are buying in.”

On Saturday, Schlabaugh was leading Moravia’s Dalton Ervin 2-1 late in the final match at 106 pounds and secured the victory with a reversal in the last minute. Schlabaugh (20-3) reached the final with a 33-second pin in the quarterfinal and  a 16-5 major decision over Washington’s Jack Kleese in the semifinal round. 

Thompson would give Highland a second champ with his pin of Mepo’s Grady Gunn at 113. Thompson reached the final with a 16-1 tech fall and led 14-0 in the final before finishing the match with a pin. 

Valenzuela reached the finals as well with a first-period pin in the semis. He dropped a 4-2 decision to Ethan Kupka (HLV) to finish runner-up.

“He wrestled a well known opponent,” Ball said. “We didn’t get to his legs enough, however we are closing the gap. We made a few mistakes that a second-year wrestler is going to make. We just have to find a way to score late.” 

Peiffer bounced back from a quarterfinal loss with a pair of pins to finish fifth at 120. Eli Slaymaker returned after missing a month from injury to finish fifth at 220 as well. 

“He was not close to his best, but he is a great leader,” Ball said.  “Jack Peiffer continued to improve and avenged a loss from Thursday night. All and all it was a great day and  we are excited to get back to work Monday.”