As part of a busy first full weekend of high school wrestling in 2024, the Columbus/Winfield-Mount Union and Washington boys both had top-five finishes as teams at the annual Gary Curtis Invitational Saturday at Highland High School in Riverside. Columbus/WMU was fourth in the team standings with 126-and-a-half points, while Washington was 16.5 points behind them in fifth.

The Wildcats were led by senior Russell Coil winning the tournament championship at 285 pounds, as Coil pinned all three of the opponents he wrestled. Senior Ty Scorpil reached the finals at 126 lbs by winning a 4-0 decision and getting a pin in the semifinals, but he dropped a 6-4 decision in the title bout.

Columbus/WMU also got fourth-place finishes from senior Cole Storm at 165 and junior Jacob Nelson at 113, while the Wildcats also had fifth-place medalists in sophomore Trevor Phillips at 150 and senior Ian Estudillo at 120.

Junior Aaron Boone had the best finish for Washington by winning the tournament title at 132 lbs, pinning his first two opponents before winning a 5-1 decision in the semis and a 6-2 decision in the finals. Demon senior Chase Greiner was the runner-up at 157, as he dropped a 14-0 major decision in the championship round after picking up three straight pins.

Junior Bryer Billingsly and freshman Blaine Rees were sixth at 144 and 175, respectively, for Washington, while the Demons also got fifth-place medals from junior Nate Edmonds at 113; sophomore Caden Greiner at 126; and freshman Greyson Hartman at 215.

At their home tournament, Highland was ninth in the team scoring thanks to six medalists. Freshman Tyler Pierson had the top finish in third place at 113 lbs, while junior Landon Bell was fourth at 106. The Huskies also saw sixth-place finishes from senior Luke Guseman at 126; sophomore Brock Thomann at 132; senior Remington Fields at 150; and senior Jack Peiffer at 157.

While WACO was 13th as a team, Louden Huisenga brought a championship belt home to Wayland at 190 lbs, following up a quarterfinals pin by winning decisions of 11-5 and 5-3. Fellow junior Gage Samo took the silver medal at 113, pinning his first two opponents but dropping an 8-4 decision in the finals.

Mid-Prairie’s best individual performer was Burke Berry, who took fifth at 285 lbs. Fellow junior Quinn Callahan was sixth for the Golden Hawks at 215. Lone Tree also had a pair of medalists Saturday at the Corky Stuart Invitational in Brooklyn, as Brock Nebergal was fourth at 113 and fellow Lion freshman Cole Walmsley was sixth at 106.