Wrestler takes second in national event

By JEFF STAHLHUT

For the Call

Oakville Senior High School sophomore Ryan Sutton recently took second place in the Scholastic Challenge, a national wrest-ling tournament at Alan Shepherd High School in Chicago, Ill.

Sutton, who competed in the 189-pound/sophomore division, was not representing any team or organization in the tournament. Instead, like a lot of the wrestlers there, he was there on his own. Sutton was very glad to be involved in the event, despite his 6-1 loss in the finals to a very talented wrestler from Iowa.

“He was just a phenomenal wrestler,” Sut-ton said. “But anytime you get this type of chance to wrestle with this caliber of wrestlers it’s always a great experience.”

This was not his first effort at a national tournament, though. It was actually his third, as last year he placed fourth in the Greco Nationals. Earlier this year, Sutton was a state qualifier for Oakville Senior High School at the state meet in Columbia.. At state, he wrestled at 171-pounds.

Sutton was not the only local wrestler taking part in the Scholastic Challenge, as three athletes from the Lindbergh Wrest-ling Academy also competed.

Kevin Duniven (145 pounds/junior division), Brent Bradshaw (189/sophomore) and Jeff Streibig (125/sophomore) all took part, with Streibig earning a fourth place medal.

“He had a good tournament,” Lindbergh Wrestling Academy Coach Tom Gose said. “Everybody there is a quality wrestler. If they were not, they would not be up there. Kevin wrestled really well.”

As much as the result of the tournament, Gose says it is important that they are participating at all. “We’re excited that he puts in this kind of time. This was a big step for him,” Gose told the Call. “The more of these tournaments you get in — where you are on such a big stage — the more prepared you are for the state tournament in Columbia.”

Duniven and Bradshaw, meanwhile, did not come home with medals, but according to their coach will take a lot away from the experience.

“Kevin (Duniven) was in a three person bracket, and the other two kids in his bracket made it to the finals. He had a tough draw,” Gose noted. “And Brad-shaw’s effort will pay off. Going from junior varsity at Lindbergh High School to a national tournament is a very big step.”