The Madras boys wrestling team took second in the two-day, 23-team tournament Cottage Grove Invitational Friday and Saturday, Jan. 26-27. The White Buffalos had eight placers.
Madras finished with 187 points. Marshfield dominated to win the team title with 285.5 pints. Hidden Valley was third with 181.5, North Eugene fourth with 171 and Cottage Grove fifth with 169.5.
“This is a great tournament and our team wrestled tough. I was proud of the way we wrestled. It was a team effort by everyone, not just the ones who placed,” said head coach Travis Ralls.
At the end of the first day, the Buffs were in fifth place. On Saturday, though, seven of the Buffalos’ eight wrestlers picked up wins, mostly by falls, and that pushed the squad into second.
“Those wins were huge for team points. This young team continues to grow and improve, and I am very proud of them. We can still improve and make little adjustments in the practice room. This tournament is just a stepping stone on our way to district and state,” said Ralls.