Sports
Robinson Finishes Runner-Up at Concorde District Wrestling Tournament
Seven Rams win individual district titles
The accolades for the Robinson wrestling team at the Concorde District tournament were immense. The Rams had seven district champions, three runner-up finishers and 13 wrestlers perform well enough to make regional competition.
The lone distinction eluding Robinson was a district title. In an essential stalemate with Westfield all match, the Rams were defeated by the Bulldogs by a mere margin of 225.5-219.
“In most years that would be a success, but when you finish 5 or 6 points out of a title, it stings,” Robinson coach Bryan Hazard said.
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The Rams dominated the lighter weight class divisions.
Lucas Sodergren won the 103 pound class with a 6-3 decision. Jake Smith won the 119 pound class with a 6-0 decision. The junior improved his career record to 122-15 and will be trying to win back-to-back regional titles. Freshman Jack Bass won the 125 pound class with an early pin. Bass has an impressive 34-6 mark in his first varsity season. Santiago Valdez took home top honors at the 130 pound level with a 9-2 decision and Brooks Martino won the 135 pound division by pin.
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Trailing 5-2 midway for the 145 pound weight class, Zac Depasquale came back late to win on a 7-5 decision. Only a freshman, Depasquale has a 30-9 career mark and won the Ben and Jerry's Classic earlier this season.
Veteran senior Wes Jones notched his career mark to 147-40 by virtue of his win in the 160 pound division. Jones already has a Vanguard Classic title to his name this season.
Shon Topper (140 pound), Tim Fitzpatrick (171 pound) and Jake Pinkston (heavyweight) all earned runner-up finishes.
Pinkston, a sparkplug freshman gave reigning Northern Region champion Tyler DeLeon from Westfield a battle in the heavyweight division, losing a tough 5-3 decision. The Rams are loaded with talent across the board from freshman to senior.
“You don’t even look at the age when you get to this point,” Hazard said. “They’re all pretty experience and battle tested we go all over the country and wrestle. Maybe they’re freshman in age, but mentally and emotionally they’re older than that because of the fire we’ve put in all year.
In total, 13 Rams advanced to regional competition, which will be held Feb 10-12 at Fairfax High School.
