Smith, Kearns lead Bolts to 10th at WACO

WAYLAND — Ten Baxter wrestlers competed in the WACO Warrior Invitational on Saturday. Four of them placed in the top four as the Bolts were 10th in the 15-team field.

Cole Smith (120) and Micah Kearns (220) both finished second in their weight classes, while Curtis Gliem (132) and Aiden McFadden (285) were both fourth.

Smith (18-12) began his day with back-to-back pins. Both matches lasted less than a minute. Smith was pinned in the championship match by Class 1A No. 1 Marcel Lopez of New London and finished second.

Kearns (14-7) earned a bye in the opening round and advanced to the finals at 220 following a first-period pin. He also was pinned in the finals to take second.

Both Gliem and McFadden won their first matches to reach the semifinals but lost their next two matches to finish fourth.

Brad Matthews and Callyn Bishop each won a match but did not place.

Baxter scored 63 points in 10th place. New London won the tournament with 134 points, while Mid-Prairie was next with 122. The rest of the top five included Pekin (118.5), Wapello (118) and Mediapolis (89.5).