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Pirates finish 3-2 in tournament
  
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Tom Munds
The Pirates closed out the 2008 portion of the schedule on a good note at the Mullen Invitational Wrestling Tournament as every wrestler on Englewood’s roster chalked up at least one win.
The tournament completed a six dual-match week for the Pirates. But there was rest at the end of the endurance test because completion of the five dual matches at the Mullen Invitational wraps up the 2008 portion of the schedule.
Practice resumes Jan. 2, students return to class June 5 and the wrestlers return to action in a Jan. 8 dual match at home against Wheat Ridge.
Then, on Jan. 10, Englewood wrestlers begin almost a month-long stretch as road warriors as they travel to the Ranum-Westminister Invitational. The schedule has them at Arvada Jan. 15, at the Alameda Invitational Jan. 17 and at Alameda Jan. 22 before their next home match, a Jan. 29 dual match against Golden.
Pirate home wrestling matches are held in the Englewood High School Field House. Dual-match action begins at 7 p.m. and admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students with school identification.
Englewood’s first dual match last week was a home win against Jefferson and it started a six-match winning streak for a trio of Pirates, Nick Sheppard, Mike Tolle and Justin Williams. The trio either defeated their opponent or got a forfeit in all six matches.
It also was a special night for 189-pounder Cody Barnes. Barnes, who has been with the team for four seasons, got his first win, pinning the Jefferson wrestler in 1:59.
He said it was exciting to get a win and even more exciting to pin an opponent.
The Pirate senior said for most of his wrestling career, he lost a lot.
“Winning gets the adrenaline flowing,” he said. “It feels good to win and getting my first pin was the most exciting of all.”
On Dec. 20, Englewood joined George Washington, Montbello, Hinkley, Dakota Ridge and the host team at the Mullen Invitational. It was a round-robin format so the Pirates had a dual match against each of the other five teams.
Pirate coach Jim Potter said his teams were wrestling well during a break in the invitational competition.
He said the young kids are battling hard and some are getting wins and, he added, his veterans are wrestling well. He also said his team wouldn’t get a lot of dual-match wins.
“We have too many holes in the roster,” he said. “Each hole means we give up a forfeit and six points to the other team. You don’t win duals that way.”
Sheppard had a good tournament with three wins, a decision and a forfeit in the five matches.
During a break in the tournament action, he said this season is off to a good start.
“Things are falling together this season and I am a lot more confident in my ability to wrestle and wrestle well,” he said.
Sheppard said success has come as he just takes what the opponent gives him. He noted he is better at winning by decisions as he gets the opponent to the ground and repeatedly forcing the shoulders down to pile up points.
“Of course, it the opening is there, I work for the pin,” he said.
He said he is where he wants to be at this point in the wrestling season but definitely is working to improve as he points toward January’s regionals because his goal is to qualify and place at state.
The Pirates closed out the 2008 portion of the schedule on a good note at the Mullen Invitational Wrestling Tournament as every wrestler on Englewood’s roster chalked up at least one win.
The tournament completed a six dual-match week for the Pirates. But there was rest at the end of the endurance test because completion of the five dual matches at the Mullen Invitational wraps up the 2008 portion of the schedule.
Practice resumes Jan. 2, students return to class June 5 and the wrestlers return to action in a Jan. 8 dual match at home against Wheat Ridge.
Then, on Jan. 10, Englewood wrestlers begin almost a month-long stretch as road warriors as they travel to the Ranum-Westminister Invitational. The schedule has them at Arvada Jan. 15, at the Alameda Invitational Jan. 17 and at Alameda Jan. 22 before their next home match, a Jan. 29 dual match against Golden.
Pirate home wrestling matches are held in the Englewood High School Field House. Dual-match action begins at 7 p.m. and admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students with school identification.
Englewood’s first dual match last week was a home win against Jefferson and it started a six-match winning streak for a trio of Pirates, Nick Sheppard, Mike Tolle and Justin Williams. The trio either defeated their opponent or got a forfeit in all six matches.
It also was a special night for 189-pounder Cody Barnes. Barnes, who has been with the team for four seasons, got his first win, pinning the Jefferson wrestler in 1:59.
He said it was exciting to get a win and even more exciting to pin an opponent.
The Pirate senior said for most of his wrestling career, he lost a lot.
“Winning gets the adrenaline flowing,” he said. “It feels good to win and getting my first pin was the most exciting of all.”
On Dec. 20, Englewood joined George Washington, Montbello, Hinkley, Dakota Ridge and the host team at the Mullen Invitational. It was a round-robin format so the Pirates had a dual match against each of the other five teams.
Pirate coach Jim Potter said his teams were wrestling well during a break in the invitational competition.
He said the young kids are battling hard and some are getting wins and, he added, his veterans are wrestling well. He also said his team wouldn’t get a lot of dual-match wins.
“We have too many holes in the roster,” he said. “Each hole means we give up a forfeit and six points to the other team. You don’t win duals that way.”
Sheppard had a good tournament with three wins, a decision and a forfeit in the five matches.
During a break in the tournament action, he said this season is off to a good start.
“Things are falling together this season and I am a lot more confident in my ability to wrestle and wrestle well,” he said.
Sheppard said success has come as he just takes what the opponent gives him. He noted he is better at winning by decisions as he gets the opponent to the ground and repeatedly forcing the shoulders down to pile up points.
“Of course, it the opening is there, I work for the pin,” he said.
He said he is where he wants to be at this point in the wrestling season but definitely is working to improve as he points toward January’s regionals because his goal is to qualify and place at state.
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