Jackson County managed a top-five showing in hosting the ultra-tough Panther Invitational this weekend — and met a goal in the process.
“I am very proud of the team’s performance this past weekend,” coach Jason Powers said. “It was an extremely tough tournament, and we achieved our team goal of placing top six. We knew going into the tournament that we not only had to have some in the finals and in the consolation finals, but we had to have some wrestlers coming through the wrestle-backs and earning points.”
Jackson County wrestles this weekend at Dade County for the Brett Warren Invitational.
Zach Moore keyed Jackson County’s fifth-place finish in the 17th-annual Panther Invitational by winning the 112-lb. class.
Others placing were Justin Brewer (second, 140-lb.), Austin McDonald (third, 215-lb.), Davion Ledford (fifth, 160-lb.), Jamie Stapler (sixth, 103-lb.), Ryan Shekey (sixth-place, 130-lb.) and Anthony Ledford (sixth, 119-lb.).
“This was the first big tournament for a lot of our wrestlers and they competed very well,” Powers said. “This will probably be one of the toughest tournaments that we see all year before we make it to area and state. All wrestlers, even the ones who did not place, had some very valuable mat time this past weekend.”
Jackson County (3-0) came into the Panther Invitational after a 49-23 victory over in-county rival East Jackson.
Wrestlers earning wins were Jamie Stapler, Zach Moore, Anthony Ledford, Ryan Shekey, Justin Brewer, Brandon Espinal, Cole Meaders, Daivon Ledford and Austin McDonald.
