MHS wrestling: Marburger medals for Owls

Freshman Jon Eitel tied for the Owls' lead with five wins during the Harrisonville Invitational, sweeping through the "B" bracket for ninth place. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

HARRISONVILLE -- The Christmas break is now in effect, and no one could probably use a two-week hiatus more than the Marshall wrestling squad.

The Owls have taken their lumps, both physically and psychically, during the first month of the season -- but those who have endured have gotten in some quality mat time.

Marshall had only six entries Friday and Saturday at the Harrisonville Invitational, a large meet which brought together some of the state's top Class 1 and 2 programs. However, only four Owls made it through both days.

Freshman Marc Plummer (135 pounds) won his first bout, but then suffered a concussion in the second round of pool play and had to sit. Sophomore Greg Bledsoe (103) completed the first day, winning one of three matches by fall, but a skin issue forced his withdrawal.

All of the Owls faced strong competition, with a state qualifier in every pool. Junior Mike Marburger (140) ran into two of them, beating Pleasant Hill senior Andrew Watson, 1-0, in his final preliminary tilt to advance to the "A" bracket with four wins -- two of them on pins -- and no losses.

Marburger was stopped by Kirksville senior Beau Blankenship and Higginsville senior Mitchell Green before beating junior Zach Shepherd of Nevada on a fall midway through the second period to secure seventh place.

Freshman Jon Eitel (112) nearly made it into the top group after splitting four pool matches, winning one by fall and taking one of his losses from 2009 Class 1 state 103-pound finalist Tate Smith -- a Seneca sophomore who finished second in this meet,

Eitel ripped through the "B" bracket with three wins, one by fall, and defeating freshman Troy Smalley of Deer Creek in Edmond, Okla., 8-2, for ninth place.

It was a tougher outing for freshman Jacob Ringlen (130) and sophomore Zach Erickson (145).

Ringlen won only one of five pool bouts, that by fall, but advanced to the "C" bracket and pinned his first two opponents before being halted by Grain Valley's Scott Vaughn in the match for 17th place.

Erickson put his first foe down in four minutes, but didn't win another. It didn't help that two state qualifiers were in his pool, although his one victory got him into the "B" bracket -- where he wound up 16th.

Already Marshall has competed in a dual tournament with mostly large schools from Kansas City and a pair of top-flight individual meets among opponents of roughly the same size.

The activity level heightens further when the Owls return from the holidays, starting with an NCMC home dual against Boonville on Jan. 4.