Nine SJ-O wrestlers place at Quincy Notre Dame Invitational

By Fred Kroner

A total of 23 St. Joseph-Ogden wrestlers participated in the Quincy Notre Dame Invitational on Saturday (Jan. 28).

Nine of those athletes were place-winners and 13 of them finished with at least one pin, with eight securing a fall in the first period.

Thanks to their efforts, SJ-O finished fifth in the 18-school event with 147 points.

The Spartans’ champion was Emmitt Holt (113 pounds). He was 4-0 for the day, pinning three opponents in the first period and winning his other match by technical fall without allowing a point. For the season, Holt has a 28-7 overall record.

One teammate who lost in the finals was Kyle Meccoli (285 pounds). He was 3-1 for the tourney and had one pin, which he secured in 34 seconds.

Placing third for SJ-O were Holden Brazelton (132 pounds), Peyton Sarver (195 pounds) and Owen Birt (220 pounds).

All three had one pin and had 2-1 records for the day.

Brazelton’s wins boosted his season record to a team-best 40-2. Birt, who had an 18-second pin, raised his mark to 33-7. Sarver’s quickest pin came in 46 seconds.

Quincy Jones (220 pounds) ended in sixth place. Coy Hayes (152 pounds) placed seventh. Jones was 3-2 for the day with two first-period falls.

Winning the consolation bracket were Brandon Goodwin (126 pounds) and Davin Alverez (145 pounds). Goodwin was 3-1 for the tourney and all three wins were by first-period pins.

SJ-O (18-16) returns to action on Saturday (Feb. 4) in the 11-school Class 1A IHSA LeRoy Regional.