Missouri Wrestling
CBC traveled to Independence Iowa, just east of Waterloo, for the Cliff Keen Independence Invitational, which featured 33 teams from around the Midwest. As a team, CBC finished behind Minnesota #1 ranked Simley, #2 ranked in Iowa, Lisbon, and #3 ranked in Iowa, Fort Dodge.
Individually CBC brought home hardware for six wrestlers. Those medaling were Kolby Warren 4th, Satino Robinson 2nd, Alex Flerlage 7th, Lucas White 4th, Jack Darrah 3rd, and Vinny Zerban Champ.
Kolby Warren and Santino Robison started their year freshman campaign with a bang. Warren was on the mat seven times, with his only losses occurring in the quarterfinals (2-0 decision) and in the third-place match where he lost 2-0. Warren was able to pick up two pins and a tech fall along the way to his fourth-place finish.
Santino Robinson had a very impressive tournament with two pins, a tech fall, a major decision and a 7-1 decision before falling to Drake Ayala in the finals. Ayala is a Junior Freestyle national champion. Head coach for the 2x returning Class 4 team champs, Cornell Robinson says, “Satino just needs to keep getting used to the intensity and the hand fighting and he should improve pretty fast”.
Returning champ and 2x finalist, Vinny Zerban, took home the individual championship at 152. Zerban was a pinning machine, picking up three falls, including one in the finals over Eli Loyd from Pleasant Valley. Zerban other wins included a 16-0 tech fall in the quarterfinals and an 8-3 decision in the semifinals.
Vinny Z with a pin the finals!! pic.twitter.com/SoFAKcObtD
— CBC Wrestling (@CadetsWrestling) December 8, 2019
Zerban’s high intensity at the Cliff Keen Independence Individual can be attributed to him being “More focused and knows what to expect on these business trips!”, says Head Coach Cornell Robinson.
You may be asking yourself, “Where is Joshua Saunder? Did he wrestle?” Saunders, a senior who committed to further his education and wrestling career at Cornell University, is currently at the Olympic Training center, trying to qualify for the Olympic trials for 2020. He should be back the second semester for the Cadets.
Sophomore Jack Darrah picks up where he left off after his freshman year 5th place finish at 182 as well as a very successful off-season (2x Fargo All-American, including Greco finalist). Darrah places third at 193, losing to Cole Clark in the semifinalist TB-1 4-3. Darrah, like many of his Cadet teammates, has been traveling the nation wrestling since his youth and looks to step up into a team leader role, “Jack is ready to be a leader. His leadership is showing the team how to work and sacrifice, and trying to make sure we have a good time at the tournaments”, says Head Coach Cornell Robinson.
Cadets with a 4th place finish!! pic.twitter.com/ooSJNNXUg8
— CBC Wrestling (@CadetsWrestling) December 8, 2019
Next up for the CBC Cadets: Walsh Jesuit IRONMAN Wrestling Tournament in Cuyahoga Falls, OH. The Ironman tournament is considered by many to be the toughest high school tournament during the season. This year’s tournament features over 85 nationally ranked wrestlers. CBC always puts together a top-notch schedule that challenges their wrestlers and prepares them for the state title run in February in Columbia. Head Cornell Robinson adds about the Ironman, “Next we head to Ironman and get the opportunity every wrestler should dream of. Testing your skills against the best high school kids in the nation”.
