Ellsworth Community College hosted the Central District Wrestling Championships on Sunday, Feb. 12, and the Panthers wrestled to a second place team finish with 127 points. Only Iowa Central earned more team points, with 171.5.
Timothy Young took first place in the 197 lb. weight class. Other Panthers to place were Justin Folley (125) 2nd place; Blake Walker (133) 3rd place; Traveon Jones (141) 4th place; Josh Adams (149) 4th place; Steven Lawrence (157) 2nd place; Jaycie Rudd (165) 5th place; Jordan Gundrum (174) 2nd place; Anthony Collins (184) 5th place; and Gary Whitaker (285) 3rd place.
ECC will advance nine wrestlers to compete at Nationals in Council Bluffs, IA, on Feb. 24-25: Folley, Walker, Jones, Adams, Lawrence, Gundrum, Collins, Young and Whitaker.
"Overall this was a very tough tournament, but I'm pleased to get nine guys through to the National Tournament," commented ECC Head Wrestling Coach Cole Spree. "Most of the guys competed well, but we need to make some adjustments before Nationals. I thought it was a lot of fun being able to compete in front of our home crowd."
