Wresting with injuries

“Ron Thon tournament has the best of the best competing,” Saratoga Head Wrestling Coach Zach Schmidt said. “It was too bad we could only send 3 wrestlers into the tournament because we have been hit with injuries.”

Jerry Everett, Andrew Everett and Tristan Gray were the only grapplers healthy enough to compete.

Justin Shotwell and Trezdon Martinez did go to Ron Thon to give support, but both have injuries that kept them from competing.

“Justin is nursing a back injury and Trez a shoulder injury,” Schmidt said. “It was really hard for them to sit this tournament out, but we as a coaching staff just did not feel this was the tournament to run them back out when they were not 100 percent, so we took them to observe as student coaches.”

He said the decision to keep both wrestlers out of Ron Thon was not easy and that the coaches talked to both boys and their parents.

“We just didn’t think at this point in the season it was worth taking the risk of them getting hurt and then maybe losing the whole season,” Schmidt said. “It was super enticing to want to throw either of them into the tournament, but possibly having them get hurt was just not a risk we were willing to take.”

He said although the healthy wrestlers did not win, he thought each did well against their opponents.

“Jerry went against a wrestler who ended up coming in second and the other match was winnable,” Schmidt said. “We have challenged him to be more aggressive as we wind down the season although he is certainly one of our better aggressive wrestlers.”

Schmidt said J. Everett agreed.

“Andrew had some bright moments, but he will tell you, he had two minutes he wishes he could take back,” Schmidt said. “But that is part of the learning process and this tournament is the type where you will pay for every mistake. That is why it is called the best of the best.”

Schmidt said A. Everett knows where he needs to focus as the season continues.

“Tristan wrestled well, he went after the game plan 110 percent,” Schmidt said. “We were really happy with how he wrestled.”

Schmidt said it is a new feeling to be done with the tournament after the first day.

“It was humbling, but the reason you go to the Ron Thon is to find your true weaknesses and strengths,” Schmidt said. “The Ron Thon is the gold standard and this is where the kids have to see what they will be up against if they have any chance of making state.”

Schmidt said his message to the wrestlers is they have to be willing to do the things they haven’t done to go the places they haven’t gone.

The next scheduled tournament is the Saratoga Quad at 5 p.m. on Feb. 1 in Saratoga.