Tigers start fast

Bentonville High wrestling coach James Rappe couldn’t be more pleased with the way his team performed over the weekend in the ultra-tough Kinloch Classic in Springfield, Mo.

The Tigers finished fourth in the 25-team event, even without regulars Gabe Holley and Isaiah Yorba (illness). Two-time 6A-7A state champion Cash Jones was Bentonville’s top finisher, taking second at 170 pounds. Jones (32-1) absorbed his first loss in the finals. Bentonville had seven medalists including Jeremiah Fry , who was third at 195, while Nathan Desler (160) and Josiah Scates (106) were both fourth.

“I think they did fantastic,” Rappe said. “I think we won a couple matches we weren’t supposed to, which is what we challenged them to do. We took away some matches from some guys who were probably better wrestlers than us. We lost some matches and got pushed.

“We’ve had to go to three different states to find somebody to give Cash a match. He had to take on a three-time All-American up there. That’s the caliber of the tournament. It was the toughest tournament I’ve been to in the past four or five years.”

Rappe praised the work of Scates, a sophomore who struggled much of last season wrestling at just 86 pounds, but has matured physically and is now winning matches.

“I think I can count on one hand the number of matches he won last year,” Rappe said. “This year, he’s just been a man on fire and really grown into that 106-pound weight class. He was one of the guys that won some matches he probably shouldn’t have. But he’s 104 or 105 pounds now and that’s made a huge difference. He’s just a super kid and I’m fortunate to get to coach him.

Holley, who is still working his way back into shape from football, will likely be one only a few varsity wrestlers who will participate in the Fayetteville Invitational.