MIDWEST CLASSIC WRESTLING INVITATIONAL Caravan 6th despite rugged field

Mount Carmel, which is ranked 22nd nationally, was short-handedwhen it traveled to the Midwest Classic Wrestling Invitational inColumbus, Ohio, on Saturday, but the Caravan still placed sixth outof 20 teams.

Mount Carmel finished with 257.5 points. Greensburg Salem (Pa.)won the tournament with 304.5 points.

The Caravan covered only 11 of the 14 weight classes because threestarters stayed home due to injuries and mandatory schoolcommitments. Seven of the 11 Mount Carmel wrestlers advanced and sixplaced, with the Caravan winning championships in the 130 and 275weight classes.

Kenny Jordan (119) faced the most difficult road to a championshipagainst three-time All-American Robert LaBrake of Mt. Anthony (Vt.),who had won 140 straight matches. Jordan scored an escape in thesecond period and held on to win 1-0.

This is one of the toughest tournaments in the nation, and he[LaBrake] is one of the best," Jordan said. To be honest, I didn'tknow he had won 140 matches; I just look at what a wrestlers does andwhat I have to do to win."

Mount Carmel's Jose Esparza also captured a championship at 275,winning 2-1 over A.J Salemon of Mentor (Ohio) with a third-periodtakedown.

This will boost my confidence," Esparza said. "I feel I havesomething to prove."

The Caravan picked up a second place from Khris Argue (145) andfifth places from Mario Morgan (125), Lawrence Henning (152) and TimLambert (189).

Basically, I knew it would be a tough match," Argue said. But as ateam, I knew that I could help out any way I could. We only had 11wrestlers here today, but they all wrestled like a full team."

Argue went 6-1 during the tournament while Morgan, competing inthe deepest bracket in the tournament with four All-Americans, was 6-2. Lambert and Henning also posted 6-1 records.

For who we had here, we did great," Mount Carmel coach Ben Gerdessaid. We have a young team; this provides tons of experience andhelps with the goals we have in place for the end of the year.

Kenny Jordan wrestled a good kid. He pushed Kenny to the limit andwill only help him get better. As a team, the goal is to haveeveryone place."