Web posted
Monday, January 7, 2008
Hoag, Riojas return; A.C. wrestling takes fourth at Derby Invitational
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Photo by David Wolman
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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
DERBY -- They're baack.
Cameron Riojas and Aaron Hoag missed the first month of the season, as both battled separate injuries. Riojas broke his foot a week before the season opener, while Hoag dealt with a rib injury.
The down time didn't seem to affect them, as they hard hardly missed a beat this weekend in their season debuts at the Derby Invitational. Hoag placed third at 125 pounds and Riojas fourth at 160.
More importantly, the two returning state qualifiers provided some much needed depth for the Bulldogs, who finished fourth in the team standings with 122.5 points.
"It helped having Cameron and Hoag back," Ark City coach Shawn Silvis said. "We've had them in here all year practicing and watching, but haven't got to wrestle them. If we don't have those two, now we're finishing lower again. Our guys that we've had have done about (as good) as they've always had. Now, we've got two stud workhorses in there scoring points for us. Now, it puts us higher on the total pole."
Bishop Carroll recorded a staggering 244.5 points to win the team title, while Goddard (190) was the runner-up.
Ark City's lack of depth came to the forefront in the first month of the season, as it cracked the top half of the team standings only once in three tournaments-- where the Bulldogs had no less than three open weight classes.
The Bulldogs had seven wrestlers place in the top-four on Saturday. Scott Elliott won the 171-pound title -- his third tournament title on the season -- Clint Bruce placed second at 189 pounds, Garrett Jones (112) and Graham (130) third and Kash Biddle (119) fourth. Ark City was tied for eighth heading into the consolation semifinals, but worked its way up the standings with over half its team in the hunt for at least top-six finishes.
"It's nice to have our team here," Silvis said. "We haven't had a whole team all year. That alone, just bringing many guys and finally saying that we've got a team that is complete is nice."
Riojas' performance didn't come without a major scare, as he re-aggravated his foot in his consolation semifinal win over Wichita South's Tatum Flores. The coaching staff, based on the advice of Riojas' doctor, sat him out of the third-place match, which Riojas had to forfeit. Silvis said Riojas will have his foot revaluated early this week, where a timetable on his return can be determined.
"There was no reason to risk breaking it again," Silvis said. "I called the doctor and he said don't risk hurting it again. We'll go from there."
Hoag lost his opening match to Bishop Carroll's John Keller, who placed third at state last season and entered the Derby Invitational with a 14-0 record, but rebounded in the consolation bracket with four straight wins. Hoag led Emporia's Sal Tovar 3-0 after two periods in the third place match. Tovar scored a reverse midway through the third period to cut Hoag's lead to one, but Hoag built his lead to two points with an escape and held on for the win.
"I was pretty sore, but now I feel good," Hoag said. "I'm glad to be back."
Above: Arkansas City senior Aaron Hoag, right, applies on a hold on Emporia's Sal Tovar on Saturday.
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