It's not every day that a wrestler prepares his warm up routine to grapple against a girl in front of 1,000 people. That was the summary of Jarred Brooks second match of the day against Penn's Sarah Hildebrandt. Now before you start laughing, think for just a second. Hildebrandt did QUALIFY for REGIONAL action by whipping boys from opposing schools in the SECTIONAL meet. That means she has beaten quite a few good male wrestlers during her career. She's also from Penn which means she would compete with the likes of Mishawaka and other large schools. She's no wimp -- she knows the sport.

Nonetheless, Brooks is ready for any and all grapplers - male, female or other. He easily won the 103 lbs weight class. This year may be the last time he competes in that bracket as he plans to move up a class or 3 depending on how he grows over the summer.

Senior Paul Manbu rode an easy bye for his first round and anxiously awaited his next 140 lbs match against Vince Hill of South Bend Washington. Manbu seemed to be taking his time getting a feel for the tactics and abilities of Hill in the first period. But it didn't take long after that before a Tiger pin was certain.

By design, the first match of the day for regional pits the #1 seat against the guys who just made it by taking 4th at sectional. So nearly everyone who placed 4th at sectional normally gets eliminated early. Tiger Jordan Horney nearly poked a hole in that theory as he wrestled well to give Nick Schrader of Mishawaka (37-1 record) a good bout. But, Schrader did win the 130# class for the day.

Both Manbu and Brooks will compete in Semi-State Saturday February 13th in Merrillville beginning at 9:00 am Central Time. Good luck men!

Posted In: Boy's Sports > Wrestling

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