McClain's Conner Frazier is pictured during a tri-match against Hillsboro and Paint Valley Thursday at MHS. (HCP Photos/Jim Jones)
McClain's Conner Frazier is pictured during a tri-match against Hillsboro and Paint Valley Thursday at MHS. (HCP Photos/Jim Jones)
• • • • • • • • • • • •
The McClain Tigers varsity wrestling team hosted a tri-match against Hillsboro and Paint Valley Thursday, Jan. 19, and the visiting Hillsboro Indians won the match by defeating both McClain and the Paint Valley Bearcats.

McClain went 1-1 on the night, losing to the Indians but defeating Paint Valley. The Tigers lost several matches against both teams by forfeit due to not being able to fill a lot of weight classes.

First-year Tiger head coach Gary Ryan was very pleased with his team’s overall performance and with their effort against two quality opponents.

“I’m really happy with everyone who wrestled tonight,” Ryan said. “In our loss to Hillsboro, we only lost two matches that we wrestled in. The rest were by forfeits because we didn’t have people to fill those weight classes. Forfeits are scored the same as pins; when you lose by forfeit, that means you’re giving up six points to your opponent’s team score.

“We were able to defeat Paint Valley tonight, and that was big for us. We’ve wrestled them three different times now but never in a dual, and I think we match up well with them experience and numbers.”

McClain’s junior Ethan Hill improved his season record to 37-5 with two wins, and freshmen Dalton Rowland and Conner Frazier had a good night on the mats for the Tigers.

“Ethan got two more wins tonight, improving his overall record to 37-5,” Ryan said. “Dalton won both of his matches, and Conner had a big pin against Hillsboro.

“Jhett Watson also had a great night and pinned both of his opponents in impressive fashion. I think everyone on this team has a lot of potential, and we’ve got some good talent coming up in our lower levels. We have a really good sixth grade group and a total of 60 wrestlers in our little league program.

“We’re a really young team with just one senior, two juniors, and the rest are all freshmen and sophomores with little or no varsity wrestling experience,” Ryan continued. “The future for McClain wrestling is looking really good, and we know it can only get better.”