Fairfield fights back at Bob Lueders Invitational

CLINTON ? Injuries and illness continued to plague the Fairfield wrestling team and a stacked field at the Bob Leuders Invitational in Clinton didn?t help matters.

The Trojans finished in eighth-place out of a crowded field of 24 teams in the final team standings as one wrestler, 285-pound Michael Smithburg, came home with a medal.

?It was a very tough tournament, and there were no easy medals to be had,? said Fairfield head coach Bob Glenn. ?Anyone who got a medal definitely earned it. But I think the tough competition will sharpen us up for the post season.?

Smithburg posted a 3-1 record on the day with the lone loss coming to second-ranked Taylor Swope of Davenport Assumption in the championship match. The senior took home the quickest pin trophy for his win by fall in the early rounds that took just 15 seconds.

Fifth ranked 171-pounder Jeff Guttry and eighth-ranked 125-pounder Dakota Simmons were both absent for the Trojans.

Other placewinners include Michael Hammes (152) and Seth Davisson (189) both combating tough seeds to finish fifth with 4-1 records. Jac Pilcher took fourth place at 160 and Brandon Rauscher was seventh at 112.

Fairfield now has the entire week off as it prepares for its home invitational Friday and Saturday.

For complete results, read the Monday, Jan. 24, 2011 Fairfield Ledger.