Weather Forces Last-Minute Tournament Switch for Civic Memorial Wrestling

Weather Woes Force Last-Minute Tournament Switch for Civic Memorial Wrestling

Civic Memorial High School's wrestling team faced an unexpected change of plans when their highly anticipated trip to the prestigious Larry Wilkey Invitational in Jenks, Oklahoma, was canceled due to severe weather. Fortunately, quick thinking and the hospitality of the wrestling community allowed the Eagles to compete in a different tournament, ultimately securing a second-place finish.

A Detour to Inola

The Eagles were en route to Jenks, Oklahoma, for what is considered one of the top prep wrestling tournaments in the country when they received the news. As they passed through Joplin, Missouri, coach Jeremy Christeson received a call informing him of the cancellation due to weather conditions in Oklahoma. Faced with the prospect of returning home and missing out on valuable competition, an alternative opportunity arose.

Unexpected Opportunity

The coach of the Inola High School wrestling team, also in Oklahoma, reached out to Christeson. With several teams originally slated for the Jenks tournament rerouting to Inola, an invitation was extended to the Civic Memorial team. After confirming the cancellation with Jenks and getting approval from school athletic director Todd Hannaford, the decision was made to head to Inola.

Key Takeaways

• The Civic Memorial wrestling team successfully adapted to a last-minute tournament cancellation due to weather.

• The team rerouted to the Inola Invitational in Oklahoma, securing a second-place team finish.

• Hospitality within the wrestling community played a crucial role in facilitating the change.

A Successful Reroute

The team practiced at Broken Arrow High School on Friday before competing in the Inola Tournament on Saturday. The Eagles performed admirably, earning a second-place team finish with 219.5 points, trailing only Blackwell, Oklahoma. Ten CM wrestlers placed in their respective weight classes, with Bradley Ruckman claiming a championship at 132 pounds. The experience provided the team with exposure to tough competition from Oklahoma and Texas teams, and the facilities at Broken Arrow were described as state-of-the-art. Coach Christeson expressed gratitude for the opportunity, highlighting the memorable nature of the trip and the strong sense of community within wrestling.

Sources

• CM reroutes to Inola, Oklahoma after Jenks wrestling tourney canceled, Alton Telegraph.