Rams struggle in four-team wrestling tourney

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It was a tough night on the home mat for the Maricopa High School boys’ wrestling squad. The Rams lost their matches in a four-team tournament Wednesday, Jan. 27, involving Tempe, Camp Verde and Apache Junction high schools.

Maricopa has struggled to win this year, which has been challenging for Rams head coach Eric Reed and his wrestlers. “We’ve worked hard, and really, the boys who have been wrestling have won just about as often as they’ve lost,” Reed said. “We’re about .500 in that regard.”
 
Reed attributes the team’s 5-42 prior to the tournament to forfeitures. “Many of the kids become injured, are ineligible or just don’t show up for practice.”

The tournament opened with Maricopa locking up with Apache Junction. The Prospectors defeated the Rams 53-30, but the home team wrestled well, which raised some hope for a comeback later in the tournament. That hope soon faced; however, as Camp Verde overpowered the Rams 54-5. Maricopa’s fortunes didn’t improve their last match of the day, as the Rams fell to the Tempe Buffaloes 62-15.

The Maricopa Rams next take the mat at the regionals, which will be held Feb. 6 at Tempe High School.