Multiple wrestling teams from Iowa and Nebraska were in Harlan over the weekend competing in the annual Dan Hill Invitational. The West Central Valley Wildcats were one of the teams in competition from Iowa, competing in the tournament for the first time. West Central Valley finished in fifth in the team standings out of 10 squads with a score of 121. The Gretna Dragons of eastern Nebraska won the tournament with 252 points. Iowa’s top finishing team was the Glenwood Rams, taking second overall with 239 points.

The Wildcats had no one wrestle in a championship match at the tournament. Justin Garcia (126), and Carson Wadle (182) posted West Central Valley’s highest individual finish with a pair of third-place results. Garcia had arguably the best day after losing by pinfall in his opening match. He responded with wrestleback victories in three straight matches for third place. He started his comeback with a pinfall victory over Harlan’s Dalton McKinley (2:38). Garcia’s consolation semifinal match he won by an 11-4 decision over Glenwood’s Dalton Book. His third-place grapple featured a rematch against Ashland-Greenwood’s Cooper Craig. Garcia reversed the result against the eastern Nebraska wrestler, putting Craig’s shoulders to the mat 1:29 into the match. Weston Pote (132), Cole Sackett (152), and Matthew Clark (160) took home fourth place.

The Wildcats resume their season Tuesday in Panora, competing in a West Central Activities Conference triangular against Panorama and Van Meter.