Triton’s Aaron Stichter works a half nelson during action at Saturday’s John McKee Memorial Wrestling Tournament. (Photos by James Costello)

ROCHESTER – Triton’s Bo Snyder took very little time to assert himself as the baddest 182-pounder at Saturday’s John McKee Memorial Wrestling Tournament.

Snyder wrestled for a grand total of 1:19 to reach the championship round of the tournament, then proceeded to wrap up the weight class championship with a pin fall of Rochester’s Bryce Baker at 1:20 of the second round of the final. Snyder won his first three matchups with pins at 23, 17 and 39 seconds to make the final, where he took down Baker with the fall to complete his fantastic day. Snyder’s output improves his season total to 14-0.

Tippecanoe Valley’s Jacob Eherenman gains control during work in the 145-pound bracket.

Triton had one other wrestler in a championship, that being Nate Riggins in the 126-pound weight class. Riggins used a bye and two falls to make the championship, where he fell short in an 11-7 decision to West Noble’s Kyler Brown. Among the other Trojans with notable days were Aaron Stichter at 220, finishing fourth, and Billy Smith at 285, coming back to win the consolation bracket and placing fifth.

Tippecanoe Valley had two competitors in championship matches, but both fell short of the goal. Drake Montelongo (16-1) lost his first match of the season in the 113 final to West Noble’s Isaac Weimer, the Charger state qualifier remaining perfect at 21-0 with a fall at 3:43. In the 152-pound bracket, Jon Humes (14-2) used a pair of falls to make the final, but was pinned at 2:56 by Rochester’s undefeated Haydn Prather, who moved to 15-0 with the title.

“Both of the guys did a great job getting to the finals,” said Tippecanoe Valley head coach Kyler Kearby. “Montelongo beat a solid Rochester kid in the semi-finals. Humes, we expected him to be there, same as Drake, but he probably had a little bit of an easier road. Drake wrestled a state qualifier in the finals. It gave him a good idea of where he’s at and what he needs to do to improve so he can eventually get there someday. Both of the guys got pinned, but they both wrestled good matches. I’m not as focused on the end result as what they did. Both of them before they got pinned were right in the match.”

Valley also had Johnny Gonsalez take fourth in the 195-pound class.

Champions from the McKee tourney included Blake Kinney and Adam Bowman of Maconaquah, Dillon Stroud and Ashton Moore of Manchester, Elijah Hickman and Brayden Wright of Rensselaer Central, Shayne Tierney of West Noble, Drew Sailors of Rochester, Graham Calhoun of Plymouth and Zac Ditmire of Culver Community.