37th Ken Cole Invitational 145 Pounds Back to Page 1

Status: Fini

Number of Entrants: 32 Returning Division I State Champions: 0 Returning Division II State Champions 0 Returning Division III State Champions 1 Current LA Classic Champions 0 Returning Ken Cole Champions: 0

Place Wrestler School Score 1 (3) Anthony Taylor Huntington 7-0 (Injury Default in 2nd) 2 (1) Grant Godso Redemptorist   3 (2) Colin Laird North Vermillion 4-3 4 (6) Cody Thomas Parkway   5 Cody Manuel Rayne 6-4 6 (4) Quinton Berthelot Brusly

Championship Bracket     Consolation Bracket

How to seed undefeated wrestlers from north Louisiana is a riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a seeding committee's joint worst nightmare.  At the LA Classic too much credence led to a #1 seed that did not place in the top six.  The Ken Cole seeders must have taken that into account when seeding Huntington senior Anthony Taylor, who had a 17-0 record, in the third spot.  Redemptorist's Grant Godso had only two losses on the season and had beaten the one time top-ranked wrestler at 145, Rummel's Tyler Frame, at the Sam Sara.  In what could be viewed as a sign of respect for the north Louisiana contingent, North Vermillion's Colin Laird, who defeated the top seed at the LA Classic, received the second seed.  Laird missed the #1 spot via a one point setback to Godso in the Brusly Invitational.

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Semifinals

After an easy first match, Godso, a senior with a 26-2 record and wins at the Central, Sam Sara, Bulldog and Brusly tournaments, struggled in his next two matches, but won nevertheless 7-5 and 6-0.  His opponent was Brusly's #4 seed Quinton Berthelot who brought a 10-7 record into the tournament.  Godso regained his composure in the semifinals, though, and pinned Berthelot in 2:30.

The other semifinal pitted Taylor versus Laird and his very respectable 22-6 record.  Taylor, who is generally taller than his opponents, also proved deceptively strong.  Laird was able to score six points, but Taylor added nearfall points in his column and won 10-6.

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Finals

Godso found Taylor to be troubling at the first whistle when Taylor used his length to grab an ankle and score a takedown in the first four seconds of the match.  After a quick stand-up Godso tried to grab Taylor's head and throw him, but to no avail.  Taylor did earn a warning for stalling before the round ended 2-0 in his favor.

In the second period Taylor chose to start in the neutral position.  Godso showed burst of energy, attempting a fireman's carry that Taylor was able to thwart.  Godso next tried a "Jap-whizzer¹" but failed to secure Taylor's arm strong enough, and Taylor whipped Godso to his back for a two point takedown and three nearfall points.  Godso was able to get off of his back, down 7-0, but Taylor was able to too easily put him straight to his back again.  Something was wrong.  Taylor made way for the Redemptorist coaches and a trainer, and the match was called due to an injury default.

For his efforts during the tournament Taylor was awarded the "Outstanding Wrestler - Lower Weight Class" award by the coaches.  Laird went on to place third with a 4-3 decision over Parkway's 6th-seeded Cody Thomas.

¹  The writer learned in 2008 that this name was not considered "PC" to some in this day and age, but cannot remember it's less offensive current appellation.   Frankly, it probably was derived as a compliment.

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