The Steelville High School boys wrestling team competed on Jan. 17 in the Owensville Invitational where freshman Jacoby Eaton and junior Owen Rutledge were the only Cardinals to compete. 

Eaton competed in three matches in the 126-pound class, where his first was the most noteworthy. After a back and forth first couple periods, Eaton capitalized in the third period and was able to pin his opponent and earn a 25-18 victory. He would later drop his final two matches by fall, 3-0 and 5-0, and finished the tournament with a 1-2 record to take fourth place in his weight class. Eaton is now 4-13 on the season

Rutledge, who was Steelville’s junior homecoming candidate the night before, showed his versatility to be able to thrive in a suit and a tie and a wrestling getup within a 24-hour period. Rutledge wrestled in the 150-pound class and also picked up a victory in his first match of the day. He was able to hold his opponent on the mat for a fall, and end the bout with a decisive victory. Rutledge would lose his final three matches of the day by fall, 3-1, 10-0 and 7-0 and finish the day with a 1-3 record, which was good for fourth place. Rutledge now has a 4-13 record on the season.

The Cardinals will compete next on Jan. 22 in the St. James Quad before wrestling in the Central JV Scramble on Jan. 26 in Park Hills and the Quad at Potosi on Jan. 29. Steelville’s girls’ wrestling team competed in the Central Girls scramble in Park Hills on Jan. 20 before joining the boys team for competition in St. James on Jan. 22 and in Potosi on Jan. 29.