Winning a third Bill Barrett championship won?t be easy
Ever since the Rogers City Super Duals were renamed the Bill Barrett Memorial Invitational two seasons ago, the Hurons have settled for nothing less than first. It?s as if the athletes still want to win the championship for the legendary coach. Winning a third won?t be easy. In addition to having some talented teams invading the Rogers City High School gym, the Hurons are battling injuries.
There were only eight wrestlers available at the extremely competitive New Lothrop Tournament last Saturday, where the Hurons took an eighth. ?It?s going to be difficult to duplicate unless we get healthy in a hurry,? said coach Pat Lamb. Saturday?s tournament is the first of many appearances this season at home for the Rogers City wrestlers. The Hurons are at home on January 22, and from February 10 and through part of the end-of-the-season tournaments, Rogers City will spend a considerable time in the place they call ?home,? including the conference championship February 14.
Nine participating schools will be divided into two pools Saturday before wrestling begins at 10 a.m. One school backed out in October and couldn?t be replaced so names will be drawn out of a hat to decide who will be matched up in the pools. The teams that finish on top of their respective pools will battle for the championship, while the second place teams will wrestle for second.
It usually is a long day for everyone keeping the tournament running smoothly, so Lamb is looking for any help he can get. ?If there are any alumni out there, or anybody that would like to help out at a table, please contact me at the school,? said Lamb. ?I?m always looking for people with knowledge of wrestling to help with the tournament. ?I?ll be hitting the phones tomorrow (Tuesday) to try and get some help.? The new phone number at the high school is 734-9170. Press option two, which is the athletic director, another hat Lamb wears.