By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Led by Jacob Anderson’s first-place finish, LaGrange High’s wrestling team surged to a third-place finish in the Gary Silva Invitational on Saturday at Gardner Newman Middle School.

LaGrange had eight placers, including Anderson, who secured his first varsity tournament championship.

Wrestling in the 145-pound division, Anderson finished with a 3-0 record to claim top honors.

“It meant a lot to me,” Anderson said. “I had my entire family here, so I wanted to win.”

After winning his first two matches, Anderson’s finals opponent was Josh Bowers of Northside-Columbus.

It was all Anderson, who rolled to a 7-1 victory.

“I kind of feel like I was a little bit stronger than him,” Anderson said. “He was a lot faster, so I just had to wrestle to my strengths.”

Three other LaGrange wrestlers, Matthew Callaway, Christian Whaley and Devin Harris, reached the championship match before falling short.

Whaley had a bye before beating Christian Cervantes of Central-Carroll, and he lost to East Coweta’s Titus Aun in the championship match.

At 285 pounds, Devin Harris finished second with a 2-1 record, and he lost to Harris County’s Chris Hardaway in the title round.

Callaway, a state placer last season, won his first two matches before losing to Robert Mulvaney of Columbus in the championship match.

Two LaGrange wrestlers, Hunter Brooks (120 pounds) and Colin Cavender (132 pounds) finished third.

Cavender beat his LaGrange teammate, Asa Leath, in the third-place match.

LaGrange’s fourth-place finishers were Leath and RJ Haley (195 pounds).

Austin Skiff didn’t place, but he won a match.

“Austin Skiff wrestled good,” Weathers said. “He’s getting better and better. This is his first year wrestling. He’d never put a singlet on. He’s a big motivator and team guy.”

Also winning a match for LaGrange was Tavarrious Reed (126 pounds).