By Cort Reynolds
LIMA - The Bluffton wrestling team finished a strong 12th out of 41 teams at the Thunderbird Invitational hosted by Lima Central Catholic Friday and Saturday.

The Pirates scored 76 points to finish just a point behind Woodmore in 12th place. Waynedale won the meet with 246.5 points, followed closely by Allen East in second at 229.5.

Bluffton senior Landen Luginbihl finished a strong third in the 220 lbs. bracket. He registered a 5-1 record to post the top Pirate showing in the event. He pinned AE sophomore Alek Winner at 4:53 to win the third-place match.

Luginbihl recorded four wins by pin in the tournament. His only loss was to eventual runner-up Will Morrow of Patrick Henry by an 11-2 decision in the quarterfinals.

Pirate junior Jeremy Sturgeon finished fourth in the 120 lbs. bracket with a 4-2 record as he posted two pins. He lost to Gavin Owens of Eastwood in the third-place match by pin.

Junior Tayton Kleman finished seventh at the 113 lbs. bracket with a 4-2 record and two pins. He defeated Joseph Manley of Otsego 6-1 in the seventh-place match.

Freshman Thayne Kleman went 3-2 at 106 lbs. Sophomore Elias Mault also ended up 3-2 in the 126 lbs. division. Classmate Kaden Basil finished 2-2 in the 138 lbs. weight class.

Sophomore Jackson Wilson also compiled a 2-2 record in the 182 lbs. bracket.

Thunderbird Invite team standings:
1.    Waynedale    246.5     points
2.    Allen East    229.5    
3.    Eastwood    148.0    
4.    Blanchester 143.0    
5.    Covington    131.0    
6.    Miami East    129.0    
7.    Wayne Trace 124.0    
8.    Otsego    114.5    
9.    Crestview    101.0    
10.    Carey        81.0    
11.    Woodmore    77.0    
12.    Bluffton    76.0    
13.    Swanton    72.0    
14.    Patrick Henry 71.5    
15.    Coldwater    67.5    
16.    Ayersville    67.0    
17.    Preble Shawnee 62.0    
18.    Lima Central Catholic     60.5    
19.    Lakota  59.5    
20.    Columbus Grove 57.5    
21.    Carlisle  50.5    
22.    Tri-County North 48.0    
23.    Spencerville 46.0    
24.    Madeira    41.0    
25.    New London    34.0    
25. tie St. John's 34.0    
27.    Triad 32.5    
28.    Greeneview    32.0    
28. tie Newark Catholic 32.0    
30.    Northridge    29.0    
31.    Southeastern    28.0    
32.    Dixie     22.0    
33.    Tiffin Calvert    19.0    
33. tie West Liberty-Salem    19.0    
35.    Cory-Rawson 18.0    
36.    Hicksville    17.0    
37.    McComb    11.0    
38.    Lincolnview    10.0    
39.    Ottawa-Glandorf    5.0    
40.    Pandora-Gilboa    0    
40. tie St. John 0

The Bluffton matmen visit Upper Sandusky for a dual match February 4.