By Kory CarpenterRecord Sports EditorThe Warrenton wrestling team impressed in the higher weight classes en route to a fourth-place finish in the gold division Saturday at the 10th annual Fort Zumwalt North Tournament.Dan Filipek led the team as he cruised to a championship in the 160-pound weight class.He pinned Zumwalt North’s Christopher Viehmann in the final match.“Dan had a good tournament,” Warrenton Head Coach Kevin Fowler said. “I’m not sure he had a match that was tough all weekend.”Filipek was joined on top of the podium by teammate Jacob Manion, who defeated Hannibal’s Austin Hawes in the 195-pound championship bout by a 3-1 decision.It was the first tournament win in Manion’s varsity career.“Manion really stepped up,” Fowler said. “It was a good quality win. I think he was nervous, but he came through and wrestled well all tournament.”As expected, the Warriors impressed in the higher weight classes while trying to get whatever they could out of the lower divisions.James Biship lost to two-time state champion Josh McCluer of Fulton in the 145-pound class, before pinning Battle’s Colton Snyder in the third-place match.Drake Meine also suffered a semifinal loss in the 170-pound class, but rebounded for a third-place finish after pinning Joe Magee of Battle.At 220 pounds, Jacob Null pinned Zumwalt North’s Zachary Steele in the third-place match.Brandon Cotner finished fourth in the 285-pound class after falling to Brad Dillman of Hannibal.“Cotner is wrestling the best I’ve seen him wrestle his whole career,” Fowler said. “The matches he has lost have been tough, close matches. He’s wrestling smart and has gotten more confident, which should happen as an upperclassmen.”From the 145-pound class to the 285-pound class, the Warriors have more than held their own this season.“But we’re going to have to try and hold our own down low,” Fowler said. “If we can just pick up some points before we get to 145, we’ll be in pretty good shape. We’re probably going to win most duals from 145 on up, but it’s just about getting to 145.”Warrenton heads to the Farmington Tournament Saturday, in what expects to be a day of tough matches.Fowler hopes his upperclassmen and returning wrestlers can compete against some of the best competition in the area.“And for the younger guys, it’s about seeing how much fight you have and battling,” Fowler said. “You may not win the match, but you don’t get better by going out and giving up in 30 seconds. You get better by going out and wrestling for two or three periods. That’s all we’re looking for them to do.”

Warrenton' Dan Filpek takes care of an opponent during Saturday's Fort Zumwalt Tournament. Filipek won the 160-pound championship.                 Bill Barrett photo.