As the season closes down, you can’t accuse the Lisbon boys wrestling team of shying away from any challenge.

The Lions, ranked No. 6 among Class 1A dual teams, finished fourth at the 21-team Rich Gray Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 24, in Truro in Central Iowa.

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Freemont, ranked No. 3 in 2A, won the event with 248 points. No. 19 (2A) Wilton was second with 203, No. 22 (2A) Woodward-Granger was third with 202.

“It was very loaded,” Lisbon coach Aaron Helmrich said. “That’s one of the reasons we look at going to some bigger tournaments, to get some tough competition. That won’t ever change.”

Jack Gogel (113) went 3-0 and took first place for the Lions. Cade Happel (126) and Caleb Brown (175) placed second, and Cael Stricker (120) and Jackson Knapp (1444) placed third.

“Jack Gogel pinned a really good EBF kid in the finals,” Helmrich said. “Overall, we had eight guys finish in the top four. To do that in a tournament with 2A teams, we’re sitting pretty good.”

Earlier in the week, Lisbon improved to 20-2 in duals, including 9-0 in the Tri-Rivers, with wins over No. 21 North Linn (58-18), Midland (68-11) and Starmont (66-15) on Tuesday, Jan. 22, in Coggon.

“We showed up,” Helmrich said. “We won the key matchups (against North Linn) and put it on them.”

Helmrich hopes the Lions have done enough to get to host a regional dual on Tuesday, Feb. 3.