Ashley Burkhartsmeier/PCT Rugby High School freshman Joey Berg wrestles an opponent from Carrington earlier this season in Velva.

Three Rugby High School wrestlers outperformed their seeds at the Linton Holiday Tournament, Dec. 19-20.

Senior Reid Mundah (160 pounds) was the seventh seed and finished fourth. Senior Devon Berg (195) and eighth-grader Riley Zachmeier (106) entered as the sixth seeds and also finished fourth.

“They’re improving,” RHS coach Craig Zachmeier said. “We have ups and downs, but seeing the guys improve from one week to the next shows we’re going to go extremely far by the end of the year.

“The consistency hasn’t established itself yet, but that’s one of the things we’re working on.”

The Panthers took 11th out of 25 teams with 62 points. Carrington won with 223 followed by Napoleon-Gackle-Streeter at 173.5 and Linton-HMB at 135.5.

Zachmeier was pleased with his team’s place considering he took only seven Panthers, leaving seven brackets open.

Berg was the closest to cracking the top three. He dropped the third-place match in a close 5-3 decision to Jed Bopp of Oakes. The Panthers wrestle next at the Central Cass Tournament, Jan. 9-10. Zachmeier hopes recent success multiplies.

“For the first time in years kids are wrestling above their seeds, so that should spread around the room,” he said. “That success breeds success.”