After six tough dual matches across two days, don't expect the Helias wrestling team to be looking for some rest today.
The Crusaders went 2-4 in the Missouri Duals and finished eighth, they're ready to go back to work after getting some valuable feedback in their matches.
"We need to work harder," Helias head coach Bryant Gaines said when asked about his main impression from the Duals. "We'll get back in there and work hard. The guys have already decided to run (today) and get the soreness out and get back into it.
"I think they're all ready to drop some weight - I think they know where they're at now. You could definitely tell (the opponents) were bigger than us, just by looking at them."
After going 1-1 on the first day, the Crusaders started out Saturday with a 40-34 win against the Jefferson City JV. They followed that up with a close 39-25 loss to Grain Valley before getting bounced 61-6 by Neosho.
In the seventh-place match, Helias held a 27-26 lead with four matches left before losing 39-27 to Eureka.
"As far as their tenacity and their drive, I didn't see any quitting like in years before," Gaines said. "Experience hurt them, that was maybe the biggest thing. But they never gave up, they're ready to keep rolling. It's just a matter of gaining that experience."
Four wrestlers posted records of 4-2 for the Crusaders - Evan Winder (106 pounds), Randy Salaz (113), Zack Carr (126) and Nick Carr (160). Three others went 3-3 - Drake Winder (132), Matt Backes (182) and Spencer Ainsworth (220 and 285).
Gaines said the Crusaders got some really good efforts in the tournament.
"Some of them wrestled the good guys better than I thought they would, but we didn't win enough close matches," he said. "That's when you know you're good, when you can win the close, tough matches. We won some of them, don't get me wrong, but we should have won more. We lost some 3-0, 5-4 matches, and that's not where we want to be."
Some of that comes down to conditioning.
"I don't think the six matches wore us down or anything, but a couple guys were breathing heavier than they should have been," Gaines said. "That happens in tough matches, of course, but that's when you've got to be ready. That's our gameplan now, just work a little harder."
The Crusaders are now off until the Kinloch Classic that will take place Dec. 29-30 in Joplin.