The Helias Crusaders are seeing progress on the wrestling mats.
Even if that progress hasn't shown up quite yet when it comes to wins and losses.
"The mistakes aren't big anymore," Helias coach Bryant Gaines said Friday after the Crusaders' opening night in the Capital City Invitational at Fleming Fieldhouse. "They are getting a little smaller.
"We lost a lot of close matches we shouldn't have. If we wrestle a little smarter, I think we win a lot of those. That's what we're still working on."
Four Crusaders finished with winning records after Friday night's action.
• Evan Winder was 2-0 at 106 pounds, with one of those wins coming by technical fall.
• Randy Salaz was 2-0 at 113, posting a win by fall.
• Drake Winder was 2-1 at 126, getting wins by technical fall and major decision.
• Spencer Ainsworth at 220, who was also 2-1 and got a win by fall.
Helias wrestlers who picked up one win Friday included Nick Schnieders at 132, Nick Gaines at 138 and Mason Field at 285.
"We have another month to go before districts, this is not the end of the world," Bryant Gaines said. "We just have to continue to clean some things up and we will be a tough team when it comes to the end of the season."
Helias is ninth in the team standings after the opening day with 23 points.
Action resumes at 9 a.m. today with two pool matches. The top four wrestlers in each pool in each weight class then advance to the bracketed portion of the tournament.
The championship and third-place matches are slated to begin at 5 p.m.