Freedom wrestler Ricky Coster has two more years of high school ahead of him, but has already made an impact on the national level.

The sophomore earned an invite to the National High School Coaches Association High School National Wrestling Championships this past weekend and delivered a good performance.

Coster defeated Andrew Leier from North Dakota in the first round of the 126-pound bracket. Next, he bested Pennsylvania’s Nicholas Buckle in the second round. Coster fell from the main bracket in the third round, when he was defeated by Tyler Marinelli of Georgia in a 10-2 decision. Marinelli eventually went on to claim second place in the 126-pound bracket.

But Coster continued to find success in the consolation bracket. He earned a 7-5 victory over Brandon Hill from New York, pinned Minnesota’s Dylan Herman and then beat Franklin Wepner from North Carolina in a 2-0 decision.

Coster lost to Maryland’s Matthew Pente, but redeemed himself with a victory over Travis Roper from Pennsylvania to claim seventh place.

Three of Coster’s five pins came against previous state champions, and he also earned a medal for most pins in the fastest time.

Freedom also sent Richard Jones to the national tournament. Competing in the 126-pound juniors bracket, Jones went 1-1 before withdrawing due to a shoulder injury.

Antioch senior Kyle Clark, a 220-pound wrestler, was able to make the trip to Virginia Beach, Va. thanks to a communitywide fundraising effort. But Clark was not able to taste victory at nationals. He lost his first-round match 9-6 to North Carolina’s Chase Warren.

After receiving a bye in the opening round of the consolation bracket, Clark fell to Minnesota’s Justin Wheaton in a 7-4 decision.