BonnerSprings.com

Bonner Springs High School will play host to the Dick Burns Mat Classic wrestling tournament at 9 a.m. Saturday at the YMCA.

The tournament is one of the oldest in the area — this year will be the 40th year. It is commonly looked at as one of the better tournaments in the Kansas City metro area the first weekend after winter break.

The tournament itself is considered a “classic style” tournament, meaning it takes place over one day. Most big tournaments stretch over two days. Shawnee Mission Northwest, Highland Park, Paola, Basehor-Linwood, Fort Scott, Eudora, Sumner Academy, Blue Valley West and Belleview (Neb.) East round out the field.

Bonner Springs coach Dan Burns, the son of the tournament’s namesake, said it is a competitive tournament for all 10 teams, but it will not be the most difficult tournament of the year.

“This tournament is a good indicator on where you stand coming out of winter break,” Burns said. “It can show you about where kids will finish in regionals, and you can work on some specific things.”

BSHS worked diligently over the break according to Burns, focusing a lot of time on increasing the team’s mental toughness. He said the tournament would provide good experience for the wrestlers at the start of the second half of the season as they hope to build momentum for the postseason.

“We will be able to work on self-confidence if we perform well,” Burns said. “I will know a whole lot more about my team after this tournament. I will know if I have to change some things up or keep going in the same direction that we are now.”

Burns said hosting a tournament could present challenges to the home team.

“It can be tough performing in front of peers for the kids,” Burns said. “They get so excited setting up and tearing down the mats for the tournament and they don’t get an opportunity to rest. It is just easier to go to somebody else’s tournament.”

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