FENTON • The phrase gets kicked around in locker rooms like a wet towel.
We're a family, one says. We're like brothers, the next says. And on and on.
The Washington wrestling team isn't any different. The Blue Jays have shared the physical grind of training, the long workouts in the practice room and the thrills and heartbreak of competing.
With things taking a decided turn in the Blue Jays' direction lately, coach Josh Ohm couldn't resist the obvious and familiar: "We're like a family," he said, after the Blue Jays clambered to the front of a three-team scramble for honors at the Route 141 Rumble wrestling tournament Saturday at Summit.
Except, in Washington's case, the reference is more than locker room camaraderie. For the Blue Jays, it's genetics.
"We've got all those brothers," Ohm said. "We're a real close community."
The Blue Jays entered a 13-man roster in Saturday's 11-team tournament; five of those roster spots belonged to the Summers (Kyle, Cody and Caleb) and Baird (Spencer and Logan) boys. Until recently, the program's family connections also overflowed with seven Hanify brothers.
Saturday, Washington had just enough Summers and Bairds to eke out the title at Summit. Washington won the tournament with 195 points. Summit was second with 193, and Whitfield was third with 166. Hillsboro (139.5), Pacific (136.5) and Parkway South (135.5) rounded out the top half of the standings.
Saturday's win was the second consecutive tournament title for Washington. The Blue Jays won the Gateway Athletic Conference north division title last week.
Tournaments typically are determined by championship firepower, and Ohm wasn't keen on some of the matchups the Blue Jays faced.
"Going into the last round, I thought we'd get third," he said.
Washington and Summit each advanced five to championship matches and three to third-place matches. Washington won only one of five championship matches. The Blue Jays' Kyle Summers won a 7-5 decision against Jefferey Brock of Hazelwood East in the 170-pound final.
Summit, breathing down Washington's neck since the opening round, won two finals. Summit also had five in the finals, but it won two: Aaden Aaden was the winner at 113, and Ian McIntosh was the champ at 160.
Ohm said the Blue Jays compensated with a strong showing in the other medal matches. Two key wins came from Cody Summers and Spencer Baird. Both delivered bonus points by winning their third-place matches on pins.
"That's what got it for us," Ohm said. "That's what did it."
Whitfield couldn't quite match the depth of Washington or Summit, but the Warriors were the stars of the finals, winning four titles. Chris Wilkes (132), Austin Smith (138), Rodney Hahn (152) and Ethan Sherertz (182) won for Whitfield.
Pacific had three winners -- Joe Rind (106), Jeff Miller (126) and Austin Repp (145).
Other champs included Blake Angle (120) of Sikeston, Jarrad Sheppard (195) and Josh Maberry (220) of Hillsboro and Donnell Walker (285) of Parkway South.
