A long weekend equaled a successful trip to Columbus for the Saint Ignatius Varsity Gold wrestling squad. 

The Mat Cats took third with 199.5 points at the two-day Catholic Invitational Tournament on Saturday and Sunday. 

Featuring 24 teams, the CIT took place at Otterbein University, just outside of Columbus in Westerville, Ohio. The Wildcats enjoyed plenty of success, with six wrestlers finishing in the top three in their weight class. 

DJ Huff highlighted the Wildcats' impressive weekend. The sophomore rolled to a 4-0 record at 132 pounds. Huff recorded 3 decisions and 1 tech-fall en route to claiming first place. 

Kaden Russell also stood atop the first place pedestal at the end of the tournament. Russell completed his run with a 9-7 decision in the 182-pound championship match, clinching his third CIT title in four years.

Cal Miller also wrestled for the championship at 170 pounds, but fell just short in the final match. Miller's second place finish still stands as an impressive feat for the senior, however. 

Three Wildcats seized third place finishes at the CIT, greatly helping the Mat Cats in the points column. 

Michael Drobnick followed up on his record-setting performance from last weekend by pinning his opponent at 195 pounds to snag third place. Aidan Gill also won by pin at 220 pounds in his third place match. Not to be outdone, Matthew Whipkey clinched his spot in third with a pin of his own at 113 pounds. 

Patrick McGraw (120) Toby Engel (285) took fourth place for the Wildcats. Najee Lockett earned fifth place at 152 pounds, winning his final match, 13-7. Lockett, a two-sport student-athlete, suffered an injury during football season that has kept him out of action until now. Lockett is a promising young freshman for the Wildcats. 

The varsity gold squad returns to the mat on Friday, as the Wildcats will face off with Walsh Jesuit and Saint John's Jesuit on Friday at 5 p.m. Walsh Jesuit will host the tri-match.