Kansas Mat Preview 2014-15

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MAT PREVIEW Kansas

The Sunflower State’s Premier Wrestling Magazine

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www.kansaswrestling.org

Volume 6 | 2014-2015

Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Join the KWCA, today!

The following letter is from Manhattan wrestling coach Robert Gonzales, the president of the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association (KWCA). The KWCA continues to be a key partner in developing Kansas Mat Preview and we encourage all coaches across the Sunflower State to join this great organization.

Dear Kansas wrestling coaches and KWCA members, Thanks to all of those who recently attended the 2014 KWCA Fall Coaches Clinic in Salina. The weekend was another great success. We had 125 coaches in attendance for the clinic and coaches who became members of the KWCA. Chris Perry, two time NCAA Champion from Oklahoma State University, was the feature clinician of the 44th annual Fritz Knorr Clinic.

Chris, now in training for our USA Olympic Wrestling team, was able to provide technique and instruction to our middle and high school coaching staffs in attendance.

Coach Kevin Andres of Ottawa University was an excellent clinician that brought a wealth of information and technique to our Kansas Coaches during Friday night’s session. A featured session on Friday afternoon was provided by Cully Jackson of Holton High School and Tim Serbousek of Blue Valley Northwest High School. Nate Naasz of Lincoln High School and Brett Kramer of Jayhawk-Linn added a breakout session on use of technology in wrestling.

On Saturday, we honored coaches, athletes, media, contributors, and administrators that made a difference in the sport of wrestling in Kansas.

Coach Brad Fredrickson of Plainville was inducted into the KWCA Hall of Fame for his success in coaching from 1978-2000. Brad impacted many student-athletes during his coaching career and over 20 of his former students who are now coaches were in attendance. Wyatt Frohling was also inducted in the KWCA Hall of Fame. Coach Frohling spent 32 years as a head wrestling coach in three different states. In Kansas, Wyatt was the head coach at Trego County Community High School in WaKeeney from 1989-1999. From 2001-2013 Wyatt was the Head Coach at Russell High School and served on the KWCA executive board during his coaching tenure. The late Rick Bowden, former KSHSAA executive, was the third inductee into KWCA Hall of Fame. From 1993–2011 Rick served as an Assistant Executive Director of Kansas State High School Activities Association, overseeing football, wrestling, baseball, softball, and track & field. It certainly was a memorable weekend in celebration of Kansas wrestling and a great way to kick off the 2014-2015 year.

High school, middle school and kids’ club coaches unable to attend the clinic are encouraged to join the KWCA for the 2014-2015 season. The KWCA will be giving a middle school coach of the year award and also award four youth club coaches of the year. To be eligible for these awards or to nominate for awards, coaches must be a member of the KWCA

by Monday, February 2, 2015. A registration form may be found on the KWCA home page (www.kansaswrestling.org) along with instructions on how to purchase a clinic DVD. Being a member of the KWCA is a great way to help make the great sport of wrestling stronger in the state of Kansas. The group plans the Senior Classic Dual, coordinates rankings, awards an All-Academic team, gives out post-season awards, and honors coaches, athletes, officials, contributors, media, and inducts Hall of Fame Nominees each year. Each year the KWCA gives $4,000-$6,000 in scholarship money to the college wrestling programs in Kansas. For more information contact me at robertgo@usd383.org, or contact the following high school reps: 6A – Kale Mann, Blue Valley High School 5A – Brett Fiene, Andover High School 4A – Brandon Jobe, Bonner Springs High School 321A –Billy Johnson, Norton High School The class reps will also be coordinating the Senior Wrestler and Coach of the Year awards at the State tournaments and will be nominating athletes for the Senior Classic All-Star dual. Please assist them with this process.

Thanks for supporting the KWCA and best of luck this season!

Regards, Robert M. Gonzales

Kansas

MAT PREVIEW Welcome to year six!

Welcome to the sixth annual issue of Kansas Mat Preview, the Sunflower State’s only preseason wrestling magazine. We are proud to offer coverage of over 90 high school wrestling programs in the state of Kansas with coverage of returning wrestlers and a look at the team’s prospects for the 2014-15 season.

Wrestling is a family sport where athletes from youth all the way to the college level travel this great state in search of success on the mat. Kansas Mat Preview is proud to be part of that family and we appreciate your support of the advertisers who make this publication possible.

For more information on Kansas Mat Preview, or to find your copy, visit the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association website, kansaswrestling.org., or follow Kansas Mat Preview on Facebook.

John Baetz Publisher

Bree McReynolds-Baetz Publisher

Co-owner of Sixteen 60 Publishing Co., including the Lincoln Sentinel and Chapman News-Times community newspapers, Kansas Pregame Football Magazine, Kansas Hardwood Basketball Magazine, and Kansas Mat Preview.

Co-owner of Sixteen 60 Publishing Co., including the Lincoln Sentinel and Chapman News-Times community newspapers, Kansas Pregame Football Magazine, Kansas Hardwood Basketball Magazine, and Kansas Mat Preview.

Joe Wachter & Kayla Kvacik Graphic Designers

Tyler Gier & Amber Potter Sponsorship Sales

Contributing photographers: Everett Royer Contributing writers: Melanie McGee, Conor Nicholl On the Cover – Background: St. Marys senior Greg Tooley, currently the state’s top-ranked wrestler at 152, won the 145 pound title at the 3-2-1A Championships in Hays in February over Michale Dusin of Phillipsburg.

Tooley went undefeated last season with a 46-0 record and is a Ft. Hays State wrestling commit. Bottom left: Seniors Dylan Gassman of Oakley, and Kyle Palic of Marion, hope to make a return trip to the 220 pound final after Gassman won the 2014 3-2-1A title with a 3-2 decision over Palic. Gassman and Palic are ranked second and sixth in the current 220 pound rankings.

Bottom right: Sophomore Hunter Ostertag of Atchison County prepares to stand near the end of his finals match with Bryce Gfeller of Rossville at February’s 3-2-1A Championships. Gfeller, also now a sophomore, won the 106 pound title over Ostertag by a 13-10 decision. Gfeller is currently ranked first in the 113 pound class while Ostertag is fourth at 120.

(Photos by Everett Royer).

Acknowledgements: With a project of this size and scope we can’t possibly thank all the people that have contributed, but a special thank you goes out to the school secretaries, athletic directors, coaches and parents who helped us secure team information and ensure Kansas Mat Preview’s sixth annual issue is a success. Thank you to the advertisers who made this possible - without your support this publication would not be a reality. To all those involved with the completion of this publication in any way, thank you.

Mail inquiries to johnbaetz@gmail.com or Kansas Pregame, PO Box 186, Lincoln, KS 67455 Publication date: December 22, 2014 Can’t find a free copy? - Visit kansaswrestling.org to find a link to the digital edition.

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Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Garden City seeks third straight title

including two very accomplished transfers. Senior Isaac Dulgarian won With 11 wrestlers ranked in the top a Class 5A state title last year for Saint Thomas Aquinas, and he’s currently six of their weight classes, Garden City will begin 2015 as the frontrun- ranked first in 6A at 170 pounds.

Former Gardner-Edgerton wrestler ner for the Class 6A championship.

The Buffaloes are seeking their third Emilio Fowler begins his senior season ranked second at 182. He took straight state title, and they have fourth in 6A in February and is one of four individuals ranked first in their three Eagles looking to improve on classes. their finishes at State.

“I’m excited for the upcoming Olathe North’s roster also includes season as we have a chance to threepeat as the class 6A team champions,” top-ranked heavyweight Chase Garden City coach Carlos Prieto said. Miller and senior Jadon McGaha, the top-ranked 220-pounder. Miller “We are returning a great nucleus of kids and have a few kids that will sur- was fourth at state in February while McGaha is coming off a fifth-place prise some people come state time.” finish. Seniors Nick Haug, Mike The Buffaloes return senior Tevin Kenny, and Tyler Moulden are also Briscoe, the state champion at 138 state-ranked along with sophomores pounds last year, and junior Michael Riley Alderman and Zach Jason, and Prieto, who won the 113-pound title a year ago, plus state medalists Efrain freshman Javon Parrish.

“We have a good group of seniors Sanchez, Alec Castillo and Jesse Nunez. Freshman Kaj Perez is ranked this year,” coach Josh Carroll said.

“The team is excited about the upsecond at 106 pounds and four other coming year.” individuals made the Dec. 10 state The Derby Panthers return 11 rankings. varsity wrestlers, including six stateSecond-ranked Olathe North has ranked individuals. Senior Armoni 10 individuals in the state rankings,

 by Melanie McGee For Kansas Mat Preview

Coppins is currently ranked first at 195 pounds while classmates Braden Dipman, Cody McDonald and Garrett Xanders are ranked third in their weight classes. Derby is coming off a second-place finish at State, and will get a boost from two more Panthers that are state-ranked - junior Tanner Smith and sophomore Nathan Fowler.

Wichita Northwest’s Grizzlies will look to improve on a fourth-place finish at State. Five state-ranked wrestlers are back to lead the way, including second-ranked Shane Brock, Saul Ortiz and Noah Ornelas.

Brock brought home the silver medal at 132 pounds a year ago and finished 32-9 on the season. Ortiz owns a pair of runner-up medals and will look for a championship at 170 pounds. Ornelas, a transfer from Newton, placed fifth in Class 5A and started his junior season by winning three of his first four matches.

The Grizzlies also return fifthranked Dylan Brazzle at 152 and sixth-ranked Kevin Folsom at 160.

A young Manhattan squad rounds out the top five teams in the Dec. 16

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rankings. The Indians must replace two state champions and they have just three seniors on the roster.

Sophomore Mason Wallace earned a third-place medal last season and begins 2015 ranked atop the 132 pound weight class. Manhattan also has third-ranked freshman Jalin Harper at 120 pounds, third-ranked sophomore heavyweight Eldon Picou and fifthranked senior Kendrick Rivera at 138.

Indian coach Robert Gonzales said early season duals with Junction City (No. 6 in 6A), Class 5A’s top-ranked Goddard and two-time defending Class 6A champion Garden City will prepare his team for the postseason.

Other notable teams in Class 6A include No. 6 Junction City, No. 7 Dodge City, No. 8 Blue Valley Northwest, No. 9 Maize and No. 10 Washburn Rural.

LIKE

Kansas Mat Preview

6A RANKINGS TEAM RANKINGS

120 1. Idris Elias – 10 - WW 2. Jalin Harper – 9 - MH 3. Sam Elliott – 11 - BVNW 4. Caysean Campbell – 12 - GC 5. Tanner Smith – 11 - DB 6. Taylor Jokerst – 11 - ONW

145 1. Tevin Briscoe – 12 - GC 2. Tyler Moulden – 12 - ON 3. Cole Moses – 11 - MZ 4. Jake Bazan – 12 - JC 5. Tylor Garcia – 10 - DC 6. Trent Miles – 11 - WR

182 1. Alan Clothier – 11 - LAW 2. Emilio Fowler – 12 - ON 3. Chris Lyons – 12 - BVNW 4. Jhett Ostrom – 12 - DC 5. Devon Baker – 12 - MZ 6. Nathan Mikoleit – 12 - WR

126 1. Michael Prieto – 11 - GC 2. Gary Joint – 10 – MH 3. Clay Weil – 11 - DC 4. De’Khyale McFarland – 11 - OE 5. Braden Dipman – 12 - DB 6. Gabe Padilla – 12 - JC

152 1. Garrett Xanders – 12 - DB 2. Alex Hydock – 11 - MZ 3. Tanner Madl – 11 - BV 4. Zach Jaso – 10 - ON 5. Dylan Brazzle – 12 - WNW 6. Nick Jouret – 9 - OS

195 1. Zeke Herrera – 10 - GC 2. Noah McGinnis – 12 - SMN 3. Jose Montoya – 11 - SMW 4. Armoni Coppins – 12 - DB 5. Zack Newcomb – 12 - SMNW 6. Foster Jacobs – 12 - BVNW

106 1. Tate Steele – 9 - LFS 2. Kaj Perez – 9 - GC 3. Boo Dryden – 10 - CAM 4. Gunner Murray – 9 - WR 5. Will Whitaker – 11 - ONW 6. Javon Parrish – 9 - ON

132 1. Mason Wallace – 10 - MH 2. Cody McDonald – 12 - DB 3. Doug Newcomb – 12 - ONW 4. Mike Kenny – 12 - ON 5. Devon Asebedo – 10 - DC 6. Jason Laramore – 11 - BVNW

160 1. Brett Moon – 11 - MZ 2. Nick Haug – 12 - ON 3. Jeryl Denton – 12 - JC 4. Jesse Nunez – 10 - GC 5. Kevin Folsom – 11 - WNW 6. Nick Killion – 11 - DC

220 1. Jadon McGaha – 12 - ON 2. Noah Ornelas – 11 - WNW 3. Francisco Escamilla – 12 - HUT 4. Jacob Nemechek – 12 - WR 5. Peyton Hill – 10 - GC 6. Blake Johnson – 11 - BVNW

113 1. Efrain Sanchez – 12 - GC 2. Gregory Bentley – 11 - CAM 3. Brandon Becker – 9 - DB 4. Riley Alderman – 10 - ON 5. Shayn Morris – 12 - LFS 6. John Fonseca – 10 - WW

138 1. Alec Castillo – 11 - GC 2. Downey Wood – 12 - JC 3. Jaden McRoberts – 12 - DC 4. T.J. Burger – 12 - GE 5. Devin Norris – 10 – MH 6. Lewis Smith – 12 - SMS

170 1. Isaac Dulgarian – 12 - ON 2. Saul Ortiz – 12 - WNW 3. Zac Finch – 12 - GC 4. Aryus Jones – 10 - JC 5. Dylan Servis – 10 - DC 6. Dustin Carstens – 11 - GE

285 1. Chase Miller – 11 - ON 2. Tyler Bastian – 12 - CAM 3. Aaron Lozano – 11 - GC 4. Eldon Picou – 10 - MH 5. Nathan Fowler – 10 - DB 6. Victor Rodriguez – 11 - WW

As of December 16 ,2014

1. Garden City 2. Olathe North 3. Derby 4. Wichita Northwest 5. Manhattan 6. Junction City 7. Dodge City 8. Blue Valley Northwest 9. Maize 10. Washburn Rural

INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

Ranking Coordinator: Eric Johnson, 913-484-3624

6A Class Rep: Kale Mann

Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Goddard is early 5A front runner

 by Melanie McGee For Kansas Mat Preview

The top two teams in Class 5A at last season’s state meet are atop the Dec. 17 state rankings, though runner-up Goddard owns the top spot in the current rankings, plus has nine wrestlers ranked in their weight classes. St. James Academy is expected to contend for a second straight state title with six state-ranked individuals.

Six state medalists return for the top-ranked Lions, including sophomore Lane Glover, who is ranked first at 113 pounds after finishing second at 106 a year ago. Goddard also has top-ranked 126-pounder Christian Bowen, second-ranked Kendall Frame and Brett Woodruff, and five other state-ranked wrestlers.

“The returning seniors, juniors, sophomores and talented freshmen Garrett Lange and Austin Adres should make this season a lot of fun and challenging to find a varsity spot,” coach Brett Means said.

Second-ranked Saint James Academy will lean on six ranked wrestlers, including top-ranked Tyler Harris (182), Clay Lautt (160) and Stephen Tujague (138).

Past state champion Zak Hensley is ranked second at 132 pounds and looking to build on a 49-6 record from last year.

The Thunder also return fourthranked Sammy Cokeley at 152 and two other state qualifiers as they look to defend last season’s team championship.

Third-ranked Arkansas City will lean heavily on its lower weights, where the Bulldogs have two topranked individuals. Senior Logan Terrill leads the 120 pound poll, while freshman Marcus Robinson is ranked first at 106 and freshman Jake Beeson sits second in the 126 pound rankings.

Terrill is looking for his third straight state title and the Bulldogs are seeking their fourth under head coach Mike Buckbee.

Junior Kendall Biddle, junior Bryson Nuckles and sophomore

Tyler Shannon are also ranked and five other state qualifiers return to the Arkansas City roster.

Topeka Seaman made a move to the fourth spot in the December 17 team rankings. The Vikings welcomed back nine state qualifiers to start the season and got a boost with the addition of Jefferson West transfer Tucker Schreiner, who placed sixth at 120 pounds last season in 4A. The Vikings had six wrestlers ranked in the December 17 rankings.

Seven members of the Emporia squad are state-ranked as of Dec. 17, and the Spartans have the second-ranked heavyweight – Hayden Perry. The senior went 24-17 last year and will look to build on that while chasing a gold medal.

Perry is one of nine past state qualifiers on the Emporia roster.

First-year coach Dustin Malone’s team, ranked fifth in 5A, also includes senior Sage Eckman.

He is ranked second at 182 after finishing third at 195 a year ago.

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Mill Valley finished 14th at last year’s state tournament, but the Jaguars are ranked sixth and looking to move up with help from eight state-ranked individuals.

Three-time state qualifier Bryan Burnett is currently ranked third at 145 pounds after going 35-13 last year. Mill Valley also returns third-ranked 106-pounder Dylan Gowin and third-ranked senior Logan Marx at 138.

“This team brings a lot of wrestling experience from all four classes,” coach Travis Keal said.

“We will be led by a great group of seniors, all of whom have put in the time to get better in the offseason.”

Andover, Salina Central, Bishop Carroll, and Andover Central round out the top 10 in the team rankings while Wichita Heights, Maize South, Newton and Saint Thomas Aquinas also have topranked individuals.

5A RANKINGS TEAM RANKINGS

120 1. Logan Terrill – 12 - ARK 2. Paul Stuart – 10 - AND 3. Will Spexarth – 10 - GD 4. Jaelynn Gay – 12 - SEA 5. Marty Verhaeghe – 11 - BVSW 6. Nick Romig – 11 - VC

145 1. Kevin Kissane – 12 - MZS 2. Kendall Frame – 10 - GD 3. Bryan Burnett – 12 - MV 4. Bryson Nuckles – 11 - ARK 5. Armond McCray – 12 - WH 6. Tyler Hensley – 11 - SJA

182 1. Tyler Harris – 12 - SJA 2. Sage Eckman – 12 - EMP 3. Carter Hall – 12 - SH 4. Nick Nece – 11 - KMC 5. Dylan Prince – 10 - PT 6. Kyle True – 11 - SLC

INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

126 1. Christian Bowen – 11 - GD 2. Jake Beeson – 9 - ARK 3. Khamin Crow – 12 - SEA 4. Jarrett Bendure – 9 - MV 5. Griffin Bossingham – 11 - AND 6. Bryant Sullentrop – 12 - BC

152 1. Dayton Will – 12 - SLC 2. Kendall Biddle – 11 - ARK 3. Daemeion Gay – 12 - SEA 4. Sammy Cokeley – 10 - SJA 5. Joel Sponsel – 12 - BC 6. Sam Kissane – 10 - MZS

195 1. Jared Langley – 12 - NEW 2. Caleb Ward – 12 - LS 3. Bailey Kelly – 11 - SEA 4. Nick Kirmer – 11- EMP 5. Cole Hoover – 12 - SS 6. Austin Tresner – 12 - LV

106 1. Marcus Robinson – 9 - ARK 2. Gunnar Gentzler – 9 - AC 3. Dylan Gowin – 10 - MV 4. Dawson Podlena – 10 - SEA 5. Carter Guyer – 10 - AND 6. Jaysen West – 9 - MZS

132 1. Sean DeShazer – 12 - WH 2. Zak Hensley – 12 - SJA 3. Garrett Whitson – 12 - EMP 4. Garrett Lange – 9 - GD 5. Jack Maki – 10 - AND 6. Conor Murphy – 10 - BC

160 1. Clay Lautt – 10 - SJA 2. Mason Ray – 11 - SEA 3. Daniel Butler – 10 - LV 4. Jacob Smith – 11 - TUR 5. Cale Davidson – 10 - GD 6. Zach Combs – 11 - ARK

220 1. Ben Ewing – 12 - STA 2. Nick Nolting – 12 - BC 3. Corey Atkins – 11 - GD 4. Kayne Hutchinson – 10 - PT 5. Michael Torres – 12 - EMP 6. Michael McMullen – 11 - SLC

113 1. Lane Glover – 10 - GD 2. Logan Treaster – 10 - NEW 3. Tyler Kester – 10 - PT 4. Mason Turner – 9 - SCH 5. Conner Ward – 9 - MV 6. Adam Ayala – 9 - KMC

138 1. Stephen Tujague – 11 - SJA 2. Dakota Rodd – 11 - AC 3. Logan Marx – 12 - MV 4. Jake Patterson – 9 - SH 5. Isaac Russell – 12 - EMP 6. Cody Liles – 11 - GB

170 1. Dalton Peters – 11 - SLC 2. Brett Woodruff – 12 - GD 3. Seth Burnett – 11 - MV 4. Brett Yeagley – 11 - SH 5. Jake Dusenbury – 12 - AND 6. Alex Reyes – 11 - EMP

285 1. Ian Hall – 11 - SEA 2. Hayden Perry – 12 - EMP 3. Carter Gragg – 12 - GD 4. Bennett Powers – 12 - KMC 5. Austin Lawrence – 12 - BVSW 6. Corey Sibley – 12 - VC

As of December 17 ,2014

1. Goddard 2. St. James Academy 3. Arkansas City 4. Topeka Seaman 5. Emporia 6. Mill Valley 7. Andover 8. Salina Central 9. Bishop Carroll 10. Andover Central

Ranking Coordinator: Eric Johnson, 913-484-3624

5A Class Rep: Brett Fiene

Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Chanute, Baldwin atop 4A rankings

Bulldogs start the season with six state-ranked individuals. Senior Jon Just about everyone is back from Pratt is the top ranked wrestler at last year’s state-runner-up team at 152 pounds after finishing fourth at Chanute, and the Blue Comets are state last year. He is one of seven looking to get past two-time dereturning state qualifiers. fending champion Holton this year.

“We have one of the best teams Blue Comet senior Adam Cole we have had in a long time,” coach (145) is also looking for a state Kit Harris said. “We have some title after finishing third at 132. great young wrestlers in our light He owns three state medals and weights and a lot of depth in the compiled a 33-2 record as a junior. upper weights with some tough Chanute returns seven other state upperclassmen.” qualifiers, including third-ranked Senior Mario Garcia is ranked Alex Son at 195 and second-ranked fourth at 195, and Owen Tuckfield, Brady Vogel at 160.

Joel Katzer, Joel Halford, and “As far as I’m concerned Holton Thomas Lisher are also stateis the team to beat,” Blue Comet ranked in their weight classes. coach Andy Albright said. “We Two-time defending champion have a lot of work to do and we’re Holton begins the 2014-15 season working hard to get there.” ranked third, but the Wildcats have Albright’s team also returns three wrestlers ranked in the top junior Nick Ornelas, ranked third at two of their weight classes. Senior 126; senior Ethin VanAnne, ranked Lucas Lovvorn moves up to 160 third at 182; junior Gage Clark, after winning the 152-pound title as ranked fifth at 220; and senior a junior, while senior Mason Baum Chase Cole, ranked sixth at 138. is ranked second at 170 and junior Second-ranked Baldwin also has Justin Rieschick is No. 2 at 145. high expectations this year, as the Add in fifth-ranked Justin Pool, a junior at 132, and state qualifiers

 by Melanie McGee For Kansas Mat Preview

Jameson Lutz, Tyler Price and Dominic Buterakos, and Holton looks to be tough again this year.

No. 6 Bonner Springs has a pair of ranked seniors to lead the charge this season. DJ Ballard is coming off a third-place finish at 120 pounds and begins his senior year ranked first at 126 while Bryan Lanning is ranked sixth in what looks to be a loaded 160 class.

“Both are experienced at the state tournament and look to finish high in late February,” coach Brandon Jobe said of his seniors. “DJ will look to improve on his third place finish, and with the addition of transfer Tanner Hitchcock and state qualifier Collin Wallar moving down a weight, the team looks to improve on last year’s finish.”

Hitchcock placed fifth at state as a freshman at Pittsburg, and will wrestle 113 for Bonner Springs, while Wallar is coming off a 22-13 record at 126 pounds. Both are ranked in the top five.

Three members of the No. 8 Prairie View Buffaloes are ranked, including top-ranked Cordell Dun-

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lop at 195 pounds. He went 40-14 and placed sixth at state as a junior, but is looking for a title in 2015.

The Buffaloes also return fifth-ranked Case Pemberton at 126 pounds. He was 41-18 as a sophomore and has placed at state both years. Senior William Holland starts out ranked third at 160, and Prairie View also returns state qualifiers Tre Kline and Tanner Snow.

Fifth-ranked Basehor-Linwood has two top-ranked individuals – freshman Cody Phippen at 106 and sophomore Corbin Nischl at 120.

Colby valuted to a tie with Holton for third place in the December 17 rankings with four ranked wrestlers, including three in the top two of their respectivie classifications.

DeSoto is seventh, Augusta, ninth, and Independence 10th in the December 17 KWCA rankings.

RE H A B ILITA TIO N & SPO RTS M E D IC IN E 5 11 N E 10th St•A bilen e,K S 785 -263-6664

M E M O RIA L H E A LTH SYSTE M

4A RANKINGS

TEAM RANKINGS

120 1. Corbin Nirschl –10 – BASEHOR-LINWOOD 2. Zach Eck – 10 – ANDALE 3. Emmanuel Browne – 11 – SUMNER ACD. 4. Bryce Erickson –10 – SANTA FE TRAIL 5. Collin Wallar – 11 – BONNER SPRINGS 6. Aaron Avelar – 12 – GOODLAND

145 1. Adam Cole – 12 – CHANUTE 2. Justin Rieschick – 11 – HOLTON 3. Reno Hughey – 11 – EL DORADO 4. Hunter Mullin – 10 – CLAY CENTER 5. Brad Smith – 12 – SPRING HILL 6. Brandon Archuleta – 11 – SMOKY VALLEY

182 1. Austin Cook – 12 – SMOKY VALLEY 2. Ethan Deterding – 12 – HAYS 3. Ethin VanAnne – 12 – CHANUTE 4. Matthew Bailey – 11 – ROYAL VALLEY 5. Joel Katzer – 11 – BALDWIN 6. Logan Lindbloom – 11 – BUHLER

INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

126 1. DJ Ballard – 12 – BONNER SPRINGS 2. Curtis Burnett – 12 – INDEPENDENCE 3. Nick Ornelas – 11 – CHANUTE 4. Brendan Chrisjohn – 11 – OSAWATOMIE 5. Case Pemberton – 11 – PRAIRIE VIEW 6. Jon Trowbridge – 9 – BASEHOR-LINWOOD

152 1. Jon Pratt – 12 – BALDWIN 2. Asher Huseman – 12 – TONGANOXIE 3. Andrew Pelkey – 11 – WELLINGTON 4. Seth Strauss – 12 – ABILENE 5. Bryce Rodriguez – 12 – ULYSSES 6. Daniel Dees – 12 – OSAWATOMIE

195 1. Cordell Dunlop – 12 – PRAIRIE VIEW 2. Jeremy Slitor – 12 – DESOTO 3. Alex Son – 12 – CHANUTE 4. Blake Watkins – 12 – AUGUSTA 5. DJ Kessler – 11 – INDEPENDENCE 6. Aaron Fair – 11 – WELLINGTONS

106 1. Cody Phippen – 9 – BASEHOR-LINWOOD 2. Arthur Jesse –12 – INDEPENDANCE 3. Austin Eldridge – 10 – MCPHERSON 4. Christian Davis – 10 – SANTA FE TRAIL 5. Dylan Pelland – 10 – PRATT 6. Zach Strait – 9 – CONCORDIA

132 1. Trevor Smith – 11 – WINFIELD 2. Caysen Smith – 12 – ABILENE 3. Cameron Miller – 11 – CONCORDIA 4. Thomas Lisher – 10 – BALDWIN 5. Justin Pool – 11 – HOLTON 6. Josh Moore – 12 – AUGUSTA

160 1. Lucas Lovvorn – 12 – HOLTON 2. Brady Vogel – 11 – CHANUTE 3. William Holland – 12 – PRAIRIE VIEW 4. Bryce Arnberger – 11 – COLBY 5. Owen Tuckfield – 11 – BALDWIN 6. Bryan Lanning – 12 – BONNER SPRINGS

220 1. Diego Maravilla – 11 – ULYSSES 2. Austin Hart – 11 – COLBY 3. Chandler Carter – 12 – DESOTO 4. Keenan Dodd – 11 – PARSONS 5. Gage Clark – 11 – CHANUTE 6. Ian O’Laughlin – 12 – AUGUSTA

113 1. Jake Goldenstein – 12 – AUGUSTA 2. Tate Carney – 10 – COLBY 3. Tanner Hitchcock –10 – BONNER SP. 4. Bryce Garcia – 12 – ANDALE 5. Tyler Flood – 10 – PAOLA 6. Tate Withington – 10 – GOODLAND

138 1. Conner Penka – 12 – ROSE HILL 2. Anthony Scantlin – 10 – MULVANE 3. Dakota Motter – 10 – EL DORADO 4. Dalton Carley – 12 – WAMEGO 5. Marco Perez – 12 – ULYSSES 6. Chase Cole – 12 – CHANUTE

170 1. Taylor Watkins – 12 – COLUMBUS 2. Mason Baum – 12 – HOLTON 3. Josh Miller – 12 – DESOTO 4. Curtis Rylant – 11 – CLEARWATER 5. Andy Blanton – 11 – OSAWATOMIE 6. Sam Carver – 12 – OTTAWA

285 1. Jason Zook – 11 – CHAPMAN 2. Ethan Jay – 10 – COLBY 3. Austin King – 10 – CIRCLE 4. Jacob Burnett – 12 – EL DORADO 5. Jake Hastings – 10 – SANTA FE TRAIL 6. Kasey Feyh – 11 – WAMEGO

As of December 17 ,2014

1. Chanute 2 . Baldwin 3 . Colby 3 . Holton 5 . Basehor-Linwood 6 . Bonner Springs 7 . DeSoto 8 . LaCygne-Prairie View 9. Augusta 10. Independence

4A Rankings Compiled By: Andy Albright, Kit Harris, Cullen Jackson, Brandon Jobe, Matt Sims

Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Norton’s depth umatched in 3-2-1A

 by Conor Nicholl For Kansas Mat Preview

The Class 3-2-1A theme of the last five years – especially the last two – is clear-cut. The classification has yielded more four-time state champions than any other time in Kansas history, including Smith Center’s Colt Rogers, Thomas More Prep-Marian’s Dylan Schumacher, Fredonia’s Brogan Humphrey and Rossville’s Tagen Lambotte. Hoisington’s Brandon Ball could join the exclusive club this winter.

Other squads, especially Hoxie, Plainville, Beloit, Smith Center, have enjoyed standout individuals.

But no one has been able to come close to Norton’s overall depth.

The Bluejays have won the last two crowns with by far the classification’s deepest roster. As well, Norton also captured titles in 2010 and ’11 and ’04-06 under longtime coach Bill Johnson.

Perhaps no season illustrated Norton’s standout depth like 2013-14.

Norton, the preseason No. 1 team again this winter, won the crown with 127 points. Rossville was second with 81 points, Beloit third with 80. The 46-point gap was bigger than second to 14th place. This season, Rossville is ranked second, Silver Lake third and Hoisington fourth. Ball, a Fort Hays signee, and his younger brother, Jonathan, a

returning fifth-place finisher, went a combined 85-4 last year.

Norton’s only champion was senior Branson Addington, a surprise victor versus Ellsworth standout Ty Nienke at 113 pounds. Rossville won the most state titles (two), and Beloit, like Norton, had two finalists. But the Bluejays had three others take third and a pair of wrestlers finish sixth. All 10 wrestlers scored for Norton.

Toby Nickell finished 11-12 for the season, but collected a regional title and sixth-place state finish.

It’s extremely rare for someone to finish with a losing record and still place at state. Norton accomplished the state title with two former state medalists (Ethan Ross and Caysean Campbell) not competing at regionals or state, and Gavin Lively, a returning starter, suffering injury.

“That’s what I finally leveled with the kids in practice,” Johnson said.

“This would devastate most teams, they can’t overcome that. … If you would have told me that we would win the state title by (46) points, most of the people in our community would say, ‘Well, I don’t know,’ without three kids that were pretty important to our team not being in the lineup.”

In 2013, Norton won the state title with 129.5 points, Hoxie was sec-

Photo Credit: Everett Royer This winter Norton will look its for third consecutive state title and their eighth in the last 12 seasons under veteran coach Bill Johnson.

ond with 97 and Plainville third at 83. Again, Norton had just one state champion, Hoxie had three.

This year, the Bluejays had just one No. 1-ranked wrestler in the preseason, junior Mike Kasson (now fourth) in a 152-pound class that, as of press time, includes defending 145 pound champion Greg Tooley and last season’s fourth place 132 pounder Hunter Howerton.

Kasson went 1-2 at state last year after he spent most of the winter on junior varsity.

However, Norton has plenty of other top wrestlers. Junior Skylar Johnson, a third-place finisher last year, is No. 2 at 113 pounds, senior Kendall Miller stands second at 170 pounds, and sophomore Jacob Green was ranked fourth at 220

4 11 Photo Credit: Everett Royer Tristan Porsch, the son of Hoxie coach Mike Porsch, kicked off his high school career with an undefeated state championship at 120 last season.

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M a in S t•M o u n

pounds.

Skylar Johnson was third at state last year while Green also was third a year ago.

Kasson and Miller are returning state qualifiers and Lively had a 12-4 record. Junior Jordan Dole (19-14) is expected to be the 195 pounder and should compete for a state medal.

Riley Hager and Kade Unterseher are also expected to make big improvements.

“Our strength is 10 returning varsity starters,” Johnson said. “Most of these 10 spent all last season in the varsity line-up gaining valuable experience. Strength in numbers: Over 30 athletes have showed up to start the season. These numbers will give the Bluejays much depth and competition for the 14 varsity spots.”

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Alma-Wabaunsee

Alma-Wabaunsee’s senior leader hopes to lead a storm of Chargers into the state tournament.

Storm Johnson was a state qualifier for Wabaunsee as a sophomore, putting together a 32-13 season and going 2-2 at the big show. Johnson’s junior year included 25 wins, but did not end with a state berth.

Johnson is the lone grappler with state experience after the Chargers lost Triston Hurla to graduation.

Wabaunsee may have a quick up-and-comer in the ranks. Freshman Riley Tubbs vaulted into the 126-pound rankings, sitting in fourth. Tubbs is one of only three 3-2-1A freshman wrestlers ranked as of Dec. 16. Tubbs took second at the Mission Valley tournament in early December, losing a 6-3 decision in the finals to Rossville’s Alex Cavanaugh, the No. 1 ranked 126-pounder in the class.

As a team, Wabaunsee finished eighth at Mission Valley. Marysville (tournament champion) and Rossville (fifth) outscored the Chargers at the tour-

nament – two state-ranked foes Wabaunsee will see at regionals. The regional also includes Silver Lake.

The Chargers will hope to sneak in other potential qualifiers, as well, to kickstart the program. Wabaunsee has not reached five team points in any of the past five state tournaments.

Class 3-2-1A / Mid-East League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 52nd Coach: Joey Heersche Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 106 – Braden Thurman, So. 152 – Storm Johnson, Sr. 160 – Mason Schwemmer, So. 170 – Joe Hund, Sr. 195 – Chandler Polston, So. 220 – Ryan Rose, So. 285 – Josh Schmitz, So.

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3-2-1A RANKINGS TEAM RANKINGS

120 1. Sam Aylor-12-Fredonia 2. Cody Salazar-12-Sterling 3. Dalton Dultmeier-10-Silver Lake 4. Hunter Ostertag-10-ACCHS 5. Kade Unterseher-10-Norton 6. Bryce Bacon-11-Hoxie

145 1. Haegan Schaefer-12-Silver Lake 2. Colton Stalford-12-Caney Valley 3. Jonathan Ball-10-Hoisington 4. T.J. Ragnoni-11-Bennington 5. Chase Prester-11-Russell 6. Rhett Mizer-12-Rawlins Co.

182 1. Isaac Luellen-11-Rossville 2. Dalton Brand-12-Russell 3. Gavin Lively-11-Norton 4. Kaden Housel-12-Cherryvale 5. Chance Schooler-12-Central Hts. 6. Adam Janzen-12-Marion

INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

126 1. Alex Cavanaugh-11-Rossville 2. David Hileman-10-Smith Center 3. Chris Deters-11-Marysville 4. Riley Tubbs-9-Wabaunsee 5. Isaac Stone-11-Greeley Co. 6. Kody Kind-11-Bennington

152 1. Greg Tooley-12-St. Marys 2. Hunter Howerton-11-Silver Lake 3. Taylor Murphy-12-Oakley 4. Mike Kasson-11-Norton 5. Logan Sherman-11-Fredonia 6. Kelton Suchy-10-Russell

195 1. Tristan Speer-12-Troy 2. Quentin Clark-12-Minneapolis 3. Rex Diederich-12-Oberlin 4. Jacob Anderson-12-Central Hts. 5. Dustin Blow-12-Onaga 6. Seth Fouts-10-Douglass

106 1. Dylan Leckner-11-Wellsville 2. Zane Stanton-9-Caney Valley 3. Holden Butler-10-Council Grove 4. Estin Slack-10-Oakley 5. Zachery Tucker-11-Scott City 6. Junior Torres-12-Sublette

132 1. Tristan Porsch-10-Hoxie 2. James Jurgens-12-Scott City 3. Troy Juenemann-12-Oberlin 4. Taylor Wilmarth-11-Wellsville 5. Tristyn Goebel-11-Council Grove 6. Connor Rychlee-10-Burlington

160 1. Garret Dunlap-11-Doniphan West 2. Lucas McMichael-11-Central-Burden 3. Nick Reesor-12-Rossville 4. Tabor Erickson-10-Oberlin 5. Chuck Schmidt-11-Eureka 6. Kyler Mick-11-Bennington

220 1. A.J. Cooper-12-Cimarron 2. Dylan Gassmann-12-Oakley 3. Luke Jacobs-12-Phillipsburg 4. Jacob Green-10-Norton 5. Elijah Davis-12-Central Heights 6. Kyle Palic-12-Marion

113 1. Bryce Gfeller-10-Rossville 2. Skylar Johnson-11-Norton 3. Gavin Burgess-12-Fredonia 4. Bryce Younger-9-Ellis 5. Justin Skerce-11-Council Grove 6. Austin Constable-10-Minneapolis

138 1. Brandon Ball-12-Hoisington 2. Carter Wessling-11-Beloit 3. Macrae Migchelbrink-12-Rawlins Co. 4. Colby Johnson-10-Burlington 5. Caleb Austin-12-Greeley Co. 6. Casey Garner-12-Bluestem

170 1. Josh Nelson-12-Marysville 2. Kendall Miller-12-Norton 3. Lane Moran-11-Bluestem 4. Storm Johnson-12-Wabaunsee 5. Devon Mick-12-Plainville 6. Hunter Hanzlick-10-Hoisington

285 1. Jaden Helms-12-Chaparral 2. Trey Colborn-12-Erie 3. Jacob Leuthold-12-Sabetha 4. Mikel Cottenmyre-10-Republic Co. 5. Jacob McCurdy-12-Lyons 6. Jacob Barr-11-Southeast of Saline

As of December 16 ,2014

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Norton Rossville Silver Lake Hoisington Fredonia Oakley Oberlin-Decatur Comm.

Marysville Caney Valley Russell

Ranking Coordinator: Wyatt Bechtel, wyatt_bechtel@yahoo.com

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Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

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Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Page 7

Andale

501 Main St. Atwood 785-626-3141

Two state placers and a third qualifier are back to lead the Indians as they look to build on a seventh place finish at State.

Senior Bryce Garcia is a two-time state qualifier and finished fourth last season. He Dine-in or begins 2015 ranked fifth at 113 pounds after finishing second at the Dec. 6 Pratt InvitationCarryout al.

Andale sophomore Zach Eck is coming off a sixth-place finish at state as a freshman, Three Cowboys are state-ranked to begin and he won the Pratt Invitational title at 126 2015. pounds with a 4-0 record on the day. Eck went Senior Caysen Smith is the highest-ranked 27-9 last season and is ranked third at 120 Cowboy, sitting atop the 132-pound rankings pounds to start 2015. as of mid-December. He finished second at The Indians also return senior Chris state a year ago and is off to a 9-1 start this Betzen, a state qualifier at 220 pounds last year. Smith went 32-5 as a junior and has year, seniors AJ Hein and Paul Koontz, junior already won his first tournament as a senior - Darrell Cooley and sophomores Grayson the Raider Classic held Dec. 6 at Wamego.

Clevenger and Daron Spexarth.

Seniors Zane Baugh and Seth Strauss are also Freshman Jaryd Weber, the third-place state-ranked to start 2015. finisher at the Dec. 6 Pratt Invitational, begins his career ranked sixth at 106 pounds and Class 4A / North Central Kansas League should make an immediate impact for Andale.

2013-14 State Placing: 20th Coach: James Stout Class 4A / Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Assistants: Nathan Howard, Corey Casteel 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A Returning weights: 2013-14 State Placing: 7th 113 - Logan McDowell, state qualifier, Sr.; Hunter Coach: N/A Kiser, state qualifier, Jr. Assistants: N/A 120 - Cody Wuthnow, So. Returning weights: 126 - Zane Baugh, state qualifier, Sr. 113 - Bryce Garcia, state placer, two-time state 132 - Caysen Smith, state runner-up, Sr. qualifier, Sr. 145 - Felix Strauss, Jr. 120 - Zach Eck, state placer, So.; Sam Lubbers, Jr. 152 - Seth Strauss, state qualifier, Sr. 126 - Paul Koontz, Sr. 160 - Kevin Wilson, Jr. 152 - Daron Spexarth, So. 170 - Jarrett Woofter, Sr. 160 - AJ Hein, Sr. 182 - Trey Bender, Jr. 182 - Grayson Clevenger, So. 195 - Jaron Christensen, So. 195 - Darrell Cooley, Jr. 220 - Blaise Lehman, Sr. 220 - Chris Betzen, state qualifier, Sr. 285 - Andy Tope, Jr. Melanie McGee Melanie McGee

Abilene

Augusta

Augusta begins the season with just two state-ranked wrestlers, but the Orioles have eight seniors and plenty of depth.

Three-time state medalist Jake Goldenstein is the most decorated wrestler on the roster, having medaled in second, first and third place during his previous trips to the state tournament.

“We did lose six quality seniors from last year’s lineup and will need some younger wrestlers to step up and fill holes,” coach Brandon Terry said.

Class 4A / Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League 2013-14 Dual Record: 14-1 2013-14 State Placing: 14th Coach: Brandon Terry (9th year) Assistants: JD Hand, Chuck Bishop Returning weights: 120 - Jake Goldenstein, three-time state placer, Sr. 126 - Nathan Moore, state qualifier, Sr. 132 - Josh Moore, state qualifier, Jr. 138 - Nigel Callison, Jr. 145 - Kaleb Fewin, Jr. 152 - Connor Spellman, state qualifier, Sr. 160 - Rob Winzer, state qualifier, Jr. 170 - Dalton Watts, Sr. 195 - Blake Watkins, state qualifier, Sr. 220 - Ian OíLaughlin, state qualifier, Sr. Melanie McGee

Baldwin

Expectations are high at Baldwin, where the Bulldogs start 2015 ranked second in Class 4A. “We have one of the best teams we have had in a long time,” coach Kit Harris said.

“We have some great young wrestlers in our lightweights and a lot of depth in the upper weights with some tough upperclassmen.”

Senior Jon Pratt is one of the top returning Bulldogs. He begins the season ranked second at 152 pounds after placing the last two years.

Class 4A / Frontier League 2013-14 Dual Record: 10-0 2013-14 State Placing: 25th Coach: Kit Harris (16th year) Assistants: Kip Clark, Nick Rockhold, Colby Soden Returning weights: 113 – Levi Green, state qualifier, So. 126 – Ben Morgenstern, state qualifier, Jr. 132 – Thomas Lisher, state qualifier, So. 145 – Taylor Peters, Sr. 152 – Jon Pratt, two-time state placer, Sr. 160 – Owen Tuckfield, state qualifier, Jr. 170 – Joel Katzer, Jr. 182 – Joel Halford, Sr. 195 – Mario Garcia, state qualifier, Sr. 220 – Tiler Garcia, state qualifier, Sr. 285 – Jake Katzer, Jr. Melanie McGee

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Andover

A pair of state runners-up return to lead the Trojans, and coach Brett Fiene is excited about his team’s potential We are really excited to be returning all of our state qualifiers except for one,” he said.

“On top of our state returners, we will have several varsity and JV wrestlers who are ready to step up and take on the role as a varsity wrestler or state qualifier.”

Junior Jack Maki is coming off a 33-5 season and second place finish at state while sophomore Paul Stuart was also a state runner-up and went 33-2.

Senior Jake Dusenbury finished 26-15 last year at 160 pounds and will look to build on a trip to the state tournament.

“The coaching staff is excited to see what Jake has in store for the team and himself this year,” Fiene said. “His record and merits have improved year by year. We are excited to help Jake accomplish his goals this wrestling season.”

Juniors Griffin Bossingham and Elijah Gordon are also returning state qualifiers.

“We also have a great group of freshmen coming in who have competed at a high level in club wrestling,” Fiene said.

Class 5A / Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League 2013-14 Dual Record: 8-4 2013-14 State Placing: 16th Coach: Brett Fiene (5th year) Assistants: Chase Nitcher, Cade Blair, Spencer Shirk Returning weights: 120 - Paul Stuart, state runner-up, So. 126 - Griffin Bossingham, state qualifier, Jr. 132 - Jack Maki, state runner-up, Jr. 138 - Elijah Gordon, state qualifier, Jr. 170 - Jake Dusenbury, state qualifier, Sr. Melanie McGee

Basehor-Linwood

The Bobcat roster is young on paper, but coach Tyler Cordts still expects big things from his talented young wrestlers.

Sophomore Corbin Nischl, now wrestling at 120 pounds, is coming off a 31-0 season and the 106-pound state championship.

“Corbin had a tremendous offseason, including a runner-up finish at Fargo,” Cordts said.

He is joined by four seniors and four underclassmen with varsity experience.

“Seniors Zack Carter, Dominic Foster, Cullen Povilonis and Pierce Holyfield are looking to have breakout years and end their time as Bobcats by reaching new heights both individually and as a team,” Cordts said. “We graduated a lot of experience last year, but are bringing in a lot of good young talent that could develop into a great team for us. It will be a learning process, but we have tons of potential.”

A pair of Kids State champions - Jon Trowbridge and Cody Phippen - will join the Basehor-Linwood squad as freshmen and Cordts expects them to have an immediate impact. The Bobcat varsity also returns Alex Bejarano, Rylan Hawthorne, Justin Phillips and Tucker Rowland.

Class 4A / Kaw Valley League 2013-14 Dual Record: 10-1 2013-14 State Placing: Coach: Tyler Cordts (3rd year) Assistants: Travis Phippen, Joe Zlatnik Returning weights: 120 - Corbin Nischl, state champion, So. 132 - Rylan Hawthorne, Jr.; Tucker Rowland 138 - Pierce Holyfield, Sr. 145 - Justin Phillips, So. 182 - Alex Bejarano 195 - Zack Carter, 2013 state qualifier, Sr. 220 - Dominic Foster, Sr. 285 - Cullen Povilonis, Sr. Melanie McGee

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Atwood-Rawlins County

Macrae Migchelbrink reached the final match of the season last year and is ranked third at 138 pounds. Migchelbrink is a three-time state qualifier with third and second place finishes.

Migchelbrink defeated Haegan Schaefer, 7-0, at state as a sophomore, but lost 10-4 last year.

He is taller and lankier than many at his weight class and that gives him an advantage.

Migchelbrink is 99-17 in his career and comes from a great family of athletes including brother Matt and sister Macy. Matt was a state wrestling champion and Macy won multiple track titles.

“Most definitely the strongest point besides my length is my flexibility,” he said. “I love being active, so flexible just comes with it.”

Migchelbrink went 35-5 last season and Rhett Mizer finished 35-9 and 2-2 at state.

Mizer is ranked No. 6 at 145 pounds. Senior Hunter Leibbrant also returns after a 19-12 mark last winter. Junior Joey McFee was a 2013 state qualifier.

Class 3-2-1A / Northwest Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 23rd Coach: Scott Urban Assistants: N/A Returning weights: 113 – Frank Nasta, Sr. 120 – Hunter Leibbrandt, Sr. 126 – Macrae Migchelbrink, three-time state qualifier, two-time state plaer, Sr. 132 – Cole Sramek, So. 138 – Rhett Mizer, state qualifier, Sr. 145 – Sawyer Skolout, So. 160 – Will Ginther, So. 170 – Anthony Merida, Jr. 220 – Cameron Colgan, Jr. Conor Nicholl

Belleville-Republic County

A long road awaits Belleville-Republic County if the Buffaloes want to make a return appearance to state, as a new name will need to emerge and qualify for the first time to create it.

The Buffaloes lost their lone state qualifier to graduation, Ray Farnsworth, who pieced together a 31-win season. He went 1-2 in the state tournament in the 170-pound class.

Heavyweight sophomore Mikel Cottenmyre represents an intriguing chance for the Buffaloes. Cottenmyre comes off a 29-8 performance as a freshman.

Three seniors could press for state qualifications, too, if their experience can carry them – Eleazer Rundus (126 pounds), Brandon Roop (182) and Levi Sporing (195).

The January tournament schedule represents a mini-gauntlet. The Buffaloes will visit events hosted by 3-2-1A state-ranked squads Rossville and Marysville, as well as tussling with rival Beloit. That should mirror the challenge Belleville-Republic County will face at regionals – the field is hosted by two-time defending champ Norton, and includes ranked foes in Oakley and Oberlin-Decatur Community.

Class 3-2-1A / North Central Activities Association 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 54th Coach: Adam Polansky (9th year) Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 113 – Trevor Lowell, So. 126 – Eleazer Rundus, Sr. 138 – Guy Filinger, Jr. 145 – Tanner Roop, So. 160 – Christian Tipton, So. 182 – Brandon Roop, Sr. 195 – Levi Sporing, Sr. 285 – Mikel Cottenmyre, So. Pregame Staff

Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

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Beloit

Longtime Beloit coach Andy Niemczyk had one of the more memorable seasons of his 28-year head coaching career with the Trojans in 2013-14. First, he coached his son Tanner to his first state medal, a fourth place showing at 152 pounds. Secondly, Bowe Behymer won his fourth state medal and delivered a perfect season and state title. Bryce Black, who missed the majority of the year because of injury and was nearly deemed ineligible for state because of an obscure rule, was declared eligible shortly before state and finished as state runner-up at 285 pounds.

The Trojans took third place in 3-2-1A behind Norton and Rossville and coach Niemczyk collected classification coach of the year honors. It marked the second time he won 3-2-1A coach of the year; the first time came in 2007 when Beloit shared the state title with Smith Center. This winter’s team will be young, but returns junior Carter Wessling, the third-place finisher at 138 pounds. Senior Jordan Herrman and junior Brodey Watts, at 120 and 152 respectively, should be in the mix for state medals. Watts went 7-4 last season and attends school at Beloit/St. John’s-Tipton, but wrestles with the Trojans.

“We graduated eight seniors off of last year’s squad. Our team this year is going to be very young and inexperienced,” Niemzyck said. .

Class 3-2-1A / North Central Activities Association 2014-15 Dual Record: 9-5 2014-15 State Placing: 3rd Head coach: Andy Niemczyk (28th year, 32nd overall) Assistants: Jeff Heiman, Ryan Malay Returning weights: 113 – Diego Dominguez, state qualifier, 11-7, So. 138 - Carter Wessling, 3rd at state, two-time state qualifier, 37-6, Jr. 145 – Dustin Williams, 7-12, Jr. 152 – Brodey Watts, state qualifier, 7-4, Jr. 170 – Evan Brandt, state qualifier, 8-6, Jr. Nicholl

Caney Valley

Caney Valley returns just three varsity wrestlers from last year’s squad, but secondyear coach Kirk Duckers feels good about the Bullpups’ chances in 2014-15.

“I have a lot of optimism going into this season,” he said. “We have 20 solid wrestlers out that will challenge each other in the room and this should reflect in competitions.”

The Bullpups are ranked ninth as a team in Class 3-2-1A though they return just one state qualifier.

Senior Colton Stalford headlines the Caney Valley roster. He finished fourth at state last year and begins 2015 ranked first at 145 pounds.

“Colton is a great young man,” Duckers said. “I couldn’t ask for a harder working wrestler in the room. He will be a strong competitor for a state championship this year.”

The Bullpups also return juniors Wyatt Anderson and Brycen Gulick, and senior Ethan Gustus is back after taking a year off.

“Ethan decided to sit out last year and focus more on other achievements, but he is our heavyweight this year,” Duckers added.

“He is one of the strongest young men I have ever worked with and he will be a huge asset to our team.”

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Bonner Springs

With seniors DJ Ballard and Bryan Lanning leading the way, the Braves will look to improve on last year’s state finish. Ballard is coming off a third-place finish and a 36-5 record at 120 pounds while Lanning went 2713 and qualified at 152 pounds.

“DJ will look to improve on his third place finish, and with the addition of transfer Tanner Hitchcock and state qualifier Collin Wallar moving down a weight, the team looks to improve on last year’s 10th place finish.”

Hitchcock was fifth at state as a freshman at Pittsburg, and will wrestle 113 for Bonner Springs, while Wallar is coming off a 22-13 record at 126 pounds.

The Braves also return juniors Andrew Brundick and Jacob Folsom and sophomores Gage Herron and Sean Singleton.

“We have many returners who put lots of hours in wrestling freestyle and Greco this summer,” Jobe added.

Class 4A / Kaw Valley League 2013-14 Dual Record: 8-2 2013-14 State Placing: 10th Coach: Brandon Jobe (6th year) Assistants: Jacob Beck, Bobby Vaughan, Jerry Seaton Returning weights: 113 - Tanner Hitchcock, state placer, So. 120 - Collin Wallar, state qualifier, Jr. 126 - DJ Ballard, state placer, Sr. 132 - Kolbe Seaton, Jr.; Thomas Fehlhafer, So. 138 - Andrew Brundick, Jr. 145 - Gage Herron, So. 160 - Bryan Lanning, state qualifier, Sr. 170 - Jacob Folsom, Jr. 195 - Sean Singleton, So. McGee

Carbondale-Santa Fe Trail

Familiar faces fill the roster at Santa Fe Trail, which has 13 varsity wrestlers back in uniform this season.

Seniors Zac West, a returning state qualifier at 132 pounds, Nathan Pawley and Chaz Wright will be expected to provide leadership for the Chargers.

“Zac, Nathan and Chaz will be taking the mat for their fourth season and looking for a successful senior season,” coach Reagan Erickson said. “Junior Gabe Forrestt is back after qualifying for 3-2-1A State last season.

Christian Davis, Bryce Erickson and Jake Hastings were all state qualifiers as freshmen and are looking to improve on their seasons last year.”

Davis and Erickson are back at 106 and 113 while Forrestt is expected to wrestle 195 and Hastings is back at heavyweight.

“We have everyone back and are still somewhat of a young team,” Erickson said.

“We showed some good growth last season and had a pretty good offseason. We are looking forward to this year.”

Class 4A / Pioneer League 2013-14 Dual Record: 15-7 2013-14 State Placing: 43rd Coach: Reagan Erickson (17th year) Assistants: Josh Cauthon, Chad Schmale, Merrick Wiles Returning weights: 106 - Chris Davis, state qualifier, So. 126 - Bryce Erickson, state qualifier, So. 132 - Zac West, state qualifier, Sr.; Dakota Hargett, So. Class 3-2-1A / Tri-Valley League 138 - Colin Koger, Jr. 2013-14 Dual Record: 1-4 145 - Cal Lyle, Jr. 2013-14 State Placing: 44th 152 - Nathan Pawley, Sr. Coach: Kirk Duckers (2nd year) 160 - Chaz Wright, Sr. Assistant: Jerod Rigdon 170 - Peyton Newman, So. Returning weights: 195 - Gabe Forrestt, state qualifier, Jr.; Trent 145 – Colton Stalford, state placer, Sr. Moore, So. 182 – Brycen Gulick, Jr. 220 - Ethan Dean, Jr. 195 – Wyatt Anderson, Jr. 285 - Jake Hastings, state qualifier, So. Melanie McGee Melanie McGee

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Buhler

Coach Mike Juby expects his team to make strides as the season progresses with the goal of being highly competitive by February.

“We will be a much younger team this season after graduating 13 seniors last year,” he said. “Despite our youth, we have a hardworking and committed group with significant potential. I expect our team to be highly competitive by the time February rolls around.”

Buhler’s squad will be led by seniors Logan Lindbloom and Cole Brown.

They are joined by a solid sophomore class that includes Justin Hershberger, Clayton Peterson and Tyler Whitson.

“The core of our team lies with a sophomore class that made great strides last year,” Juby commented.

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Veteran coach Doug Vander Linden has a young group of wrestlers this winter. “We will be young as we start the season, but with a lot of mat experience in their background,” he said.

Seniors Maxx Serl and Josh Young will be expected to lead the team, along with returning state qualifiers Colby Johnson and Connor Rychlec, both sophomores.

“We are looking for leadership from Josh and Maxx as our seniors,” Vander Linden said.

Johnson placed fifth at 4A State last season and Rychlec also qualified.

Young posted a 31-11 record while junior Nathan Vander Linden was 32-13 on the season.

Class 4A / Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League 2013-14 Dual Record: 6-3 2013-14 State Placing: 10th Coach: Mike Juby (3rd year) Assistants: Mike Zeyen, Robin Blasi, Jake Gehring, Danny Owens Returning weights: 126 - Justin Hershberger, So. 138 - Tyler Whitson, So. 145 - Nathan Elliott 152 - Clayton Peterson, So. 170 - Logan Lindbloom, Sr. McGee

Class 3-2-1A / Tri-Valley League 2013-14 Dual Record: 30-5 2013-14 State Placing: 34th Coach: Doug Vander Linden (24th year) Assistants: Rusty Emling, Tim Johnson Returning weights: 126 - Connor Rychlec, state qualifier, So. 132 - Colby Johnson, state placer, So. 138 - Trevor Glasgow, Jr.; Nik Alfers, So. 145 - Thomas Yurko, Jr. 152 - Josh Young, Sr. 170 - Maxx Serl, Sr. 195 - Nathan Vander Linden, Jr. McGee

Chapman junior Jason Zook is the only returning state qualifier for the Irish, and he’s their only wrestler ranked in the Dec. 11 Class 4A rankings.

Zook is coming off a 33-6 season and fifth place finish at state. He is a two-time state qualifier looking for a higher spot on the podium this year. In two weekend tournaments, Zook has gone 5-0 to help justify his No. 1 ranking at heavyweight.

Senior Cole Sutterfield is off to a 7-1 start at 126 pounds after winning the Jeff Giles Memorial Invitational Dec. 13 in Minneapolis.

Though Chanute begins 2015 ranked first in Class 4A, Blue Comet coach Andy Albright says his team still has work to do in order to compete with the state’s best teams.

“We have a very solid senior class that should help us be successful on and off the mat,” he said. “We need our younger kids to step up a lot in order to compete with Holton, Baldwin, Colby and the other 4A teams.”

That senior class includes Adam Cole, a three-time state medalist who went 33-2 last season, and returning qualifiers Alex Son, Chase Cole, and Ethin VanAnne.

Class 4A / North Central Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 43rd Coach: Assistant: Returning weights: 113 - Jordon Henderson, Sr. 126 - Cole Sutterfield, Sr. 132 - Payton Lott, Sr. 138 - Brett Lemon, Jr.; Robert Steck, Jr. 145 - Nathan Nelson, Sr. 195 - Jacob Stoneberger, Jr. 220 - Dustin Lister, Jr. 285 - Jason Zook, state placer, Jr. Melanie McGee

Class 4A / Southeast Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: 16-3 2013-14 State Placing: 2nd Coach: Andy Albright (11th year) Assistants: Clete Frazell, Ty Jacquess Returning weights: 106 – Sam Wehlage, So. 126 – Nick Ornelas, two-time state placer, Jr.; Leland VanWinkle, So. 138 – Chase Cole, three-time state qualifier, Sr. 145 – Adam Cole, three-time state placer, Sr. 160 – Brady Vogel, two-time state placer, Jr. 170 – Jodie Murphy, Sr. 182 – Ethin VanAnne, two-time state qualifier, Sr. 195 – Alex Son, three-time state qualifier, Sr. 220 – Gage Clark, Jr. McGee

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Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Page 9

Cherryvale

The Chargers return three state qualifiers from last year’s squad and they will also have senior Kaden Housel back in the lineup after an injury wiped out his junior season.

Housel is ranked third at 182 pounds.

“Kaden qualified for state as a freshman and sophomore,” coach James Renfro said.

“He won a couple of matches at state as a sophomore.”

Cherryvale also returns three-time state qualifier Andrew Wright, now wrestling at 132. “He is moving up a few weights, so hopefully he will find a medal in late February,” Renfro said.

Sophomores Mikah King and Dalton Morrill are also returning state qualifiers for the Chargers.

Seniors Zach Yates (160) and Andrew Blubaugh (285) are back as well.

“I like this team,” Renfro said. “I look for strong league and regional finishes and hopefully a couple of state medals in Hays.”

Class 3-2-1A / Tri-Valley League 2013-14 Dual Record: 12-5 2013-14 State Placing: 60th Coach: James Renfro (12th year) Assistants: Casey Lictieg, Jish Deweese Returning weights: 113 - Trenton Gaertner, Sr.; Levi Barron, So. 120 - Dakota Morrill, state qualifier, So. 126 - Mikah King, state qualifier, So. 132 - Andrew Wright, three-time state qualifier, Sr. 138 - Bo Edens, So. 152 - Alex Van Rooy, So. 160 - Zack Yates, Sr. 170 - Rico Cherico, So. 182 - Kaden Housel, two-time state qualifier, Sr. 195 - Clay Holloway, Jr. 220 - Austin Scrimsher, So. 285 - Andrew Blubaugh, Sr. Melanie McGee

Colby Colby finished fifth in Class 4A last season with 61.5 points, but just a half a point out of fourth. Smoky Valley took third and the final team plaque with 72 points.

The Eagles return three state qualifiers, including sophomore 106-pounder Tate Carney, who went 36-5 and took second. Senior Brett Schroeder (19-17) and junior Bryce Arnberger (14-9) were state qualifiers. Junior Tanner Elias went 21-19, sophomore Travis Finley was 25-10, junior Alex Young (24-19) and junior Brady Holzmiester (22-16) all finished with winning the records.

The Eagles opened the season with a third place finish out of 11 teams at the season-opening St. Francis Invitational. In the Dec. 17 team rankings, Colby stood third behind Chanute and Baldwin. Carney was second in the 113-pound rankings. Arnberger is ranked fourth at 160 pounds.

Class 4A / Greater West Activities Conference 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: Coach: Matt Sims (8th year) Assistants: Ed Schmitt, Rick Williams Returning weights: 106 – Tate Carney, 2nd at state, So. 113 – Tanner Reed, 3-8, So. 120 – Tanner Elias, Jr. 126 – Travis Finley, So. 132 – Alex Young, Jr. 138 – Brett Schroeder, state qualifier, Sr. 145 – Brady Holzmiester, Jr. 152 – Bryce Arnberger, state qualifier, Jr. 160 – Matthew Pieper, Jr. 170 – Connor Edmundson, Jr. Conor Nicholl

Council Grove

Dodge City

There are no seniors wrestling this year for Council Grove.

“We will be a very young team this year, with no seniors,” coach Jay Doornbos said.

“We have a lot of varsity experience coming back but need some young guys to become leaders.”

Junior Justin Skerce is a two-time state qualifier returning at 113 pounds, while junior Tristyn Goebel (132 pounds) and sophomore Holden Butler (106 pounds) also qualified for state last year.

“We return a good core group of wrestlers,” Doornbos said. “We will be very tough at our lighter weights.”

Experience fills the Dodge City roster this season as eight state qualifiers and three state placers return, including state champion Clay Weil at 126 pounds, a two-time state medalist.

“This is probably the deepest team I’ve had returning, ever,” coach Lars Lueders said.

“With hard work and great leadership, this team could make some noise. This is my first time having a returning state champion and I’m excited to help Clay take his skills to the next level.”

Dodge City also returns fifth-place finisher Jaden McRoberts and sixth-place medalist Dylan Servis as well as state qualifiers Devon Asebedo, Zack Cook, Tylor Garcia, Nick Killion and Jhett Ostrom.

“Fargo All-American Dylan Servis should be much improved,” Lueders noted. “Our senior wrestlers all have a good chance to place at state.”

Class 3-2-1A / Independent 2013-14 Dual Record: 6-7 2013-14 State Placing: 40th Coach: Jay Doornbos (13th year) Assistants: Joe Buchanan, Dustin Bayless Returning weights: 106 - Holden Butler, state qualifier, So. 113 - Justin Skerce, two-time state qualifier, Jr. 120 - Colton Steele, So. 132 - Tristyn Goebel, state qualifier, Jr. 138 - Dalton Steele, Jr. 145 - Matt Bacon, So. 182 - Gregory Miranda, Jr. 285 - Zach Rohloff, So. Melanie McGee

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A year ago, Columbus wasn’t able to fill all its weight classes, so the Titans struggled in duals. This year, a large freshman class joins the squad, and coach Eric Napier is excited about having a full lineup.

“We lost most of our duals last year because of not having a full lineup,” he said.

“We are excited about the group of freshmen coming into the program this year.”

Napier is also excited about his five returning lettermen, including senior Taylor Watkins, who is ranked first in the state at 170 pounds. Watkins already has a collection of state medals, including a gold from last year’s 160 pound class, and he will look to cap his high school career with another state championship.

Juniors Aubrey Hamilton and Austin Napier are also back on the varsity, along with sophomores Peyton Hale and Ryder Mathes.

“Overall, we have a young team that will start as many as seven freshmen,” Napier said.

Others on the Titan roster are Cordell Bass, Devin Bryant, Heath Burn, Tucker Coble, Drew Cornwell, Landon Garrison, Zack Harris, Maggie Hervey, Gage Hudson, Allen Jones, Zach Porter, Adam Richards, Shad Rudolph, Kale Smith, Ridge Smith and Nate Thomas.

P harm D

Concordia

Concordia loses one of its most successful wrestlers, Skyler Hittle, to graduation. Hittle was typically guaranteed points for the Panthers, earning a state championship as a junior and finishing runner-up his senior year.

That leaves two qualifiers to help pick up the slack – Cameron Miller and Cole Larson.

Miller picked up an opening-round state tournament victory at 126, but lost to his next two foes to end his state trip. Larson, an even 19-19 at 113 as a freshman, lost both his matches at state.

Freshman Zach Strait vaulted into the 4A rankings at 106 pounds. He swept through the Raider Classic in Wamego for his first tournament title. He soon followed that up with a 5-0 run at the Hoisington Cardinal Corner Classic, giving Strait a perfect record heading into the holiday break.

Gage Canfield is also one to watch. A senior, Canfield is coming off a 26-win season.

Canfield was third in Wamego.

Concordia will avoid most of the strongest 4A schools in its regional at Hays, with Colby expected to be the favorite.

Class 4A / North Central Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 25th Coach: Kevin Brown (11th year) Assistant: N/A Class 4A / Crawfore-Neosho-Cherokee League Returning weights: 2013-14 Dual Record: 1-9 106 – Taylon Whitley, So. 2013-14 State Placing: 6th 113 – Cole Larson, state qualifier, So. Coach: Eric Napier (5th year) 120 – Brenton Edwards, Jr. Assistant: Marcus Bowman 126 – Cameron Miller, state qualifier, Jr. Returning weights: 132 – Gage Canfield, Sr. 126 - Ryder Mathes, So. 138 – Tracer Workman, So. 152 - Peyton Hale, So. 145 – Blaze Payeur, So. 160 - Aubrey Hamilton, Jr. 170 - Taylor Watkins, three-time state placer, state 152 – James McCabe, Sr. 160 – Jared Knapp, Jr. champion, Sr. Pregame Staff 220 - Austin Napier, Jr. McGee

Douglass

Class 6A / Western Athletic Conference 2013-14 Dual Record: 7-3 2013-14 State Placing: 11th Coach: Lars Lueders (6th year) Assistants: Tate Lowe, Dan Yoder, Shawn Steiner Returning weights: 106 – Devon Griego, So. 113 – Landon Blackburn, Sr. 120 – Howard Johnson, Jr. 126 – Clay Weil, two-time state placer, Jr. 132 – Devon Asebedo, state qualifier, So. 138 – Jaden McRoberts, state placer, Sr. 145 – Tylor Garcia, state qualifier, So. 152 – Tristan Hampton, Jr. 160 – Nick Killion, state qualifier, Jr.; Zack Cook, state qualifier, Sr. 170 – Dylan Servis, state placer, So. 182 – Cole Trent, Jr. 195 – Jhett Ostrom, state qualifier, Sr. 220 – Zerek Rodriguez, Jr.; Max Trent, Jr. 285 – Brennan Tate, Sr. McGee

P harm a cist

Columbus

After taking its lumps with an inexperienced roster in 2013-14, Douglass should expect to trend back in the right direction.

The Bulldogs have only one returning 3-2-1A state qualifier, and he is still learning himself – Seth Fouts qualified at 195 as a freshman, going 22-18 on the year.

Fouts did not leave his first state trip quietly. After being sent to the consolation bracket with a first-round defeat, Fouts responded by pinning his next opponent. Fouts’ state journey ended in his next match when he lost a thin 1-0 decision to Sabetha senior Brandon Harrell.

Other Bulldogs are just on the tip of a state berth. Senior Zachary Strother (220 pounds) is coming off a 26-8 year. Christian Strother (182) was 26-11. Along with Fouts, the trio creates a formidable lineup in the upperweights.

Junior David Allen (113), sophomore Connor Porter (120) and senior Lucas Alvarez (152) all hovered around a .500 record in their matches.

Class 3-2-1A / Central Plains League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 54th Coach: Dusty Rhodes (32nd year) Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 106 – Jaden Lauderbaugh, Jr. 113 – David Allen, Jr. 120 – Connor Porter, So. 126 – Timothy Foster, So. 132 – John Schuler, Jr. 145 – Dashion Arnold, So. 152 – Lucas Alvarez, Sr. 182 – Christian Strother, Sr. 195 – Seth Fouts, state qualifier, So. 220 – Zachary Strother, Sr. 285 – Benjamin Laffitte, Jr. Pregame Staff

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Ellsworth has finished in the Top 20 at state each of the past two years, including 16th in 2013-14. That was aided by the work of Ty Nienke, the 36-1 runner-up at 113 pounds, and qualifiers Marshall Barkow and Mo Rojas. All three graduated.

That leaves Zach Martin as the only returning state representative for the Bearcats. He won his opening-round battle at state, but was defeated by Fredonia’s Brogan Humphrey on his march to the 138-pound title. Martin was eliminated in his first match on the backside.

Martin, now a two-time qualifier, posted 26 wins as a junior. He will receive help from David Koralek III (126 pounds) and Tevin Rice (152), who enjoyed some success as freshmen.

Much of Ellsworth’s experience returns in its four heaviest weights – Ethan Haase (182), Grady Hansen (195), Ricardo Roman (220) and Robbyn Mehl (285). All four were competitive a year ago, but lacked the experience to translate that into a state bid.

Class 3-2-1A / North Central Activities Association 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 16th Coach: Clint Freeman (10th year) Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 120 – Brandon Kern, So. 126 – David Koralek III, So. 138 – Zach Martin, state qualifier, Sr. 152 – Tevin Rice, So. 182 – Ethan Haase, Jr. 195 – Grady Hansen, So. 220 – Ricardo Roman, Sr. 285 – Robbyn Mehl, Sr. Pregame Staff

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Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Eureka

Page 10

Fredonia

The Tornadoes will have a mix of abilities on their squad this year, with some beginning wrestlers, some with varsity experience and two past state qualifiers.

“We will have a good mixture of experienced kids that are battle-tested and a few tough freshmen,” coach Mike Davison said.

“We also have a few kids who have never experienced the sport before. I think this will be an exciting year for me to watch these kids grow.”

Junior Chuck Schmidt is Eureka’s only returning state qualifier, but the Tornadoes will get a boost from newcomer Christian Keith who also has state tournament experience.

“Chuck looks to improve on his sixth place finish last year and climb a little higher on the podium this year. He has had a great offseason,” Davison said. “Christian is a senior that will be at 170 this year and was a state qualifier in Colorado last year.”

Other varsity returners on the Eureka roster are senior Jacob Fanning, sophomore Kolltan Gibson and junior Grayson Pryce. Both Pryce and freshman Braden Lowe won their weight classes at the Flint Hills Invitational Dec. 6 while Keith finished second in his first Kansas tournament.

The Yellowjackets are coming off an eighth-place finish at last year’s state tournament, and four wrestlers who contributed to that success are back in the lineup this season.

Senior Sam Aylor took third in the state and will wrestle at 120 pounds this season, while classmate Gavin Burgess (113 pounds) is looking to build on a fifth-place finish.

“We have two returning seniors in Gavin Burgess and Sam Aylor who are looking for a state title at 113 and 120 respectively,” coach Aaron Haselwood said. “We will look to them for leadership on and off the mat this year.”

Senior Drake Shay and junior Logan Sherman are also returning state qualifiers.

“We have a solid core of wrestlers returning,” Haselwood said. “There are quality guys stepping up to fill the shoes of what we lost to graduation.”

The Yellowjackets also return seniors Cameron Adams and Will Lane, juniors Kaylee Grogan, Lane Hawley and Nathan Nelson, and sophomores Troy Miller and Devin Voth.

Goodland

Gypsum-Southeast of Saline

Class 3-2-1A / Tri-Valley League 2013-14 Dual Record: 10-6 2013-14 State Placing: 8th Coach: Aaron Haselwood (1st year) Assistant: Joe Standard Returning weights: Class 3-2-1A / Tri-Valley League 113 - Gavin Burgess, state placer, Sr. 2013-14 Dual Record: 4-5 120 - Sam Aylor, state placer, two-time state 2013-14 State Placing: N/A qualifier, Sr. Coach: Mike Davison (6th year) 126 - Cameron Adams, Sr. Assistant: Nash Burtin 132 - Devin Voth, So. Returning weights: 138 - Drake Shay, state qualifier, Sr. 138 – Jacob Fanning, Sr. 145 - Kaylee Grogan, Jr. 145 – Kolltan Gibson, So. 152 – Chuck Schmidt, state placer, two-time state 152 - Logan Sherman, two-time state qualifier, Jr. 170 - Troy Miller, So. qualifier, Jr. 182 - Lane Hawley, Jr. 220 – Grayson Pryce, Jr. Melanie McGee 195 - Nathan Nelson, Jr. 220 - Will Lane, Sr. Melanie McGee Goodland returns several standouts with state experience. Soomore Tate Withington went 34-11 with a sixth place finish at 106 pounds. Tristen Cooper went 29-15, Aaron Avelar was 36-10, Tanner Gastineau went 30-14 and Austin Hernandez was 23-8. They all have at least one year of state experience.

Ricky Milke went 33-11 but has not made the state tournament.

“Goodland returns strong core of seniors and juniors that will provide good leadership,” coach Joe Sramek said. “The team returns five state qualifiers from last year team.”

Goodland did graduate John Peden and Colton Cooper. Peden finished fourth last season after he went 45-2. Cooper was 23-4 but didn’t place at state. The two of them won championships at the prestigious Bob Kuhn Senior Prairie Classic title in Hays in mid-January of 2014.

They helped Goodland win the first Bob Kuhn team title in school annals. Peden and Cooper’s championships moved Goodland past Kapaun/Mt. Carmel for the team crown.

Southeast of Saline is short on returning wrestlers, but the returners they do have all won at least 12 matches last year.

The Trojans welcome back senior Alex Bell and juniors Jacob Barr and Jordan Schoen, plus Sacred Heart sophomore Alvarez Abel, who went 26-9 during his freshman season.

Bell is coming off a 12-win season and he’ll look to complete his high school career with a trip to the state tournament.

Barr is currently ranked sixth at heavyweight after compiling a 22-11 record as a sophomore. He won six of his first seven matches this season, including a 4-0 record at the Dec. 6 Lincoln Invitational.

Schoen narrowly missed a trip to state last year while going 19-18 and he-ll look to get over that hump in 2015.

Southeast of Saline’s roster also includes senior Marcus Hamilton, who went 4-1 at Lincoln and 5-1 at the Jeff Giles Invitational in Minneapolis.

Class 3-2-1A / North Central Activities Association 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A Class 4A / Greater West Activities Conference 2013-14 State Placing: 18th 2013-14 Dual Record: 20-4 Coach: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 21st Assistant: N/A Head coach: Joe Sramek (9th year) Returning weights: Assistants: Jon Whisnant, Gary Winter, Seth Miller 138 - Jordan Schoen, Jr. Returning Weights: 152 - Alex Bell, Sr. 106 – Tate Withington, 6th at state, So. 220 - Alvarez Abel, So. 113 – Tristen Cooper, state qualifier, Jr. 285 - Jacob Barr, Jr. 120 – Aaron Avelar, two-time state qualifier, Sr. Melanie McGee 126 – Tanner Gastineau, state qualifier in 2013, Jr. 132 - Austin Hernandez, two-time state qualifier, Jr. 145 – Gerrell Miller, Sr. 152 – Ricky Milke, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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Garden City

Garden City has won back-to-back Class 6A state championships and coach Carlos Prieto returns many of its top wrestlers, including two-time state champions Tevin Briscoe and Michael Prieto. Briscoe and Prieto can become the first three-time individual champions in school history. “We are returning a great nucleus of kids and have a few kids that will surprise some people come state time,” coach Prieto said. “Our expectations are the same as years past, to win the state championship.”

Senior Efrain Sanchez (30-11) will likely wrestle at 113 pounds after he finished third at 106 pounds last season. Briscoe (33-3) is expected to bump up to 145 pounds.

“We are excited about his chances and with hard work and dedication he will accomplish his goals for the year,” coach Prieto said.

Senior Zac Finch (14-6) returns after he took fourth at 160 pounds last winter. Alec Castillo (16-10) and Michael Prieto (44-2) lead the junior class. Castillo finished fourth the last two winters. Senior Caysean Campbell transferred from Norton and is ranked at 120.

Goddard

Six state medalists return from Goddard’s state runner-up team last year, and the Lions, who went 16-0 in duals last season, will look to continue their winning ways in 2014-15.

Sophomore Lane Glover is coming off a runner-up finish at the state tournament and will move up to 113 this year while sophomore Kendall Frame and senior Dakota Driskill both earned third-place medals a year ago.

The Lions also return fourth-place finishers Kameron Frame and Brett Woodruff, as well as fifth-place medalist Will Spexarth.

“The returning starters must step up and lead by example,” coach Brett Means said.

Goddard also returns Corey Atkins, Christian Bowen, Cale Davidson, Dayton Driskill, Carter Gragg and Dylan Housworth, all with varsity experience from last season.

The Lions began the season ranked atop Class 5A and 11 individuals were ranked in the top six of their weight classes in the first KWCA rankings.

Class 5A / Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League 2013-14 Dual Record: 16-0 2013-14 State Placing: 2nd Coach: Brett Means (8th year) Class 6A / Western Athletic Conference Assistant: Matt Means 2013-14 Dual Record: 14-4 Returning weights: 2013-14 State Placing: 1st 113 - Lane Glover, state runner-up, So. Head coach: Carlos Prieto (3rd year) 120 - Will Spexarth, state placer, So. Assistants: Paul Lappin, Kevin Perez, Jacob 126 - Christian Bowen, Jr. Waller, Jon Baker 138 - Kameron Frame, state placer, So. Returning weights: 145 - Kendall Frame, state placer, So. 113 – Efrain Sanchez, 3rd at state, Sr. 152 - Dylan Housworth, Sr. 126 – Michael Prieto, 1st at state, Jr. 160 - Cale Davidson, state qualifier, So. 138 – Alec Castillo, 4th at state, Jr. 170 - Brett Woodruff, state placer, Sr. 145 – Tevin Briscoe, state champion, Sr. 182 - Dakota Driskill, state placer, Sr. 160 – Jesse Nunez, 5th at state, So. 195 - Dayton Driskill, So. 170 – Zac Finch, 4th at 160, Sr. 220 - Corey Atkins, Jr. 182 – Tye Hahn, Sr. 285 - Carter Gragg, Sr. 195 – Zeke Herrera, state qualifier, So. Melanie McGee 220 – Benny Hernandez, state qualifier, So. Nicholl

Hays

Hays High graduated Preston Weigel, the best wrestler in school history. Weigel finished second as a freshman and then won three straight state titles. Now at Oklahoma State University, Weigel was ranked No. 1 in the nation and left HHS with multiple records including career wins and state titles.

HHS does return senior Ethan Deterding, who took fourth at 182 pounds in Class 5A last season and sixth as a junior. Deterding leads a young team that dropped down from Class 5A to 4A. Deterding went 35-6 as a junior. Soomore Isaac Zimmerman (22-16), junior Ross Hattan (17-10), Soomore Conrad Vajnaar (18-17) and seniors Konner Buxton (14-11) and Tathan Burkhart (15-12) all return with winning records.

“We will be very inexperienced at lower weights,” Hafliger said. “ We have the potential to be very solid through our middle and upper weights, returning several quality varsity wrestlers from last year’s team headed

by Ethan Deterding.”

Class 4A/ Western Athletic Conference 2013-14 Dual Record: 12-11 2013-14 State Placing: 13th Coach: John Hafliger (9th as head coach, 26th overall) Assistants: Josh Pfannenstiel, Heath Meder, Josh Peterson Returning Weights: 126 – Nate Laporte, Jr. 132 – Isaac Zimmerman, So. 138 – Conrad Vajnar, So. 152 – Austin Dale, So. 160 – Konnor Buxton, Sr. 170 – Tathan Burkhart, Sr. 195 – Ethan Deterding, two-time placer, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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Hays-TMP

The Monarchs will have several changes this year. TMP bumps back up to Class 4A for the first time since the 2006-07 seaSon. First-year coach Dakota Hayes takes over the program after veteran assistant, and then head coach, Josh PeterSon took a math teaching position and assistant wrestling job at Hays High. Hayes is from Scott City. TMP fell, 30-27, to Ellsworth to open the seaSon in dual competition.

The Monarchs don’t have much quantity, but they do have quality with Sophomore Tucker Rhoades and junior Ricky Hockett, both in the lower weights. Rhoades went 33-10 and finished sixth at state and Hockett went 25-13 and qualified for state. Rhoades had a long run to a state medal last winter. He lost his first match on Day 1 of state wrestling and then didn’t compete until Day 2. Rhoades wrestled five matches on Day 2 and won the first three.

He was the first-non Dylan Schumacher state placer for TMP since Preston Werth in 2010.

Schumacher won four state crowns.

“I have wrestled five matches in a day, but they weren’t near as difficult as today’s,” he said at State. “...I felt like I worked pretty hard all year to get sixth place. It wasn’t really quite where I wanted, but it works.”

Class 4A/ Mid-Continent Leauge 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 45th Head coach: Dakota Hayes (1st year) Assistants: Derek Schumacher Returning Weights: 113 – Tucker Rhoades, 6th at state, Soph.

120 – Ricky Hockett, state qualifier, Jr. 132 – Mark Loftus, Soph.

152 – Jacob Roth, Jr. 170 – Chris Stecklein, Soph.

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Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Herington

Page 12

Herington graduated its only state qualifier from last year’s team, but the Railers do return five varsity wrestlers.

Seniors Paden Griffith and Tanner Schneider are joined by junior Kameron Clark and sophomores Nate Backhus and Tate Becker.

The Railers started their 2014-15 season at Wamego’s Raider Classic Dec. 6. Schneider went 3-2 to finish fifth at 195 pounds while nine other Herington individuals picked up wins.

Backhus, Becker, Clark, Griffiths, senior heavyweight Cuyler Cowart, sophomore Richard Hagerman and freshmen Jonathan Lollar, Theron Miller and Trenden Schneider each contributed to Herington’s team score with individual wins.

Class 3-2-1A / Flint Hills League 2013-14 State Placing: 65th Coach: N/A Returning weights: 138 – Paden Griffith, Sr. 152 – Kameron Clark, Jr. 182 – Tate Becker, So. 195 – Tanner Schneider, Sr. 220 – Nate Backhus, So.

Hesston

A year ago, the Swathers were very young and they took some lumps with freshmen on the varsity squad. Veteran coach Doug Broadfoot expects that experience to pay off in the form of more wins in 2015.

“We were young last year and we’ll be young this season,” he said. “The difference this year is that many of our young wrestlers have a year of varsity experience.”

Hesston’s only returning state qualifier is junior Juan Guzman, now wrestling at 220 pounds. The Swathers also return junior heavyweight Austin Cheatham and sophomores Zach Anderson and Jacob Wingfield.

“Juan came on pretty strong toward the end of the season last year,” Broadfoot said. “He began defeating wrestlers he had never beaten before on his way to becoming a state qualifier as a sophomore.”

Both Anderson and Wingfield should also benefit from their experience as freshmen.

“Nothing they face this season will be a surprise to them,” Broadfoot said. “They’ll be counted on to be leaders of this team even though they are only second-year wrestlers.”

“We hope to be in the top tier of teams at tournaments and to improve on our dual Melanie McGee record this year,” he added.

Hoisington Brandon Ball has a great chance for a fourth straight state title and an opportunity to go down as the one of the best wrestlers in 3-2-1A history. Ball went 37-2 as a freshman with 43-0 and 44-0 marks the last two years.

He has not been taken down in the two last winters and recorded 54 takedowns with 30 falls in 2013-14. Ball has committed to Fort Hays State University.

Hoisington has consistently been one of the top teams in Class 3-2-1A, including a fifth-place showing with 75 points, but just six points out of second. The Cardinals haven’t lost a dual since 2012 and are 25-0 in duals the past two winters. Hoisington also returns Ball’s younger brother, Jonathan, a fifth-place finisher as a freshman. Natalie Sanders, a former girls’ state champion and three-time lettermen, and freshman Sean Urban are injured and might not compete this winter for the Cardinals, ranked No. 2 in the preseason in 3-2-1A. This season, freshman Christopher Ball, another brother, made an immediate impact at 152 pounds with a 3-2 victory versus Ellsworth’s Zach Martin, then ranked No. 4 in the classification in an early December dual. Hoisington opened the year with a third-place finish at the Pratt Invitational, a major tournament mainly involving 4-6A schools. Brandon and Jonathan Ball and Justin McHenry all won titles. Hoisington has 32 wrestlers, including 12 freshmen, many whom will factor into varsity competition.

“We believe that with hard work we have a very good chance at bringing home hardware from the State Tournament. It is within the grasp of our kids to have one of the best seasons ever at Hoisington,” coach Dan Schmidt said. “Only time will tell if our team is up to making the best of a great foundation that we started with this past weekend (at Pratt).”

Class 3-2-1A / Central Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: 11-0 2013-14 State Placing: 5th Coach: Dan Schmidt (18th year, 202-40; 23rd overall) Assistants: Anthony Leiker, Kyle Roberts Returning weights: 120 – Landon Harmon, two-time state qualifier, Sr. 138 – Brandon Ball, three-time state champion, Sr. 145 – Jonathan Ball, 5th at state, So. 170 – Austin McHenry, state qualifier 220 – Chance Boor, 6th at state (285) Conor Nicholl

M E M O R IA L H E A LTH SYSTE M

Hillsboro

Just two seniors and two juniors have varsity experience for Hillsboro this year, but Trojan coach Scott O’Hare expects his young team to do well based on their athletic ability and wrestling experience.

“We are going to be a fairly young team with only two seniors and two juniors on the roster with varsity experience,” O’Hare said.

“However, this will be a fairly athletic group of guys with a reasonable amount of wrestling experience. I am anticipating that they will be very coachable and willing to work hard to improve quickly.”

Senior Jon Carey and junior Levi Mendoza are returning state qualifiers while senior Jesse Meier and junior Franklin Jost also have varsity experience.

The Trojans also return sophomores Tristan Donaldson, Travis King, Tyson Reimer and Nathan Simhiser.

“We expect to get great leadership from the upperclassmen, particularly our two seniors,” O’Hare said. “We have a few kids returning off solid seasons last year and a few others that we expect will step up and contribute solidly this season. We are very excited to see how this team progresses through the year.”

Class 3-2-1A / Mid-Continent League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 54th Coach: Steve Nickelson Assistants: Vince Walker Returning Weights: 120 – Devin Owen, Jr. 126 – Gabe Hamel, state qualifier, So. 145 – Jacob Kessler, Jr. 160 – Nathaniel Hamel, Sr. Class 3-2-1A / Central Kansas League 170 – Dajuen Chapman, state qualifier, So. Conor Nicholl 2013-14 Dual Record: 4-10 Class 3-2-1A / Central Kansas League 2013-14 State Placing: N/A 2013-14 Dual Record: 2-6 Coach: Scott O’Hare (12th year) 2013-14 State Placing: N/A Assistant: Nick Talbott Coach: Doug Broadfoot (20th year) Returning weights: Returning weights: 113/120 – Tristan Donaldson, So. 138 – Zach Anderson, So. 126/132 – Travis King, So.; Jon Carey, state quali170 – Jacob Wingfield, So. fier, Sr. 220 – Juan Guzman, state qualifier, Jr. 145 – Tyson Reimer, So. 285 – Austin Cheatham, Jr. 170 – Jesse Meier, Sr. Melanie McGee 182 – Levi Mendoza, state qualifier, Jr. 195/220 – Nathan Simhiser, So.; Franklin Jost, Jr. Melanie McGee

Holcomb

Holcomb returns 11 starters, including five seniors. No Longhorn has state experience.

Three wrestlers had .500 or better records last season. Soomore 106-pounder Alex Rowe finished 16-15, senior Erich Eisenbise went 21-17 at 160 pounds and senior Logan Zahn finished 8-8 at 145 pounds.

“Our program is heading in the right direction and we have many upperclassmen who will be looking to turn the corner and finish their high school careers strong,” Stevens said. “We also have a few impact freshmen looking to begin their careers with a statement.”

Class 4A / Greater West Activities Conference 2013-14 Dual Record: 3-6 2013-14 State Placing: N/A Coach: Justin Stevens (3rd year) Assistants: Joey Rodriguez, Matt Amos Returning weights: 106 – Alex Rowe, So. 113 – Colton Flores, So. 120 – Nhic Aponte, Sr. 126 – Joe Erskin, Jr. 132 – Jared Medina, Sr. 138 – Jesse Becerril, Jr. 145 – Jonathan Preito, So. 145 – Logan Zahn, Sr. 160 – Erich Eisenbise, Sr. 170 – Garrett Janda, Sr. 220 – Aaron Hernandez, Jr. Conor Nicholl

RE H A B ILITA TIO N & SPO RTS M E D IC IN E 5 11 N E 10th St•A bilen e,K S 785 -263-6664

Hill City

Hill City has had three wrestlers qualify for state in the last two years with Gage Pfeifer two seasons ago and Gabe Hamel and Dajuen Chapman last winter. This season, Hamel and Chapman both return and Chapman is ranked No. 6 at 170 pounds. Hamel went 2-2 at 126 pounds and finished 2-2 at state. He won his first match, 7-5, and then lost 6-1. On the backside, Hamel won 6-3 and then lost 8-1 to miss placing by one round.

Chapman, as a freshman, went 0-2 at state with a 12-8 loss and then a loss by fall.

Hamel went 29-14 last season and Chapman went 11-11. Junior Devin Owen was 17-12 last year and is expected to start at 120 pounds. Senior Nathaniel Hamel went 7-4 last winter and will start at 160 pounds.

Scott C ity • W aK eeney H illC ity • O ak ley

Holton

Holton begins its quest for a third straight state title ranked third in Class 4A with six state qualifiers back.

That group includes senior Lucas Lovvorn, who is seeking a second straight state title. He won at 152 pounds last year and begins 2015 ranked first at 160.

Senior Mason Baum is coming off a fifth place finish at state and he’ll start 2015 No. 2 at 170 pounds, while junior Justin Rieschick is ranked second at 145 pounds. He was fifth at state in 2014.

“We will be very young and inexperienced in the lower weights, but the middle of the lineup should be a strong point,” said coach Cullen Jackson. “So far, we have had great leadership from our senior group. I am looking forward to watching these young men grow and find their excellence this season.”

Other state qualifiers returning to the Holton lineup are junior Justin Pool at 132 and sophomores Jameson Lutz at 126 and Tyler Price at 138.

Class 4A / Big 7 League 2013-14 Dual Record: 13-0 2013-14 State Placing: 1st Coach: Cullen Jackson Assistants: Returning weights: 126 – Jameson Lutz, state qualifier, So. 132 – Justin Pool, state qualifier, Jr. 138 – Tyler Price, state qualifier, So. 145 – Justin Rieschick, state placer, Jr. 152 – Trey Haverkamp, Sr. 160 – Lucas Lovvorn, state champion, Sr. 170 – Mason Baum, state placer, Sr. 182 – Ryan Clark, Sr. 195 – Brandon Lehnherr, So. 220 – Nathan Shields, Sr. 285 – Cooper Allan, Sr. Melanie McGee

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Hoxie

Hoxie, one of the smallest schools that carries a full wrestling team, is one of Kansas’ all-time great programs. For the second straight year, Hoxie has low numbers but great quality.

Sophomore Tristan Porsch, son of head coach Mike Porsch, delivered an undefeated season and state championship last winter. Junior Bryce Bacon, the only other returning state qualifier, finished sixth at 113 pounds. Porsch is No. 1 at 120 pounds and Bacon is ranked No. 5 at 106 pounds.

“We will be very short on numbers this year but hopefully the wrestlers we send to the mat will be very competitive,” coach Porsch said.

Tristan Porsch has his eye on the all-time greats. Porsch is aware of the records and the four-time state champions, including veteran Hoxie assistant Mat Gilliland. Porsch went 39-0 as a freshman; no 3-2-1A wrestler has ever gone undefeated throughout their career.

Former standout Colt Rogers lost just three times (all to non-Kansas opponents) and holds the classification winning percentage record at 149-3. Bacon finished 23-12 last year.

“Now, it’s on to three more,” Tristan said.

“One year at a time.”

Porsch is the oldest of four kids and trains with his brother, Dayton, an eighth grader and the only other son in the family. Porsch has attended multiple national tournaments and, his dad helps.

“He is just a great dad and a great coach at the same time,” Tristan said.

Class 3-2-1A / Northwest Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: 3-3 2013-14 State Placing: 13th Coach: Mike Porsch (7th year) Assistants: Mat Gilliland, Kyle William Returning weights: 113 – Bryce Bacon, 6th at state, Jr. 132 – Tristan Porsch, state champion, So.

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Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Hoyt-Royal Valley

Two members of the Royal Valley team are state-ranked, but most of their teammates will be new to the varsity level this year.

Juniors Matthew Bailey, ranked fifth at 182, and Charles Todd, ranked sixth at heavyweight, are among the veterans expected to lead Jason Puderbaugh’s squad this year.

Junior Noah Hart is a past state qualifier and junior Zack Lux also has varsity experience.

“We have three returning state qualifiers and one that was league runner-up for us and just missed being a state qualifier,” Puderbaugh said. “While we have lost two key graduated wrestlers from our lineup and one due to a season-ending injury in football, our team boasts a bulked-up lineup of young and upcoming guys that will fill necessary spots and begin to gain that valuable experience.”

Bailey went 26-12 a year ago and missed a state medal by one match, while Todd compiled a 24-17 record and also qualified for state. Hart finished with a 25-19 record and was one win short of qualifying for state.

“This year’s team includes a lot of new faces, a few returning team leaders and a bolstered number of kids,” Puderbaugh said. “I am looking forward to another great season.”

Class 4A / Big 7 League 2013-14 Dual Record: 8-9 2013-14 State Placing: 34th Coach: Jason Puderbaugh (4th year) Assistants: Douglas Spencer, Will Mitchell Returning weights: 132 - Zack Lux, Jr. 145 - Noah Hart, state qualifier, Jr. 182 - Matthew Bailey, state qualifier, Jr. 285 - Charles Todd, state qualifier, Jr. Melanie McGee

Lincoln

Page 13

KC-Bishop Ward With two state qualifiers back in the lineup, Bishop Ward is poised for what first-year head coach Andy Hurla hopes is a breakout season.

“After qualifying multiple wrestlers for state last year for the first time since 2006, and with six returning seniors, we expect to have one of the better seasons in school history,” he said.

Seniors Braxton Mccluskey and Mieh Landford ended their 2013-14 season at the state tournament and they are looking to make some noise in Salina this year.

“Our two returning state qualifiers, Braxton and Mieh, have worked hard this offseason,” Hurla said. “Now that they’ve experienced the state tournament, I believe they have what it takes this year to reach the podium.”

Mccluskey will wrestle at 145 pounds while Landford is expected to compete at 160.

Bishop Ward also returns seniors Francisco Aguilar (195), Juan Calderon (220), Lucas Gardner (132) and Andrew Ramirez (285), along with junior Pedro Morales (152), giving the Cyclones seven wrestlers with varsity experience.

Class 4A / Kaw Valley League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 54th Coach: Andy Hurla (1st year) Assistant: Richard Williams Returning weights: 132 – Lucas Gardner, Sr. 145 – Braxton Mccluskey, state qualifier, Sr. 152 – Pedro Morales, Jr. 160 – Mieh Landford, state qualifier, Sr. 195 – Francisco Aguilar, Sr. 220 – Juan Calderon, Sr. 285 – Andrew Ramirez, Sr. Melanie McGee

Lindsborg-Smoky Valley

Lincoln has a co-operative agreement with nearby Class 1A Sylvan-Lucas and Sylvan-Lucas’ Fritz Berger won the 285-pound championship last season as a senior. This season, veteran coach Nate Naasz is excited for the returning talent in the 40th year of Leopard wrestling. Senior Rocky Krueger went 21-15 and is the lone returning state qualifier. Lincoln is one of few teams with two girls on the roster with Katelynn Street and Tia Hayworth. Street, a junior, is expected to start at either 132 or 138 pounds, and Hayworth started at 145 pounds but suffered an injury in the early season. Street finished fourth in the USAW-KS girls’ state, and Hayworth was second.

“We have some amazing athletes who epitomize the term student/athlete,” Naasz said. “I think we will see some big gains this season for our squad.”

Four state qualifiers return to lead the Vikings, including defending state champion Austin Cook, a senior wrestling at 182. He is one of five seniors who will provide veteran leadership for the Smoky Valley squad.

“We should have five seniors this year and that will help lead a still young group,” coach Ben Elliott said. “Three of them have good state experience and the others have high aspirations of going to state.”

Senior heavyweight Brix Brickey, senior Brandon Archuleta and junior Caleb Sare also competed at state last year, and the Vikings have 18 total wrestlers with varsity experience.

“We’re hungry. We got a taste of success on the state level last year with a young group,” Elliott said. “The kids have been putting in a lot of work in the offseason. It should be a fun four months.”

Class 3-2-1A / Northern Plains League 2013-14 Dual Record: 3-4 2013-14 State Placing: 67th Coach: Nate Naasz (9th year) Assistants: Tommy Knapp Returning weights: 113 – Rocky Krueger, state qualifier, Sr. 132/138 – Katelynn Street, Jr. 145 – Tia Hayworth, So. 145/152 – Dalton Junek, Sr. 170/182 – Kyle Cavalli, Sr. 195/220 – Nate Feldkamp, So. Conor Nicholl

Class 4A / Central Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: 17-5 2013-14 State Placing: 3rd Coach: Ben Elliott (9th year) Assistants: Adam Lackey, Mike Sample Returning weights: 113 - Klayton Rick, So. 120 - Austin Lustfield, So. 126 - Caleb Sare, state qualifier, Jr.; Yohannes Apel, So.; Isaac Peterson, So. 132 - Noah Lackey, So. 138 - Brandon Archuleta, state qualifier, Sr.; Nick Karber, So. 145 - Austin Golden, So. 152 - Beck Elliott, So. 160 - Joey Alvarado, Jr. 170 - Alam Wampler, So.; Brett Sauvage, So. 182 - Austin Cook, state champion, Sr. 195 - Nils Peterson, Sr. 220 - Jarod DeMott, Sr.; Wesley Johnson, Sr. 285 - Brix Brickey, third at state, Sr. Melanie McGee

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Leon-Bluestem

A pair of state qualifiers are back to headline the Bluestem squad this season, and fourth-year coach Kelly Benton expects big things from both of them.

“I am anticipating an exciting year for the Lions,” he said. “With senior Casey Garner and junior Lane Moran returning this year, we should be a stronger and more focused team that is sure to make waves throughout the state.”

Garner is a past state placer and two-time state qualifier expected to compete at 138 pounds this season. He has won a regional championship and two league titles already in high school.

“Casey Garner returns this year after a highly successful 2013-14 season,” Benton said. “Casey placed fifth at state at 132 pounds. We are looking for Casey to make his way back on the podium this season at 138 pounds.”

Benton also has high expectations for Moran, who is back after winning the regional championship and his second straight Central Plains League title as a sophomore.

“Lane is a two-time state qualifier and currently ranked third in the state,” he said.

Class 3-2-1A / Central Plains League 2013-14 Dual Record: 7-5 2013-14 State Placing: 60th Coach: Kelly Benton (4th year) Assistant: Corey Ingalls Returning weights: 138 – Casey Garner, state placer, two-time state qualifier, Sr. 160 – Lane Moran, two-time state qualifier, Jr. Melanie McGee

Louisburg

For the past couple years, Louisburg has fielded a young team and taken its lumps, but Wildcat coach Bobby Bovaird expects that to pay off this season.

“Everyone is gunning for an improved finish this season,” he said. “The last two years, we’ve been putting so many young and inexperienced kids on the mat. While we’ve been getting more and more competitive, it’s taken its toll on some kids.”

Nine varsity wrestlers are back in the Louisburg lineup, including seniors Zach Knox and Brenton Wrigley.

“Knox and Wrigley were both one match away from qualifying for state least year, and both are coming off strong football seasons,” Bovaird said. “We’ve got three kids who placed at kids state last year.”

Sophomore Mason Koechner finished second in his class, while classmate David Bindi took fourth and freshman Ryan Adams, who wrestled 52 matches in the offseason alone, finished fifth.

The Wildcats also have juniors Jimmy Dolan, Zach Jones and Anders Vance, and sophomores Ben Hupp and Nathan Keegan back in the lineup.

Class 4A / Frontier League 2013-14 Dual Record: 10-7 2013-14 State Placing: N/A Coach: Bobby Bovaird (4th year) Assistants: Aaron Ziadeh, Robert Ebenstein Returning weights: 113 – David Bindi, So. 120 – Nathan Keegan, So. 132 – Zach Knox, Sr. 152 – Zach Jones, Jr. 160 – Ben Hupp, So. 182 – Jimmy Dolan, Jr. 195 – Brenton Wrigley, Sr. 220 – Mason Koechner, So. 285 – Anders Vance, Jr. Melanie McGee

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Lakin

Soomores Colby Gugelmeyer (16-12), Carlos Arreola (15-12) and junior Aidan Baxley (20-17) lead the Broncs this season under thirdyear coach Nathan Smith. Smith, a former Smith Center assistant and St. Francis head football/wrestling coach, who also serves as the defensive coordinator for the Bronc football team, posted a solid 10-4 dual record.

“We’ll have a nice mix of young and old wrestlers this year,” Smith said. “Lots of young wrestlers got mat time last season, and it looks like the team is going to have some older kids coming out this season hopefully making for a stronger team this year.”

Class 3-2-1A / Hi-Plains League 2013-14 Dual Record: 10-4 2013-14 State Placing: 49th Coach: Nathan Smith (3rd year) Assistants: Jim Christiansen Returning weights: 106 – Bryan Veleta-Rios, So. 113 – Humberto Murillo, Jr. 126 – Matti Davis, Jr. 132 – Colby Gugelmeyer, So. 152 – Luis McPherson, So. 160 – Eric Jury, so.

182 – Kylee Baca, Sr. 195 – Ross Morgan, Jr. 220 – Carlos Arreola, So. 285 – Jarrett Walters, So.

Conor Nicholl

Manhattan

Manhattan has just three seniors on a 60man roster. The Indians will need to replace two state champions and seven seniors from last year but was ranked fourth in the preseason Class 6A rankings.

“Manhattan will be young,” coach Robert M. Gonzales said.

The Indians are the top-ranked squad on the eastern side, though rival Junction City stood at number six when the season began.

Sophomore Mason Wallace was third at state as a freshman and sophomore Eldon Picou was sixth as a freshman. Sophomore Gary Joint is a transfer from Junction City who was a Class 6A state finalist last year.

Senior Kendrick Rivera, a state qualifier, has signed with Baker University and is expected to start at 145 pounds. Joint was ranked second in the preseason at 120 pounds, while Rivera was sixth at 138 pounds. Picou is third at 285 pounds.

Freshman Jalin Harper is expected to make an immediate impact after he captured a kids’ state championship.

Gonzales said Wallace, Joint, Picou and Riveria are expected to provide leadership.

Class 6A / Centennial League 2013-14 Dual Record: 10-6 2013-14 State Placing: 6th year Coach: Robert M. Gonzales (10th year, 38th overall) Assistants: Michael Miller, Shawn Bammes, Rod Robison Returning weights: 106 – Joe Braun, state qualifier, 20-18, So. 113 – Darrion Taylor, state qualifier, 22-20, Sr. 126 – Devin Norris, state qualifier, 27-15, So. 132 – Mason Wallace, 3rd at state, 35-4, So. 145 – Kendrick Riveria, state qualifier, 27-16, Sr. 152 – Kurtis Rich, Sr.; Blake Weaver, Jr. 195 – Anthony Renteria, state qualifier 16-21, Sr. 285 – Eldon Picou, 6th at state, 25-18, So. Conor Nicholl

Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Marysville

With just the right blend of battle-tested youth and state-tournament veterans, Marysville will vie for another Top 10 finish in 3-21A. The Bulldogs have made that their home the past three seasons, taking 10th, eighth and sixth, respectively.

A pair of state placers lead the charge. Chris Deters, who placed fourth in his first two seasons, comes off a 29-5 campaign. Deters was knocked out in a tight 5-4 decision in the 113 semifinals by eventual state champion Branson Addington of Norton.

Josh Nelson was a semifinal victim, too, losing to the 160 state champ – Beloit’s Bowe Behymer. Nelson finished in fourth. Now at 170, Nelson is ranked No. 1 in his class by the KWCA. State qualifiers Joe Smith and Scott Kleinert, both seniors, also return. Sophomore Jacob Mintzmeyer, who won 68 percent of his matchups as a freshman, fills the 152-pound slot.

Marysville will try to challenge Rossville and Silver Lake as they seek to punch state tickets at the St. Mary’s regional.

Class 3-2-1A / North Central Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 10th Coach: Cole Fredrickson (7th year) Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 113 – Chris Deters, 4th at state, Jr. 126 – Joe Smith, state qualifier, Sr. 132 – Mitchell Schoenberger, Jr. 138 – Jacob Stryker, So. 152 – Jacob Mintzmeyer, So. 160 – Josh Nelsen, 4th at state, Sr. 182 – Nick Ackerman, So. 195 – Caleb Vogelsberg, So. 285 – Scott Kleinert, state qualifier, Sr. Pregame Staff

Page 14

McPherson McPherSon returns 11 starters, including three seniors and two state qualifiers. Soomore Austin Eldredge is a state qualifier after a 29-11 record at 106 pounds. Soomore Koby Unruh finished 17-24 and qualified for state.

He is ranked No. 5 at 170 pounds.

Junior Cole Kretzer went 18-14 as a Soomore and is expected to start at 113 pounds.

Senior 285-pounder Michael McKinney narrowly missed a winning record with a 17-18 mark.

Senior Ethan Van Dorn (120) and junior Kaleb Jost (170) each finished 14-22 in a difficult Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League.

“I feel that the strength of our schedule will pay dividends in preparing us for the regional tournament,” coach Doug Kretzer said.

Class 4A / Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League 2013-14 Dual Record: 7-8 2013-14 State Placing: NA Coach: Doug Kretzer (4th year) Assistants: Aaron Dibbens, Jerry Bowen Returning weights: 106 – Austin Eldredge, state qualifier, So. 113 – Cole Kretzer, Jr. 120 – Ethan VanDorn, Sr. 126 – Brice Kasting, So. 132 – T.K. Mukwindidza, So. 160 – Koby Unruh, state qualifier, So. 170 – Kaleb Jost, Jr. 182 – Dylan Baldwin, So. 195 – Ross Regier, Sr. 220 – Alex Grennan, So. 285 – Michael McKinney, Sr. Conor Nicholl

Mulvane

Nickerson

The Wildcats return two state qualifiers, including a silver medalist from last year in sophomore Anthony Scantlin. He went 35-5 as a freshman and will look for more state hardware at 132 pounds this year.

Mulvane also welcomes two-time state qualifier Logan Elliott back for his junior season along with juniors Sean Bennefiel, Kyle Dillon and Evan McElravy. Elliott is coming off a 30-13 season while Bennefiel went 31-12 a year ago.

“If we can get the right people in the right weight classes and fill all the weights, we should be competitive,” coach Rick Langerot said. “Anthony and Logan are our top wrestlers at this time and should have a good season.”

Sterling senior Cody Salazar is the most accomplished wrestler on the Nickerson/ Sterling combined squad, but several others are looking to make their first trip to the state tournament this season.

Salazar finished fourth at 120 pounds last season and will look to improve on that as a senior.

“Cody returns at the same weight as last year and looks to get back on the medal stand in Class 3-2-1A,” said coach Jose Garcia.

Sterling junior Zane Nichols is also a returning varsity wrestler at 160 pounds.

On the Nickerson side of the roster, junior Bailey Daniels is looking to get over the hump and qualify for his first state tournament at 152 pounds. Classmates Cody Curl, Deonte Tiniakos, Chance Shull and Alex Snell are also back for the Panthers, along with sophomores Dakota Heim and Jaiden Raigoza.

The goal is simple for Garciaís Panthers: send at least one wrestler to the Class 4A State Tournament.

“We have a good opportunity with some returners,” Garcia said. “Bailey Daniels was a match away last year.”

Class 4A / Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League 2013-14 Dual Record: 12-7 2013-14 State Placing: 19th Coach: Rick Langerot (26th year) Assistants: Jesse Myers, Kyle McClellan, Jason Whisler Returning weights: 106 – Uriah Pollard, So. 132 – Anthony Scantlin, state runner-up, So. 138/145 – Sean Bennefiel, Jr. 145 – Logan Elliott, two-time state qualifier, Jr. 170 – Kyle Dillon, Jr. 195 – Dylan Jorns, So. 220 – Evan McElravy, Jr. McGee

Class 4A / Central Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: 6-4 2013-14 State Placing: N/A Coach: Jose Garcia (3rd year) Assistants: Brent Lane, John Close Returning weights: Joel Benson, CPA 120 - Cody Salazar, state placer, Sr. Mary Benson, CPA 126 - Jaiden Raigoza, So. 145 - Alex Snell, Jr. Specializing in small businesses 152 - Bailey Daniels, Jr. 160 - Zane Nichols, Jr.; Deonte Tiniakos, Jr. 182 - Chance Shull, Jr. 1929 S. Ohio Office: (785)827-3157 195 - Cody Curl, Jr. Salina, KS 67401 Fax: (785)827-3159 285 - Dakota Heim, So. Melanie McGee

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Minneapolis

Mound City-Jayhawk Linn

The pall over the Minneapolis program begins to clear, as the Lions move forward while keeping the teachings and memory of former coach Jeff Giles in mind. Giles died this past season, having coached the Lions for 27 years. Assistant Chas Hauck became the new head coach.

Minneapolis returns two-time state qualifier Quentin Clark. The senior placed third at 195 as a junior. Fellow state placer Cannan Smith is also back. After losing his opening match at state, Smith marched through the backside of the bracket to take sixth. Austin Constable will look to qualify at 113 after making state at 106 as a freshman.

The program co-ops with Bennington, which brings three talented juniors into the regular-season mix. Kody Kind (113) won 30 matches a season ago. Kyler Mick (152) won 25. Both were state qualifiers.

Bennington’s top returner is T.J. Ragnoni.

He scored 30 wins and vaulted himself into the 132-pound state final, but was unable to knock off Hoisington’s Brandon Ball.

On Dec. 13, the Lions competed in the first-ever Jeff Giles Invitational, honoring their former coach. Ragnoni, Mick and Clark each took first individually, while Minneapolis was second as a team.

Jayhawk-Linn has the biggest squad in program history this year with 10 wrestlers, and coach Brett Kramer is looking forward to the season.

“We have several guys with some state wrestling experience, so we are not as inexperienced as we have been in the past,” he said.

“With our inexperienced guys who are new to the sport, I expect them to catch on quickly because we have some good athletes out. This is the most talented team we have had in the nine years of the program.”

Senior Tommy Avery and sophomores Trevor Compton and Brandon Lewis are the only Jayhawks with varsity experience, but both Avery and Compton are past state qualifiers.

“I am expecting really big years from Trevor and Tommy. Both have worked hard in the summer adding muscle and going to some camps,” Kramer said. “Tommy really did not have the year he was expecting last year and that has motivated him and changed his mindset.”

Compton returns at 120 pounds after qualifying for state as a freshman.

“Trevor is still new to the sport, but because of his work ethic, he has made a lot of gains,” Kramer said. “We look for Trevor to return to state and make some noise this year.”

Class 3-2-1A / North Central Activities Association 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 18th Coach: Chas Hauck (1st year) Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 106 – Austin Constable, state qualifier, So. 126 – Cannan Smith, 6th at state, So. 132 – Troy Daniels, Jr. 138 – Colton Baker, Sr. 195 – Quentin Clark, 3rd at state, Sr. 285 – Tanner Gremmel, Sr. Pregame Staff

Class 3-2-1A / Three Rivers League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 67th Coach: Brett Kramer (9th year) Assistant: Cody Kramer Returning weights: 120 - Trevor Compton, state qualifier, So. 145 - Brandon Lewis, So. 170 - Tommy Avery, 2013 state qualifier, Sr. Melanie McGee

Oakley

Dylan Gassmann was one of the more remarkable stories in 3-2-1A last season when he won the 220 pound title.

Norton returns five of 10 state medalists “I saw myself placing fifth or sixth to be from the 2014 Class 3-2-1A state championhonest,” Gassmann said. “I didn’t think I would ship, the second in a row for the Bluejays. make it past the second round the first day.”

Norton has also won titles in 2010 and ’11 and Gassmann, also a two-time all-state player ’04-06 with coach Bill Johnson. The Bluejays for the Oakley football team, injured his shoulhad massive injuries last season, but return three state medalists, all who took third place der in the football season and never gave it a in junior Skylar Johnson, senior Jared Tallent break entering wrestling. In the second week of wrestling, Gassmann slammed the shoulder and sophomore Jacob Green. Gavin Lively returns after an injury-plagued 13-14. Tallent against the mat and separated the AC joint. He (145) and senior Kendall Miller (160, return- had to wear a big brace for most of the season, including regionals and state. Gassmann ing state qualifier) are the most experienced missed the two weeks before the first tournawrestlers. Junior Mike Kasson was ranked ment, the week before Christmas all the way No. 1 at 152 in the preseason, and Johnson took third in Class 3-2-1A last year. Skylar is through mid-January and then missed another the third of the four Johnson kids. The oldest, two weeks. All four wrestlers that came out of Eric, is a former Norton standout who served the WaKeeney regional placed at 220 pounds.

Gassmann lost to Norton standout Jacob Green one year as Thomas More Prep-Marian’s twice, but then delivered a 5-2 victory in the head wrestling coach and has experience at championship semifinal. Gassmann completed other levels. Eric takes over as an assistant for longtime assistant Doug Ray. Norton has the season 22-6 and defeated Marion’s Kyle more than 30 wrestlers, but will have trouble Palic, 3-2, in the championship.

Senior Taylor Murphy (29-10) has qualified filling the upper weights. for state three straight seasons.

Class 3-2-1A / Mid-Continent League Class 3-2-1A / Mid-Continent League 2013-14 Dual Record: 9-1 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 1st 2013-14 State Placing: 26th Coach: Bill Johnson (26th year, 221-57) Coach: Dylan Campbell (7th year) Assistants: Shane Miller, Tony Fiscus, Eric Assistants: Aaron Racette, Tyler Smith Johnson Returning weights: Returning weights: 106 – Eston Slack, So. 106 – Skylar Johnson, 3rd at state, 29-3, Jr. 120 – Rees Lehman, So. 120 – Kyle Bell, 19-19, Jr. 126 – Dalton Stoll, So. 126 – Trenton Wright, 18-22, So. 132 – Cory Mead, So. 138 – Jared Tallent, two-time placer, Sr. 138 – Taylor Murphy, three-time state qualifier, Sr. 152 – Mike Kasson, state qualifier, 30-12, Jr. 145 – Colter Stoll, Jr. 152 – Gavin Lively, 12-4, Jr. 170 – Jarred Dirks, Jr. 160 – Kendall Miller, state qualifier, 33-9, Sr. 182 – Collin Sharpe, Jr. 182 – Maverick Engel, 13-17, So. 195 – Garrett Waugh, Jr. 195 – Jordan Dole, 19-14, Jr. 220 – Jacob Green, 3rd at state, 34-8, So. Nicholl 220 – Dylan Gassmann, state champion, two-time state qualifier, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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Oberlin-Decatur Community

In the last four years, Oberlin has accomplished a feat that state powers Norton and Smith Center haven’t even done. The Red Devils have finished in the top-11 at state in each of the last four winters. Last season, Oberlin took 11th with 49.5 points after it went ninth, fifth and sixth the previous three seasons.Oberlin is expected to be very strong again and compete for a state plaque.

The Red Devils return senior 126-pounder Troy Juenemann, a two-time state qualifier in 2012 and ’13, who took sixth at state in 2013. He went 26-11 last season. Senior Gabe Anderson (24-25) is back as a state qualifier.

Sophomore Tabor Erickson (30-15) was sixth at state, and senior Rex Diedrich (29-6) is a two-time state qualifier and fourth-place finisher.

As of the Dec. 16 rankings, Oberlin stood No. 7 among 3-2-1A teams. Juenemann was third at 132, Erickson was fourth at 160 pounds and Diederich third at 195.

Page 15

Olathe North

Olathe North has a stacked roster with state placers at virtually every weight class.

Junior 132-pounder Blake Stovall is a 2013 state champion. Senior Nick Haug (32-8) is a two-time state placer with second and third place finishes. Senior Tyler Moulden (33-15) is a three-time state qualifier with a fifth-place state finish. Senior Mike Kenny (10-6), a three-time qualifier, finished sixth at state.

Olathe North also has two standout transfers in senior 160-pounder Isaac Dulgarian (40-1, St. Thomas Aquinas) a three-time state placer with first, third and first showings. Senior Emilio Fowler (13-4, Gardner-Edgerton) is a three-time state qualifier with fourth and second place finishes.

Class 6A / Sunflower 2013-14 Dual Record: 3-0 2013-14 State Placing: 5th Coach: Josh Carroll (4th year) Assistants: Clint Slyter, Bob Jaso, Jeremy Pride Returning weights: Class 3-2-1A / Mid-Continent League 106 – Riley Alderman, 26-20, 6th at state, So. 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 120 – Kelvys Gonzales, 21-22, 6th at state, Jr. 2013-14 State Placing: 11th 132 – Mike Kenny, 10-6, three-time state qualifier, Coach: Joe Dreher (20th year) 6th at state, Sr. Assistants: Shane Bird, Scott Gawith 132 – Blake Stovall, 2013 state champion, Jr. Returning weights: 138 – Stuart Schafer, 26-8, two-time state qualifier, 113 – Daniel Lerew, Jr. 4th at state, Jr. 126 – Troy Juenemann, 6th at state in ’13, two-time 145 – Nick Haug, 32-8, two-time state placer, Sr. state qualifier, Sr. 152 – Zach Jaso, 31-10, two-time state qualifier, 132 – Gabe Anderson, state qualifier, Sr. 4th at state, Jr. 138 – Jeff Juenemann, So. 160 – Tyler Moulden, 33-15, three-time state 160 – Tabor Erickson, 6th at state, So. qualifier, 5th at state, Sr. 182 – Rex Diedrich, 4th at state, 2-time state 170 – Kaleb Brooks, 9-14, Jr. qualifier, Sr. 182 – Chris Bozinos, 13-19, Sr. 195 – Dayton Kempt, So. 195 – Jadon McGaha, 24-13, 5th at state, Sr. Conor Nicholl 220 – Michael Chau, 19-22, state qualifier, Sr. 285 – Chase Miller, 37-12, 4th at state, Jr. Conor Nicholl

Osborne

Osawatomie

The Trojans are off to a solid start this season with six top-three finishers at the Dec. 6 Leavenworth Invitational. Osawatomie has two past state qualifiers back in the lineup and two other Trojans missed making state by a single match last season.

Junior Brendon Chrisjohn is looking to get back to state after qualifying during his freshman season and missing the return trip a year ago. He went 5-0 to win the 126 pound title at Leavenworth.

Class 3-2-1A / Northern Plains League Sophomore Cody Hazlett finished his 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A freshman season at the state tournament and is 2013-14 State Placing: N/A looking to build on his 29-20 record. He was Coach: Nate Brown (4th year) a regional runner-up in 2014 and took third at Assistants: N/A Leavenworth.

Returning weights: Other Trojans who placed in the top four of 113 - Quentin Morris, So. their weight classes at Leavenworth were se126 – Lance Hall, Jr. nior Andy Blanton at 170, senior Daniel Dees 132 – James Roenne, So. at 152, sophomore Seth Kingsolver at 195 and 152 – Derek Naegele, So. freshman Tyler Chrisjohn at 145.

160 – Devyn Naegele, Sr. Osawatomie also returns junior Noah 220 – Jared LeiVan, Jr. Conor Nicholl Newcomb and sophomores John Diediker, Will Thompson and Cole Wallace from last year’s varsity.

Osborne has struggled the last several years with low numbers and few upperclassmen.

Last year’s squad had nine wrestlers, but no seniors.

The Bulldogs, one of Kansas’ smallest schools that has a non-co-op wrestling program, returns six starters. None had winning records last year, though junior Lance Hall posted an 11-23 record at 126 pounds.

Olathe South

Just five wrestlers are back for the Olathe South varsity this season, but fourth-year coach Conor Fitzgerald expects his team to improve throughout the season and make noise in February.

“We return five guys who are currently under the radar,” Fitzgerald said. “I believe that will change come February. I’m very excited about the upcoming season.”

Sophomore Darion Bailey is coming off a 25-19 season and trip to the state tournament at 106 pounds, and he’ll look to build on that while moving up a class to 113.

Seniors Yetbarek Abera (132), Tylor Crumrine (170), Patrick Haase (160) and Tyler Jouret (182) are also experienced at the varsity level.

“These kids are highly capable and equally motivated,” Fitzgerald said. “I expect big things out of this team. We return a solid core and great leaders. We also welcome a handful of standout freshmen and other newcomers.”

Three seniors with state tournament experience are back to lead the Buffaloes this season.

Kyle Ames is coming off a sixth place finish and 30-18 record at 182 pounds last year, and he will move up to 195 this year. Fellow senior Dustin Blow is a two-time state qualifier who went 36-9 last year. Senior Jonathan Fairbanks qualified for state a year ago and finished 17-5 on the year, while junior Trenton Ross went 22-9 and also earned a trip to state.

“Returning medalist Kyle Ames will be expected to lead by example, and returning senior state qualifiers Jonathan Fairbanks and Dustin Blow will need to chip in on the team leadership as well,” veteran coach Tim Kite said.

Onaga also returns senior Jeffrey Chestnut, junior Garrett Ames and sophomores Tharrin D’Aloa, Dominic Buterakos, Kosta Buterakos, Quentin Lara and Brandon Merriman.

“We hope to be competitive locally, but the Mid-East League has taken major steps upward in the last two years,” Kite said.

Class 6A / Sunflower League 2013-14 Dual Record: 3-15 2013-14 State Placing: 27th Coach: Conor Fitzgerald (4th year) Assistants: Justin Mock, Travis Clarke, Adam Christopher Returning weights: 113 – Darion Bailey, state qualifier, So. 132 – Yetbarek Abera, Sr. 160 – Patrick Haase, Sr. 170 – Tylor Crumrine, Sr. 182 – Tyler Jouret, Sr. Melanie McGee

Class 3-2-1A / Mid-East League 2013-14 Dual Record: 12-6 2013-14 State Placing: 43rd Coach: Tim Kite (30th year) Assistant: Cody Merriman Returning weights: 106 – Tharrin D’Aloa, So. 113 – Brandon Merriman, So. 120 – Jonathan Fairbanks, state qualifier, Sr.; Kosta Buterakos, So. 126 – Dominic Buterakos, So. 132 – Trenton Ross, state qualifier, Jr. 138 – Jeffrey Chestnut, Sr. 170 – Garrett Ames, Jr. 182 – Quentin Lara, So. 195 – Kyle Ames, state placer, Sr. 220 – Dustin Blow, two-time state qualifier, Sr. Melanie McGee

Overland Park-Blue Valley

Overland Park-Blue Valley NW

The Tigers expect to make big improvements over last year’s 3-8 record in duals, and they’ll also look to build on a 17th-place finish at last year’s Class 6A State Tournament.

“Our team should be a much improved dual team,” coach Kale Mann said. “By midseason, we should be filling all our weight classes and we return many wrestlers with varsity experience.”

Among those with varsity experience are two-time state medalists Tanner Madl and A.J. Totta, both juniors. Seniors Austin Crawford, Mason Fuller and Jake King are also veterans who will be gunning for their first state medals.

“Three juniors are also looking to make noise in their first season on the varsity level,” Mann said, referring to Garrhet Hurst, Shawn Alexander and Brendan Fletcher.

Blue Valley also returns Cody Dusthimer, Alex Rooney and Kellan Turner.

Class 6A / Eastern Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: 3-8 2013-14 State Placing: 17th Coach: Kale Mann (3rd year) Assistants: Trevor Goertzen, Kellen Baysinger, Class 4A / Pioneer League Brandon Olney, Parker Madl, Josh Haub 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A Returning weights: 2013-14 State Placing: 43rd 126 - Cody Dusthimer Coach: N/A 132 - Alex Rooney Assistant: N/A 138 - Jake King, state qualifier, Sr. Returning weights: 145 - Garrhet Hurst, Jr. 126 - Brendon Chrisjohn, 2013 state qualifier, Jr. 152 - Tanner Madl, two-time state placer, Jr.; 132 - Noah Newcomb, Jr.; Cody Hazlett, state Shawn Alexander, Jr. qualifier, So. 170 - Austin Crawford, Sr. 138 - Will Thompson, So. 182 - Kellan Turner 160 - John Diediker, So. 195 - AJ Totta, two-time state placer, Jr. Land Development Inc 170 - Andy Blanton, Sr. 220 - Mason Fuller, state qualifier, Sr. 182 - Cole Wallace, So. 285 - Brendan Fletcher, Jr. 195 - Seth Kingsolver, So. Melanie McGee Melanie McGee

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The Huskies return just seven wrestlers from last year’s team, which placed third in Class 6A, but all seven are state qualifiers and two will be defending state championships this season.

Juniors Sam Elliott and Max Tierney are coming off gold medal performances at state, while senior Chris Lyons and junior Jason Laramore are looking to improve on fifth and sixth place finishes at state.

Sophomore Alec Lyons and seniors Eric Foerster and Foster Jacobs are also state qualifiers.

“We have seven returning state kids with two state champions and a talented group of underclassmen,” coach Tim Serbousek said.

“I look for them to improve on their wrestling abilities. If we can stay healthy all year, we could be a very competitive team.”

Elliott went 41-2 a year ago while Tierney compiled a 31-14 record en route to the state title. Lyons was 27-12 and Laramore finished 35-12 last season.

The Huskies will be defending their Eastern Kansas League title and looking to build on an 18-4 dual record.

Class 6A / Eastern Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: 18-4 2013-14 State Placing: 3rd Coach: Tim Serbousek (22nd year) Assistants: Zack Orrick, Lee Wetter, Chad Roberts, Chris Paisley, Greg Darrington, Spencer Curran, John Reichart Returning weights: 113 - Alec Lyons, state qualifier, So. 120 - Sam Elliott, state champion, Jr. 126 - Jason Laramore, state placer, Jr. 152 - Max Tierney, state champion, Jr. 170 - Eric Foerster, state qualifier, Sr. 182 - Chris Lyons, state placer, Sr. 195 - Foster Jacobs, state qualifier, Sr. Melanie McGee

Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Phillipsburg

Phillipsburg graduated a large senior class, including state runner-up Michael Dusin and multiple state qualifiers. The Panthers return two state qualifiers with senior Luke Jacobs (fourth at 220 pounds) and junior Donovan Lumpkin, who went 26-10 at 285 pounds.

Junior Zach Davis went 18-18.

“We look forward to the upcoming season,” coach Joe Buresh said. “We have several returning wrestlers as well as some new team members that we are excited to see on the mat this season. The strength of our team may be in the upper weights this year.”

Page 16

Plainville

Veteran head coach Corey Dobson and longtime assistant Ryan Becker have consistently made Plainville one of the top programs in Class 3-2-1A with several top-10 team finishes. Last year, the Cardinals finished 14th at state, and for the first time in nine winters as head coach, Dobson doesn’t have a returning state qualifier. Dobson said the team “will be pretty young,” but remains excited for the year.

“We have real good quality wrestlers returning and a good freshmen class!,” Dobson said.

Senior Trever Houser, who narrowly Class 3-2-1A / Mid-Continent League missed state last season, returns after a 28-8 2013-14 Dual Record: 17-7 year. Houser was the No. 1 seed at 132 2013-14 State Placing: 6th pounds last winter at the difficult WaKeeney Coach: Joe Buresh (10th year) regional. Houser won his first match 1-0, but Assistants: Andy Kenney, Aaron Beckman, Chad then suffered an 8-2 loss to Norton’s Toby Lenker, Kendall Fiscus, Jon Weinman Nickell. Nickell had a losing record entering Returning weights: regional, but won the regional and placed at 113 – Zach Davis, Jr. state. On the backside, Houser lost to Greeley 160 – Mark Coomes, So. County’s Elijah Stone and didn’t make state.

220 – Luke Jacobs, 4th at state, Sr. Junior Gunner Kerns went 24-13 as a 285 – Donovan Lumpkin, state qualifer, Jr. sophomore, while junior Chase Werner Conor Nicholl finished 13-24. Gabe Wilkens was 8-23 and sophomore Kyle Eickelberry, a Palco student, who co-ops with Plainville, finished 7-12.

Class 3-2-1A / Mid-Continent League 2013-14 Dual Record: 2-6 2013-14 State Placing: 14th Coach: Corey Dobson (9th year) Longtime assistant Roger Sells is in his Assistants: Ryan Becker second year as Russell head coach after Hall Returning weights: of Famer Wyatt Frohling retired. Sells helped 126 – Kyle Eickelberry, So. the Broncos tie for second place in the NCAA 138 – Gunner Kerns, Jr. league race last winter. Russell has alternated 145 – Trever Houser, Sr. between 4A and 3-2-1A several times in 152 – Chase Werner, Jr. recent years and will move back to 3-2-1A 160 – Gabe Wilkens, Jr. this season. The Broncos were ranked No. 7 in 285 – Jared Plante, Jr. the preseason team rankings. Russell returns Conor Nicholl three state qualifiers with junior Chase Prester, sophomore Kelton Suchy and senior Dalton Brand. Prester took sixth at 145 pounds.

Salina Central, ranked No. 9 in the Class Brand is one of more inspirational stories in Kansas. He is legally blind and posted a 25-8 5A preseason rankings, has big expectations record last year. Brand was ranked second in for this winter. The Mustangs won the AVCTL the preseason at 182 pounds. Prester is presea- Division I championship and qualified nine wrestlers to state last year. Veteran coach son fifth at 138 pounds.

“We are a young team with some potential Shannon Peters brings back nine state to do good things,” Sells said. “We have three qualifiers, including Dayton Will, a senior 145-pounder who took second last year. Will returning state qualifiers who have set high was ranked second at 152 in the preseason. goals for themselves this season.”

Frohling was inducted in the KWCA Hall Sophomore Gunner Rairden finished with a 29-14 record, while Chance Sorell went of Fame on Nov. 1. He was a head wres20-18. tling coach for 32 years at three schools. He Donivyn Will finished 20-15 and Dayton coached at WaKeeney-Trego from 1989-99, Will was 35-8. Will is a three-time state including a pair of third-place finishes. qualifier and two-time state placer with sixth From 2001-13, Frohling coached at Rusand second place finishes. Easton Ryser went sell and had 39 state qualifiers, seven state medalists and a 113-43 dual record. Frohling 19-10 and Dalton Peters, a two-time state qualifier, was 34-7. Kyle True went 28-14 finished with a 253-107-5 dual record in his career. Two years ago, Frohling led Russell to and Jack Helvey finished 29-12. Michael a 16th place finish in 3-2-1A, including a state McMullen went 21-14, but didn’t qualify for state. Junior DeKyale McFarland was a 2013 runner-up showing for Regis Weiss, now a state qualifier.

Bronco assistant coach.

“We are a team that will consist of preClass 3-2-1A / North Central Activities Association dominately upperclassmen that have a wealth of experience and a great group of athletes 2013-14 Dual Record: 8-4 who know how to put it on the line” coach 2013-14 State Placing: 40th (4A) Shannon Peters said.

Coach: Roger Sells (2nd year) Assistants: Nick Sells, Regis Weiss Class 5A / Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Returning weights: 2013-14 Dual Record: 7-0 126 – Blake Boxberger 2013-14 State Placing: 15th 132 – Kyle Schroeder, 19-11, Jr. Coach: Shannon Peters (11th year) 138 – Joseph Cochran, 8-10, So. Assistants: Richard Brake, Colby Lund 145 – Chase Prester, 31-7, 6th at state, Jr. Returning weights: 152 – Kelton Suchy, 26-14, state qualifier, So. 106 – Gunner Rairden, state qualifier, So. 160 – Alex Windholz, So. 120 – Chance Sorell, state qualifier, Jr. 170 – Grant Murphy 138 – Donivyn Will, state qualifier, So. 195 – Dalton Brand, 25-8, state qualifier, Sr. 145 – Dayton Will, 2nd at state last year, Sr. 220 – Dallas McCobb, 6-10, So. 152 – Easton Ryser, state qualifier, Jr. 285 – Dalton Keller, 8-13, Sr. Conor Nicholl 170 – Dalton Peters, state qualifier, Jr. 182 – Kyle True, state qualifier, Jr. 195 – Jack Helvey, state qualifier, Jr. 220 – Mike McMullen, Jr. 285 – Chase Livengood, Sr. Conor Nicholl

Russell

Salina Central

Riley County

Rose Hill

Two state qualifiers return to lead the Falcons as they look to improve on a 20th place finish at the state tournament.

Riley County has seven total varsity wrestlers back in the lineup, led by state qualifiers Tommy Truesdale and Wes March. Truesdale finished 30-14 a year ago and will wrestle at 138 during his junior season. March is a sophomore coming off a 24-21 season.

Junior Tucker Cales won 19 matches as a sophomore and picked up three wins in the Riley County Dual Tournament Dec. 6 while sophomore heavyweight Clay Reed has started his season by winning four of his first five matches.

The Falcons also return junior Chris Truesdale (20-13 last year) at 145 pounds, junior Dillon Richert at 220 and junior Colton Hazlett at 126.

Change is in the air at Rose Hill, where the coaching staff is new and the freshman class is expected to make an immediate impact.

The Rockets should also get a boost from transfer Connor Penka, a senior who went 41-6 and finished third at state last season while competing for Mulvane High School.

“We have a new coaching staff and a solid incoming freshman class,” coach Darian Eshelman said. “We’re excited that Connor Penka has joined our squad. He’s currently ranked second in 4A at 138 pounds.”

Rose Hill also returns senior Ashtyn Cody at 220, senior Toby Gray at 132, senior Chris Rollins at 145, junior Brody Hingst at heavyweight and junior Christian Polk at 195.

Eshelman’s assistants, Tony Pence and Kyle Cline, are also new to the Rocket staff this season.

Class 3-2-1A / Mid-East League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 20th Coach: N/A Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 126 - Colton Hazlett, Jr. 132 - Wes March, state qualifier, So. 138 - Tommy Truesdale, state qualifier, Jr. 145 - Chris Truesdale, Jr. 160 - Tucker Cales, Jr. 220 - Dillon Richert, Jr. 285 - Clay Reed, So. Melanie McGee

Class 4A / Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League 2013-14 Dual Record: 1-11 2013-14 State Placing: 34th Coach: Darian Eshelman (1st year) Assistants: Tony Ponce, Kyle Cline Returning weights: 132 - Toby Gray, Sr. 138 - Connor Penka, state placer, two-time state qualifier, Sr. 145 - Chris Rollins, Sr. 195 - Christian Polk, Jr. 220 - Ashtyn Cody, Sr. 285 - Brody Hingst, Jr. Melanie McGee

Salina South

Salina South brings back two state qualifiers off a season that saw the Cougars take 24th in 5A. Senior Cole Hoover and sophomore Allen Heberly will be viewed as leaders by example for the Cougars.

Hoover went 1-2 in his state bid as a junior. His season ended at 16-9. Heberly was a two-and-out victim during his first taste of state. However, Heberly was competitive in his tussles, losing both matches by tight decisions.

Blaise Albers and Brett Hikemann represent two seniors who, with strong seasons and momentum, could vie for state berths.

Salina South placed three wrestlers during the 2012 campaign, but failed to score a medalist in 2013. John McNabb put a stop to any potential skid, taking sixth at 152 this past season.

The Cougars get a difficult slate of duals thanks to its home in the AVCTL. Salina South’s head-to-head league schedule includes state-ranked programs such as Derby, Maize and cross-town rival Salina Central, as well as a perennially strong Newton squad.

Class 5A / Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 24th Coach: Gary Seibel Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 120 – Allen Heberly, state qualifier, So. 138 – Kaleb Garibaldi, Sr. 145 – Blaise Albers, Sr. 160 – Brett Hikemann, Sr. 170 – Michael Mar, So. 195 – Cole Hoover, state qualifier, Sr. 220 – Joey Soulivong, Jr. Pregame Staff

Scott City

A bump back down to 3-2-1A and a little more seasoning should help Scott City regroup after uncommon struggles in 2013-14.

The Beavers were 3-2-1A champions as recently as 2012, and were fourth in 2013. A jump to 4A, coupled with the loss of several veterans, set them back a year ago – they placed 40th.

James Jurgens, a 132-pound senior, is the face of the renaissance. His label as merely a “returning state qualifier” from this past year will be misleading. As a freshman, Jurgens placed second at 113. His sophomore year was capped with a state championship and 30-5 record at 120.

Jurgens struggled with the transition to 126 as a junior. He was limited to 21 victories, and failed to pick up a win at the state tournament.

Coaches still recognize the talent he possesses, however, ranking him No. 2 in the 132-pound class this year.

A strong Kropp of wrestlers continues to grow in Scott City. Warren Kropp, a third-place finisher in 4A, is gone, but his younger brother, Wyatt, hopes to soon fill his shoes, coming off a 22-win season.

Junior Zachary Tucker is state ranked, giving the Beavers a veteran in the 106-pound division.

Class 3-2-1A / Greater West Activities Conference 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 40th in 4A Coach: Jon Lippelmann (30th year) Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 106 – Zachary Tucker, Jr. 126 – James Jurgens, state qualifier, Sr. 145 – Wyatt Kropp, Jr. 152 – Abe Wiebe, Jr. 160 – Trey Loftis, So. 182 – Tre Stewart, So. Pregame Staff

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Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

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Kansas Mat Preview, Volume 6

Shawnee-Mill Valley

Four senior state qualifiers are back to lead Mill Valley, which has a talent in all four classes, according to coach Travis Keal.

Senior Bryan Burnett went 35-13 and finished fourth at last year’s state tournament while classmate Logan Marx finished sixth and compiled a 26-10 record.

Seniors Nathan Anderson and Sebastian Uriarte also qualified for state, along with juniors Ryan Anderson and Seth Burnett, the fourth-place medalist at 160 pounds last season. Burnett finished his sophomore season with a 34-11 record at 152 pounds.

“The team will be led by a great group of seniors, all of whom have put in the time to get better in the offseason,” Keal said.

Mill Valley also expects to get contributions from Jeff Bendure, Dylan Gowin and freshmen Jarrett Bendure, Hayden Keopke and Conner Ward. Ward won the Kids State tournament while both Jarrett Bendure and Keopke medaled at Kids State last year.

Class 5A / Kaw Valley League 2013-14 Dual Record: 7-2 2013-14 State Placing: 6th Coach: Travis Keal (15th year) Assistants: Drew Hudgins, Brett Delcih, Bo Pursel, Ian Nichols Returning weights: 106 - Dylan Gowin 120 - Jeff Bendure, So. 132 - Ryan Anderson, state qualifier, Jr. 138 - Logan Marx, state placer, three-time state qualifier, Sr. 152 - Bryan Burnett, state placer, three-time state qualifier, Sr. 160 - Nathan Anderson, state qualifier, Sr. 170/182 - Seth Burnett, state placer, two-time state qualifier, Jr. 220 - Sebastian Uriarte, two-time state qualifier, Sr. Melanie McGee

Smith Center

Veteran coach Brock Hutchinson returns state runner-up David Hileman (33-10) and Cale Rogers (35-13), a two-time state placer with fifth and fourth place finishes in his first two years. Clint Rogers graduated after he earned four state medals.

However, Hutchinson said the Redmen have no returning weights. All of the returning starters are expected to wrestle at different weight classes for the No. 6-ranked Redmen.

In addition, Smith Center graduated Grant Lambert, who Hutchinson believed had a “great chance to place” last year, but tore his ACL at the league meet. Wyatt Oliver also had a great chance to place, but couldn’t compete at regional because of illness. Among the changes, sophomore Keaton Bortz, at 113 last year, will compete at 132 or 138 this season.

Hileman will move up to 126/132 from 120.

Dalton Oliver (21-15), a returning state qualifier, will move from 113 to 132 but has dealt with injury. Cale Rogers will move from 126 to 145/152.

“We have some young ones coming in that will have to endure a tough high school wrestling season and grow up to be young men over the course of the wrestling season,” Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson brings in two assistants with decorated pasts. Landon Keiswetter, a Norton graduate, won two state individual titles and then a junior college national crown at Pratt.

Travis Rempe was a state champion for Smith Center. Both helped their squads win high school team crowns, too.

Class 3-2-1A / Mid-Continent League 2013-14 Dual Record: 5-9 2013-14 State Placing: 9th Coach: Brock Hutchinson (15th year as head coach) Assistants: Landon Keiswetter, Travis Rempe Returning weights: 126/132 – David Hileman, 2nd at state, So. 132 – Dalton Oliver, state qualifier, So. 132/138 – Keaton Bortz, So. 145/152 – Cale Rogers, two-time state placer, Jr. 145/152 – Chase Ryan, 10-7, So. 152/160 – Brody Freiling, state qualifier; 20-15, Sr. 170/182 – Kaden Meitler, So. Conor Nicholl

Page 18

Shawnee Mission East

With four seniors, including two state qualifiers, returning to lead the way, the Lancers should be poised for another successful season under new head coach Ben Sutherlin.

“We have a strong core of returning wrestlers,” Sutherlin said. “Our group has been training hard in the offseason. We lost some great leaders from last year, but all of the kids returning are stepping up to make great strides.”

Senior Marshall Green nearly earned a medal at last year’s Class 6A State Tournament, while senior Armando Martinez and junior Jack Carter are also returning state qualifiers.

“Marshall Green was one win away from placing at state in 2014,” Sutherlin said. “All of the seniors’ experience and leadership is going to be a key to the success of the entire team.”

The Lancers also return four others with varsity experience - Michael Aldrich, Mike Bamford, Wyatt Edmiston and Drake Yost.

“A lot of the wrestlers are looking to feed off the success they have experienced during the football season and look to carry that through the winter,” Sutherlin added.

Shawnee Mission Northwest

A dozen wrestlers with varsity experience are back in the Cougar lineup this winter, and Shawnee Mission Northwest will look to improve on a 12th place finish at the state tournament.

Senior Adam Vanausdall went 32-21 a year ago and qualified for state. Junior Jack Newcomb is looking for his third trip to the state tournament after going 24-13 last season, and sophomores Devonte Smith and Tyler Tummons are also returning state qualifiers.

“Zack and Adam are our top returning seniors,” coach Howard Newcomb said. “They are hoping for a great run this year.”

Colin Anthony, Dannon Ball, Jason Barnhart, Trevor Kudzinski, Trevor Rine, Jacob Rosebaugh, Trenton Smith and Mark Thompson also return with varsity experience.

“I like the dynamics of this team,” Newcomb said. “We have a lot of good, hard working kids and the addition of freshman 106-pound challenger Jared Habben should help to offset the loss of four returning starters that would have had state tournament possibilities.”

Class 6A / Sunflower League 2013-14 Dual Record: 5-3 2013-14 State Placing: 12th Class 6A / Sunflower League Coach: Howard Newcomb (15th year) 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A Assistants: Shawn Swander, Joel Eberhart, Nick 2013-14 State Placing: 20th Caldwell, Kyle Zarda Coach: Ben Sutherlin (1st year) Assistants: Erik Woofter, Dale Hurt, Lucas Baker Returning weights: 120 – Colin Anthony, Jr. Returning weights: 126 – DeVonte Smith, state qualifier, So. 106 – Armando Martinez, state qualifier, Sr. 132 – Tyler Tummons, state qualifier, So. 138 – Michael Aldrich, Jr. 138 – Trevor Rine, Jr. 145 – Drake Yost, Jr. 145 – Adam Vanausdall, state qualifier, Sr. 152 – Marshall Green, state qualifier, Sr. 152 – Mark Thompson 160 – Mike Bamford 170 – Trenton Smith, So. 170 – Wyatt Edmiston, Jr. 182 – Jacob Rosebaugh, Trevor Kudzinski 195 – Jack Carter, state qualifier, Jr. Melanie McGee 195 – Zack Newcomb, two-time state qualifier, Sr. 220 – Dannon Ball, Jason Barnhart Melanie McGee St. Francis returns two state qualifiers and multiple wrestlers with winning records. Juniors Clay Cassaw and Shakotah Blanka went Stockton returns plenty of experience, but 24-9 and 20-11, respectively, and qualified has no returning starter who had a winning for state. In addition, Kyler Zweygardt went 22-15 and will start at 220 pounds. Four other record last year.

Sophomore Brayden Winters is a state starters return.

Definitely looking forward to this upcom- qualifier who finished 12-16 at 106 pounds, but went 0-2 at state. Junior Braden Higdon ing season to see what these young men can do,” coach Dylan Loyd, an Indian alum, said. finished 15-16 and will start at 220 pounds.

“We have some quality kids coming back this Senior Taten Pulec, a four-year starter, is by far the most experienced wrestler and the only season with many of them having wrestled senior. He was 5-8 a year ago. varsity since their freshman season.”

Of the nine returning starters, six are Blanka fractured his left hip in the summer sophomores, two juniors and Pulec has the before the 2013-14 season and then severely only senior. injured his pelvis in football practice and missed the rest of the fall and the first part of Class 3-2-1A / Mid-Continent Leauge wrestling. Still, he qualified for state for the 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A first time in his career. Blanka went 0-2 at state, and Cassaw finished 1-2 and lost in the 2013-14 State Placing: 67th Coach: Clint Bedore (4th year) final seconds to Phillipsburg senior Mason Assistants: N/A Bannister. Cassaw had defeated Bannister Returning weights: twice earlier in the year.

“We have a quality freshman class coming 106 – Brayden Winters, state qualifier, So. in this season, with many of them having suc- 113 – Dillon Krier, So. cess at the kids level,” Loyd said. “In order to 120 – Kieran Graf, So. accomplish our goals we have to focus on get- 126 – Tristan Williams, So. ting better everyday in the practice room with 132 – Travis Clements, So. everyone buying into what we are wanting to 160 – Evan Ruiz, So. get done as a team this season. It’s important 182 – Landon Becker, Jr. that these team holds each other accountable, 220 – Braden Higdon, Jr. and if we focus on doing things the right way 285 – Taten Pulec, Sr. Conor Nicholl the success will follow. This is a good group and I’m excited to watch them compete.”

Saint Francis

Stockton

Class 3-2-1A / Northwest Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: 3-11 2013-14 State Placing: 52nd Coach: Dylan Loyd (3rd year) Assistants: Kyle Buffington, Adam Guthmiller Returning weights: 132 – Clay Cassaw, state qualifier, Jr. 138 – Garrett Brunk, Jr. 145 – Justin Pacheco, Jr. 170 – Lane Hobrock, Jr. 195 – Ryan Grover, So. 220 – Kyler Zweygardt, Sr. 285 – Shakotah Blanka, state qualifier, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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Silver Lake

The Eagles begin 2015 with three stateranked individuals and several others with winning records.

Senior Haegan Schaefer is ranked first at 145 pounds, and started his season by winning the Onaga Invite Dec. 6 with a 5-0 record.

He is coming off a state championship at 126 pounds and has qualified for state all three years of high school.

Junior Hunter Howerton and sophomore Dalton Dultmeier are also returning state medalists who will look to move up on the podium this year. Howerton finished fourth a year ago and is currently ranked second at 152 pounds.

Dultmeier, the bronze medalist at 113 last season, starts 2015 ranked third at 120 pounds.

Senior Michael Marsh, also a state qualifier last year, was one of five Eagles to win the Onaga Invitational. Freshman Jordan Priddy won at 106 pounds while Dultmeier, Howerton and Schaefer also struck gold.

Silver Lake also has freshman Gable Howerton, sophomore Michael Schaefer and seniors Coltin Morgan and Tate Schenkel, all top-three finishers at Onaga.

“I am very excited,” coach Marion Howerton said. “We have a great group of kids and it will be fun. We have four seniors and all four could qualify for state.”

Class 3-2-1A / Mid-East League 2013-14 Dual Record: 7-3 2013-14 State Placing: 7th Coach: Marion Howerton (3rd year) Assistant: Chris Schaefer Returning weights: 113 - Michael Marsh, state qualifier, Sr. 120 - Dalton Dultmeier, state placer, So. 145 - Haegan Schaefer, state champion, two-time state placer, three-time state qualifier, Sr. 152 - Hunter Howerton, state placer, Jr. Melanie McGee

Topeka-Seaman

It may require a little luck in the bracket and on the mat, but all things considered, Topeka Seaman has the stable of wrestlers to be a darkhorse candidate for the 5A team title.

All told, Seaman brings back nine state qualifiers, including four state placers. The Vikings got a boost with the addition of Jefferson West transfer Tucker Schreiner, who placed sixth at 120 pounds in 4A. Khamin Crow (sixth at 113), Daemeion Gay (sixth at 145) and Bailey Kelly (sixth at 195) all placed this past season, but each finished lower on the podium than they had in the past and hope to rebound in 2015. Jaelynn Gray placed for the first time, fighting for fifth while racking up a 35-12 record as a junior at 120.

Dawson Podlena, Matthew Schlossman, Spencer Fortney, Michael Requejo and Mason Ray also all return off state bids. The Red Raiders’ lineup is heavy on juniors and seniors.

Some luck has already breezed the way of the Red Raiders. When Seaman heads to the Shawnee Heights Regional, it will likely do so as the only state-ranked team in the field.

Class 5A / Centennial League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 10th Coach: Patrick Kelly (7th year) Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 106 – Dawson Podlena, state qualifier, So. 113 – Khamin Crow, 6th at state, Sr. 120 – Jaelynn Gray, 5th at state, Sr. 126 – Matthew Schlossman, state qualifier, Jr. 132 – Spencer Fortney, state qualifier, Jr. 138 – Michael Requejo, state qualifier, Sr. 145 – Daemeion Gay, 6th at state, Sr. 152 – Mason Ray, state qualifier, Jr. 182 – Kyle Romick, Sr. 195 – Bailey Kelly, 6th at state, Jr. 220 – Garrett Streets, Sr. Pregame Staff

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Page 19

Wakeeney-Trego

WaKeeney-Trego graduated all-state performer Brandon Schoenthaler, but returns Corbin Schoenthaler. Corbin finished 14-10 last season, the lone returning Golden Eagle with a winning record. Isaiah Fabrizius went 13-19, John Kuhn finished 9-17, while Ryan Deaver was 6-16, and Allen Goff was 3-16.

Deaver and Schoenthaler are the lone multiyear returning starters on back-to-back young teams. Two years ago, Fabrizius was the lone junior.

Coach Jeremy Samson is in his third year as head coach after he served as an assistant for the previous five years. Michael Malay, a former WaKeeney-Trego state champion, is back as an assistant.

“Our team this year is going to be very young for the most part, with only two returning seniors,” Samson said. “I do look for Class 3-2-1A / Northwest Kansas League many of the young guys to improve and be 2013-14 Dual Record: 0-3 big contributors to our varsity line-up.”

2013-14 State Placing: 54th Samson has built back a program that had Coach: Nathan Broeckelman (3rd year) trouble qualifying wrestlers to state for several Assistants: Kirby Kleymann years. Two winters ago, the Golden Eagles Returning weights: qualified Cameron Staples, who eventually 126 – Isaac Stone, state qualifier, Jr. finished fifth at 170 pounds, and Brandon 138 – Ty Dittmer, Sr. Schoenthaler. Last winter, Schoenthaler quali152 – Zeke Stone, Sr. fied again and went 2-2. WaKeeney has one of 285 – Willie Moore, Jr. Conor Nicholl the best gyms in northwest Kansas and hosted a 3-2-1A regional last season. This year, WaKeeney hosts the MCL tournament and then the WaKeeney duals on Dec. 19 and Jan. 9, respectively, plus a double dual on Feb. 12.

Nathan Broeckelman, a former Norton standout, has done a strong job of building the Jackrabbit program from scratch. This winter, Isaac Stone is a returning state qualifier along with several new students with wrestling success.

Senior Caleb Austin, a transfer from Kentucky, has state finishes of sixth, second and fourth, along with freshman Seth Johnson and Zach Chavez, the group forms a strong core for the continued develoment of the program.

Austin is ranked No. 5 at 132 pounds.

Isaac Stone went 25-5 last year.

“The new students along with Isaac will help the team become more competitive with each other so that (we) can prepare for the state tournament,” Broeckelman said.

Class 3-2-1A / Mid-Continent League 2013-14 Dual Record: 4-9 2013-14 State Placing: 61st Coach: Jeremy Samson (3rd year) Assistants: Michael Malay Returning Weights: 106 – John Kuhn, So. 132 – Ryan Deaver, Jr. Juniors Isaac Bailey, Cole Conover, Bryce 138 – Isaiah Fabrizius, Sr. Ledford, Payton Smith and Trevor Smith are 152 – Logan Zahn the veterans in the Winfield locker room, but 160 – Corbin Schoenthaler, Jr. the Vikings return 12 varsity wrestlers in all. 160 – Allen Goff, Jr. “Our team is young but weathered,” coach 170 – Tanner Lowry, So. Conor Nicholl Nick McGrew said. “Every kid returning was a starter last season and all of those were freshmen and sophomores. I anticipate a good season from this young group.”

Trevor Smith is coming off a state championship and 30-2 record at 132 pounds, and he will be seeking his third state medal this season. Payton Smith is a two-time state qualifier and Ledford qualified for state as a freshman in 2013.

Winfield also returns sophomores Cameron Conover, Garrett Gibson, Trenton Ging, Rocky Landwehr, Xavier Morris Lolar, Devon Smith and Ali Viravong.

“We have a tough practice room. Most of our young team wrestled up a weight class last year in order to fill the roster,” McGrew said.

“We have a tough young team to build on.”

Winfield

Class 4A / Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League 2013-14 Dual Record: 2-5 2013-14 State Placing: 28th Coach: Nick McGrew (1st year) Assistants: Isaac Martinez, Tyler Lampert Returning weights: 113 – Cameron Conover, So. 120 – Bryce Ledford, 2013 state qualifier, Jr. 126 – Payton Smith, two-time state qualifier, Jr. 132 – Trevor Smith, state champion, two-time state placer, Jr. 138 – Devon Smith, So. 145 – Isaac Bailey, Jr. 152 – Cole Conover, Jr. 160 – Rocky Landwehr, So. 170 – Xavier Morris Lolar, So. 182 – Garrett Gibson, So. 195 – Ali Viravong, So. 285 – Trenton Ging, So. Melanie McGee

Scott C ity • W aK eeney H illC ity • O ak ley

Wamego

After placing third in 4A’s 126-pound weight class as a junior, Dalton Carley will take one more run at finding a berth in a state title match this year.

Carley topped the 30-win plateau this past season, but saw his title dreams end with a decision loss in the semifinals. He notched victories in his final two state matches to secure third. Carley is ranked at 138 this year, a particularly formidable weight class in 4A. Carley will be the senior leader of a more experienced Wamego roster. The Red Raiders slotted in nine freshmen or sophomores on varsity in 2013-14. Now, each one has a year of knowledge to grow from.

Dylan Bloom, a junior, qualified for state, putting together a 1-2 mark once there.

Kasey Feyh and Dylan Campbell appear to be on their way to the tournament. Feyh was 27-10 as a 225-pounder. His showings there and a fast start to this year have him state ranked in 4A’s 285 class. Campbell returns after winning two-thirds of his matches as a sophomore.

Class 4A / North Central Kansas League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: 33rd Coach: Jeremy Gilkerson (3rd year) Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 106 – Dylan Bloom, state qualifier, Jr. 113 – Colton Simonsson, Jr. 126 – Dalton Carley, 3rd at state, Sr. 132 – Alec Pierson, Jr. 145 – Tristan Neff, So. 152 – Connor Kramm, So. 160 – Dylan Campbell, Jr. 170 – Ethan Simonson, Jr. 182 – Nathan McCown, So. 220 – Kasey Feyh, Jr. Pregame Staff

Wichita-Trinity

Recent history has been tough on Trinity Academy wrestling, as the Knights struggle to find a grappler ready for the high stakes of the state tournament. Trinity comes off another year with no state qualifiers, and thusly, no one with that experience returning.

If the Knights intend to halt that frustrating trademark, it will likely come on the shoulders of Jackson Troutman.

Troutman, 12-4 as a sophomore, has already shined early in his junior year. The 220-pounder championed the Flint Hills Tournament, and followed that up the next week by placing third at Wellington. Troutman’s lone defeat in Wellington came at the hands of Salina Central’s Michael McMullen, state ranked in 5A. Trinity 195-pounder Sam Schroeder took his lumps as a sophomore, but has also had a hot start to his season. He was first at Flint Hills and fourth in Wellington.

Trinity will catch a breather in its regional assignment. The Knights are slotted to the Pratt Regional, one that will host a handful of individual stars but will be light on teams contending for state titles. Of the 15-team field, only Augusta is ranked.

Class 4A / Central Plains League 2013-14 Dual Record: N/A 2013-14 State Placing: DNQ Coach: Ed Edison Assistant: N/A Returning weights: 120 – Beau Fleeman, So. 145 – Luke Marquardt, Jr. 170 – Jake Mathews, Sr. 182 – Sam Schroeder, So. 195 – Jackson Troutman, Jr.

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