Tickets Punched: Eureka wins first regional title since 2006

Though some regional tournament starts were delayed by “Old Man Winter,” all tournaments wrapped-up by the end of the day Saturday and the field is set for next weekend’s state tournaments.

Regional host sites included Garden City High School and Blue Valley High School (Overland Park) in class 6A; Bonner Springs and Arkansas City in class 5A; Chanute, Smoky Valley (Lindsborg), Paola and Pratt in class 4A; and Beloit, Fredonia, Rossville and Trego Community (WaKeeney) in class 3-2-1A.

In classes 5A and 6A regionals featured 36 total schools each and the top eight placers in each weight class qualified for state. Class 4A includes 59 total schools and 3-2-1A has wrestlers representing 89 total schools. At those regionals the top four placers in each weight class qualified for state.

State competition takes place next weekend, February 22-23, with classes 5A and 6A wrestling at Hartman Arena in Park City, class 4A at Tony’s Pizza Event Center in Salina and 3-2-1A at Fort Hays State University’s Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.

Though some regional tournament starts were delayed by “Old Man Winter,” all tournaments wrapped-up by the end of the day Saturday and the field is set for next weekend’s state tournaments.

Regional host sites included Garden City High School and Blue Valley High School (Overland Park) in class 6A; Bonner Springs and Arkansas City in class 5A; Chanute, Smoky Valley (Lindsborg), Paola and Pratt in class 4A; and Beloit, Fredonia, Rossville and Trego Community (WaKeeney) in class 3-2-1A.

In classes 5A and 6A regionals featured 36 total schools each and the top eight placers in each weight class qualified for state. Class 4A includes 59 total schools and 3-2-1A has wrestlers representing 89 total schools. At those regionals the top four placers in each weight class qualified for state.

State competition takes place next weekend, February 22-23, with classes 5A and 6A wrestling at Hartman Arena in Park City, class 4A at Tony’s Pizza Event Center in Salina and 3-2-1A at Fort Hays State University’s Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.

3-2-1A Southeast, Eureka Regional

The Eureka Tornadoes ran away with the regional title at the 3-2-1A regional tournament in Fredonia. The Tornadoes scored 170.5 points with 10 wrestlers to outpace second place Douglass (123.5) by almost 50 points. Host team Fredonia took third with 121 points.

According to the Eureka Herald it is the first regional championship for the Tornadoes since 2006. Eureka coach Mike Davison was honored as regional coach of the year.

Jayhawk Linn freshman Corbin White slipped by Eureka sophomore Connor Booth-Hughes 3-2 to earn the 106 pound title while Erie freshman Drayton Kennedy defeated Marion sophomore Forest Slater by fall to earn third.

Eureka senior Kendall Beitz will continue his quest for a third consecutive state title after beating Jayhawk Linn junior Broday White 4-1 in the 113 pound championship match. Erie freshman Nate Thompson pinned Cherryvale sophomore Mikey Coats for third place.

Kendall’s twin brother Kolby continues his pursuit of a second consecutive state championship after defeating Fredonia senior Hunter Reddick 8-2 for the 120 pound regional title. Erie freshman Quentin Heady scored a one-point 6-5 decision over Whitewater-Remington sophomore Jacob Holle for third.

Whitewater-Remington senior Caleb Farmer is the 126 pound regional champion after he pinned Chaparral sophomore Jarrett Angle in the second period. Douglass junior Zacharias Lough used a first period pin of Cherokee-Southeast sophomore Gage Pierson to finish third.

At 132 Kingman freshman Colby Schreiner continued his excellent season with a second period pin of Fredonia senior Isaac Jennings in the championship match. Uniontown freshman Bryce Eck finished in third and Chaparral junior Brian Escobar in fourth.

Eureka sophomore Brennan Lowe scored the Tornadoes’ third individual regional title at 138 pounds where he scored a first period pin of Hillsboro sophomore Jordan Bachman. Douglass freshman Matthew Reynolds scored a one-point 7-6 decision over Whitewater-Remington senior Javier Martinez for third.

At 145 Fredonia junior Matt Weilert scored a third period pin in the championship match versus Jeb Nowak, a sophomore from Garden Plain. Whitewater-Remington sophomore Owen Thiel needed just :31 seconds to pin Hillsboro freshman Tristan Rathbone in the third place match.

Eureka sophomore Brent Escareno recorded his team’s fourth regional championship with a 14-3 major decision of Cheney senior Dylan Helten in the 152 pound title match. Whitewater-Remington senior Jeyton Saunders pinned Halstead sophomore Carter Hiebert to secure third place.

Eureka freshman Garrison Spoonts racked-up the Tornadoes’ fifth regional championship when Cheney junior Logan Doshier sustained an injury in the second period while Whitewater Remington’s Hagen Taylor was third and Garden Plains Tranden Daerr was fourth.

Douglass senior Kaden Pichler won the 170 pound title over Fredonia’s Buddy Claibourn when the sophomore sustained an injury in the second period. Cheney senior Clay Robinson needed just :52 seconds to pin Chaparral junior Eric Helms for third.

At 182 pounds Cherryvale senior Cade Addis pinned Marion sophomore Todd Palic in the championship while Hillsboro senior Lane Flaming scored a 19-2 third period technical fall over Garden Plain senior Matthew Quintero.

Douglass senior Zach Dressler continued his excellent high school career with a first period pin of Humboldt senior Dagen Goodner for the regional championship. Cherryvale junior Wyatt Gillman pinned Garden Plain junior John Nowak in the third place match.

Marion senior Charlie Nordquist won the 220 pound title with a first period fall over Garden Plain senior Ethan Swaffer while Fredonia senior Lorenzo Celani pinned Douglass junior Isaiah Wasson for third place.

At 285 and injury default delivered the championship to Humboldt senior David Watts while Fredonia senior Bryar Hebb finished as runner-up. Eureka senior Jonathan Turner took home third place with a 7-0 decision over Chaparral senior Jaden Eslinger.

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