Tickets Punched: Goddard holds off Ark City for regional championship
Lions continue pursuit of fifth straight 5A state title
Goddard senior Troy Fisher used two pins and an 11-3 major decision to earn another regional championship. (Photo by Wendy Morrow)
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.
5A West, Arkansas City Regional
Top-ranked Godard flexed its muscles and held off second-ranked Ark City and third-ranked Maize for a regional championship.
Goddard, seeking its fifth straight state championship, will send 12 to state. Nine of Goddard’s 12 state-qualifiers made the finals, while six Lions won regional championships.
The top three wrestlers in 5A were in action at 120, and it was third-ranked Lucas Glover of Goddard who walked away with the gold. Glover knocked off top-ranked Kael Pappan in the semifinals by a 6-2 decision before defeating second-ranked Grant Treaster, 9-3, in the finals.
At 132, fans received the matchup they were hoping for with top-ranked Aidan Campbell of Maize outlasting second-ranked Gabe Buckbee of Ark City by a 2-1 decision. It would not be a surprise to see a rematch with a state championship on the line.
At 160, top-ranked Trevor Dopps delivered second-ranked Scott Radke of McPherson his second loss of the season in an ultimate tiebreaker, 2-1, in the finals.
Top-ranked Kyle Haas of Maize will take a 44-1 record into state at 182 after knocking off second-ranked Cayden Atkins of Goddard in the finals by a 10-3 decision.
Despite taking second, Ark City led all teams with 13 regional qualifiers. Top-ranked wrestlers Jevin Foust (106) and Montez Robinson (152) each led Ark City with regional championships.
Goddard won the regional by over 30 points with 255.5 team points. Ark City scored 220 points, while Maize was a distant third with 163.5 points.
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