By Brad Hallier
After a tough tournament week in Emporia, which saw the Hutchinson High girls basketball team finish sixth with two losses in three games, the Salthawks returned strong Tuesday by beating Newton 36-23 at the Salthawk Activity Center.
After a tight first half that saw Hutchinson lead just 18-14, the Salthawks dominated the second half by outscoring Newton 18-9.
Kaia Smith led Hutchinson with 16 points, including 11 in the first half. Azariah Dawes added 10 points.
The win improved the Salthawks to 7-5. They will return home Friday to take on Salina South.
Boys basketball – The Salthawks bounced back nicely from a Friday loss to Maize by slamming Newton 77-31.
The Salthawks were white-hot from 3-point land, as they sank a dozen. Jax Heneha led Hutchinson with 17 points.
The Salthawks improved to 10-3 and are tied for third in the Class 5A West substate standings. The top four teams are guaranteed homecourt advantage throughout a substate tournament, while the top eight host first-round games.
Bowling – Brody Ummel continued his strong senior season by winning a triangular with Maize South and Campus on Tuesday at Bowlero Northridge in Wichita.
Ummel bowled a 676 series, winning by 17. The Salthawks took second at the event. The girls team finished third.
Wrestling – The Salthawk boys and girls teams traveled to Garden City on Friday and Saturday for the annual Rocky Welton Invitational, one of the top tournaments in Kansas annually. The boys finished in 17th place out of 40 teams and sent two wrestlers to the finals, as both Kade Smith (157 pounds) and Camden Jensen (285) finished second.
Jensen pinned his first three opponents before winning his semifinal 11-6 over Garden City’s Brayden Hill. Jensen then fell to Garden City’s Sebastian Lopez 3-0.
Smith wasn’t challenged much in his first four matches, winning three times by pin and once by an 8-0 major decision.
The Salthawks remain ranked 10th in the KWCA rankings. Smith is ranked No. 1 in his weight class, while Jensen is No. 2. Also ranked are Cruz Cannon, third at 106; and Max Harris, fourth at 144.
The girls placed 11th of 24 teams. Maleigha Bornholdt finished fourth at 170 pounds, the highest Salthawk finisher.
Swimming – The Salthawks finished third at a home meet Friday at the Hutchinson YMCA.
The Salthawks won two events. Lakin Franz won the 50-yard freestyle, just ahead of teammate Trent McClelland. The 200 freestyle relay also came in first. The team included Zion Hayes, Jordan Graham, Trent McClelland and Logan Most
