SALINA, Kan. – It was a great ending to the season at 4A State, as Buhler put four wrestlers on the podium during Saturday’s finals at Tony’s Pizza Event Center.
“What an incredible year,” Head Coach Travis Mullen said. “These kids earned everything they won.”
It ended up being a dream finish for junior Macey Parks, who earned her 100th career win and captured the title in the 145 lbs. weight class.
Parks outdueled Pratt’s Miranda Webb, one of the top wrestlers in the class, to a 4-1 decision in the quarterfinals. She then dominated her semifinal round match, winning by fall over Mackenzie Colgrove of Tonganoxie.
In the championship final, Parks was paired against Champman’s Taya Rowley. She earned all six of her points in period one and then held off Rowley to win by a 6-5 decision.
Lillie Ledford (135) and Maliyah Jackson (140) each won a match in the tournament before falling on the backside of the bracket.
On the boys’ side, Sammy Hershberger and Cruz Hershberger both wrestled their way to the championship match. Both finished second in their respective weight classes.
In the finals of the 132 lbs. weight class, Sammy was neck-and-neck with Abilene’s Noah Wuthnow before surrendering six points in period three. He lost by decision, 9-2.
At 144, Cruz lost his finals match by major decision, 16-4, to Johnny Leck of Rose Hill.
Luke Kerns advanced his way to the semifinals at 165, where he lost a 7-0 decision to Fort Scott’s Brody Gomez. Moving to the backside of the bracket, Kerns eventually rallied to win the fifth-place match by fall over Tyren Emberson of Rose Hill.
