By Lucky Kidd
The Buhler Crusaders had all three of their 4A boys wrestlers in the semifinals of the state tournament in Salina Friday. Two of them are going for state titles tonight.
Sammy Hershberger took a sudden death victory over Owen Suttles of Winfield at 132 pounds, while Cruz Hershberger won his gold medal shot with a 4-3 decision over Hagen Black of Parola. The third Crusader wrestler, Luke Kerns at 165, lost his semifinal on a 7-0 decision to Brody Gomez of Fort Scott.
Andale meanwhile brought six wrestlers to Salina, and of those four are going for titles tonight. The only one who didn’t make the semifinals, Tristen Cox at 144 pounds, lost his quarterfinal match but remains alive on the consolation side.
Luke Martin at 106 pounds and Luke Seiler at 113 won their spots in the championship matches by decisions, while Ethan Eck at 165 and Isaiah Wilson both won by fall, Seiler lost his semi-final match on a 9-7 decision to Briden Dempenwolf of Colby.
Smoky Valley’s Parker Gardner is also going for a state title, after taking a 5-4 decision at 215 pounds over Cole Rogers of Rose Hill.
Also in 4A boys at Tony’s Pizza Event Center,Jase Fitzmorris at 175 and Catch Delaney from McPherson at 215 remain alive on the consolation bracket, as is Nickerson’s Kristopher Monroe at 165.
At the 5A tournament in Park City, Hutchinson’s Cruz Cannon lost a 5-4 decision to Eric Vielhauer of Basehor-Linwood at 113 pounds and Max Harris lost a 4-3 decision at 157 to Avery Bartek of Spring Hill. The Salthawks also have in the consolation bracket Cooper Harris at 150, Jackson Anderson at 175 and Skylar Ray at 215. . Kade Smith at 165
Newton will have Lucas Kaufman at 126 pounds in the 5A title match after taking a first round technical fall over Jet Millison of Basehor Linwood, The Railers’ Noah Vela lost his semi-final at 106 pounds by fall, and Nate Barron lost at 150 by technical fall, Wade Stubbs at 120, Exavier Torrez at 120, major giles at 144, and Cason Horton at 190 are also in the consolation brackets.
Salina Central has three wrestlers in the championship matches tonight with Julian Gover at 138 and Cooper Reves getting their berths by fall and Abram Owings getting a technical fall at 165. Tyrus Young at 215 was pinned in his semi-final. The Mustangs also have Connor Fuller at 120, and Jase Adam at 150 on the back bracket.
In 3-2-1A at Hays for the boys, Wrestlers going for state titles this evening include Keegan Urbanek of Ellsworth at 190, Roman Tuttle at 120 and Brody Chambers at 285 for Southeast of Saline, and Jace Grizzle of Lyons at 150, Several others lost semi-finals matches, including Killan Vaughn of Southeast of Saline at 165, Jacob Moore of Haven on a tiebreaker at 126, Teron Kraft of Hoisington at 175, and Collin Schneider of Kingman who host to Urbanek in the 190 pound semifinal,.
Boys 3-2-1A wrestlers in the consolation matches this morning include Gabe Martinez and Cooper Gunn at 190 for Ellinwood; Will Donley at 138, Bo Kyler at 150 and Micah Galvan at 175 for Ellsworth; Garden Plain’s Nate Eck at 105 and Trevor Catlin at 120; Tanner Loughrie from Haven at 132; Cade Osburn at 157 and Brody Bell at 285 for Kingman, Justin Lee at 106 and Easton Benavidez at 120 for Lyons; Brian Nguyen at 215 for Marion; Daniel Kuder at 126 for Moundridge; Jayce Feril from St. John at 106 and Ryder Armstrong at 120 for Remington.
Three 4A girls’ wrestlers are in title matches tonight including Macey Parks of Buhler at 146, Halstead’s Kahlyn Davis at 130, and McPherson’s Ciara Rawson at 235. At 235, Nickerson’s Elizabeth Dick lost her semifinal match on sudden victory.
Buhler also had Lillie Ledford at 135 and Maliyah Jackson at 140 in the consolation bracket, as are Ava Armstrong at 170 for Halstead; and Smoky Valleys Jaycie Falcon at 110, Kenzlie Crain at 125, Gracie Brady at 135, and Kate Griffin at 190. McPherson has Alix Wilson at 100, Mercedes Ladwig at 105, Lexi Patterson at 10, Tylee Wilson at 115, Sydney Cummins at 140 and Riley Sanchez-Fogarty at 190 in the back bracket.
In 5A Newton has Brooklyn Treaster at 100 and Avery Hinojos at 115 in championship matches tonight, with Jaeann Jones at 130,Riah Bristol at 140 and Clair Harder at 190 falling in the semifinals and Ashley mcMullin at 120, Makaelyn Davis at 145 and Vanessa Edwards at 170 in the consolation brackets.
Coming up short in 3-2-1A girls’ semifinals were Annabelle Snell of Southeast of Saline at 140; Taylor Baxter at 100 and Kennedy Grizzle for Lyons at 110; and Sheyenne Pinkston of Remington at 125. Remington’s Camila Martinez moved to the finals at 110 on an injury default in her match.
Other 3-2-1A girls wrestlers on the back bracket include Stafford’s Trynity Pope at 170, Remington’s Zoey Yager at 155, Jacynn Boeken from Sterling at 105, Destanie Spear from Solomon at 155, Tristel Schroeder at 125 and Trista Rogersat 155 from Haven, and Sophie Homoklaat 145 and Riley Rodriguez at 190 for Ellsworth.
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