SALINA, Kan. – Smoky Valley junior Parker Gardner secured a state championship in the 215# weight class at the 4A State Tournament in Salina this weekend. Gardner opened the tournament with a win over Daniel Tinoco of Hoisington by fall in 2:27, then won his quarterfinal match by fall in 3:42 over Parker Schwarz from Prairie View. He concluded Friday’s matches with a 6-2 decision over Cole Rogers of Rose Hill to move to the championship match on Saturday. Facing Louisburg’s Ashton Moore, Gardner dominated a 13-5 major decision to wrap up a 33-2 campaign with a state title.
Three other Vikings boys wrestlers competed at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center. At 120#, senior Deonte Crain went 1-2, finishing 28-13 for the season and at 126#, freshman Rette Krehbiel also went 1-2 and finished his season 27-12. Sophomore Christian Erickson lost both of his matches on Friday, finishing 30-12 at 157#.
Full 4A Boys State Wrestling Results
The Viking girls also had four participants at the 4A State Tournament in Salina. They brought home one medal on the girls side as senior Kenzlie Crain battled through the back side of the bracket for fourth place. After winning her opening match by fall over Riley Mohler of Silver Lake, Crain suffered a 2-0 loss to Gracelyn Hembree of Pratt in the quarterfinals of the 125# bracket. Crain beat Jeymi Rosales of Ulysses and Emma Whittley of Labette County by fall to move into the medal rounds. She defeated Pyper Lough from Frontenac by a 7-3 decision to move to the third place match, falling to Hembree again, this time by fall. With a 4-2 weekend, Crain finished 36-5 on the season for Smoky Valley.
Also for the Viking girls, sophomore Kate Griffin went 2-2 for the weekend, finishing 27-3 on the season at 190#. At 110#, freshman Jaycie Falcon won her first match but lost the next two, going 1-2 for the tournament and 18-12 for the season. Freshman Gracie Brady also won her first match but lost the final two, going 31-14 on the year at 135#.
Full 4A Girls State Wrestling Results
