ABILENE, Kan. – The Buhler boys took their turn at regional wrestling on Saturday in Abilene. Three Crusaders finished on the podium and qualified for next weekend’s 4A State Tournament at Tony’s Pizza Event Center in Salina.
In the 132 weight class, Sammy Hersberger breezed through to the championship match, including a major decision over Colby’s Nathan Schroeder in the semifinals. In the finals, Hershberger fell (4-2) in a closely contested match to Noah Wuthnow of Abilene.
At 144, Cruz Hershberger improved his season record to 33-7, going 4-0 in the tournament. He met up with Concordia’s Drew Sterrett in the championship match and won by fall in the fifth minute.
Luke Kerns matched Hershberger’s first-place finish with one of his own at 165. Kerns beat top seed Dawsen DeGood of Colby by fall in the semifinals. He then won by technical fall over Scott City’s Blaze Gossman in the championship match.
Buhler will send a total of six wrestlers to State with first round matches beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, February 22.
STATE QUALIFIERS
Girls
135 – Lillie Ledford (31-6)
140 – Maliyah Jackson (17-20)
145 – Macey Parks (34-6)
Boys
132 – Sammy Hershberger (31-7)
144 – Cruz Hershberger (33-3)
165 – Luke Kerns (41-7)
