By Lucky Kidd
The Golden Belt area has two boys and two girls wrestling for state titles tonight.
Great Bend’s Jace Schartz took a 17-2 second period technical fall over Andover’s Dresden Beard to earn a spot in the 165 pound class of the 5A boys state tournament in Park City. Joining Schartz in gold medal matches tonight are Jace Grizzle of Lyons who also had a technical fall win at 150 pounds over Seth Welch of Erie in the 3-2-1A tournament in Hays.
Hoisington has two girl’s wrestlers in 3-2-1A title matches tonight, as Neveaeh Graves got a first round fall over Brenah Cannon of Council Grove at 170 pounds and Haylee Hollinde at 235 took a 5-0 decision over Drayley Knisley of Douglass
At the 4A girl’s tournament in Salina, Larned’s Cara Hiebert was pinned in the second round by Kahlyn Davis of Halstead. The other four Indian girl’s qualifiers – Teagan Walker at 100, Miranda Nolde at 105, Mia Munden at 140, and Paisley Weisbrod at 190 – will also be wrestling in the consolation brackets today. Larned’s sole boy’s qualifier, Konnor Mills at 106 pounds, lost his opening match but won his first consolation round match last night to move on to today.
On the 3-2-1A boys side at Gross Coliseum, Ellinwood has Gabe Martinez at 165 and Cooper Gunn at 190 wrestling on the back side of the bracket. Hoisington’s Teron Kraft missed out on a championship appearance after losing his semifinal at 175 pounds on a tiebreaker to Easton Nickelson of Hoxie.
Lyons also has Justin Lee at 106 and Easton Benevidez at 120 in the consolation rounds, along with Jace Feril from St. John at 106.
In Park City, Five of Great Bend’s six other qualifiers won first round matches but lost their quarterfinals, including Cal Schartz at 113, Hayden Liles at 132, Triston Tomlinson at 138, Hayden Kelly at 150 and Trenton Keron at 215. Josue Bustamonte lost both of his Friday matches.
The Consolation wrestle-backs will begin this morning at 9, with competition continuing through the day leading up to the championship matches tonight.
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