The state wrestling championship field starts to take shape as bids were handed out Saturday in Russell for next week's 321A tournament in Hays.
There was plenty of excitement as the top four wrestlers in each class advanced to next weeks tourney. Hoisington lead the charge with none wrestlers moving on. They took the team title over second place Hoisington by seven and a half points.
"I'm awefuly proud, we get none wrestlers to state," said Hoisington head coach Daniel Schmidt. "Great tournament. I'm just really excited to have had the opportunity to do what we were able to do this weekend.
Schmidt was named coach of the meet by his peers.
Here's a look at the results and qualifiers from the Russell Regional.
106 State qualifiers
Junior Brady Lowell came into the tournament as the top seed at 106, and he pretty much cruised to the title, winning ever match but the semi-finals by fall. In the championship, Lowell got the win by fall in the second period over Josh Goepfart of Marysville. In the third place match, Brody Lowell got a 5-4 decision over Ty Nienke.
1. Brady Lowell- Republic Co.
2. Josh Goepfart- Marysville
3. Brody Frieling- Smith Center
4. Ty Nienke Ellsworth
113 State qualifiers
He may be just a sophomore, byt Marshall Schottler came into the tournament at 27-2, the top seed. He won his first two matches by fall, but he got watch was probably the match of the day from Clint Rodgers. Schottler had a 6-4 lead with 15 seconds left, when Rodgers tied it up. As time clicked away in the match Schottler anwered to squeak out the 8-6 victory. In the third place match Ethan Wessling got the second period pin of Alex Baldwin.
1. Marshall Schottler- Lyons
2. Clint Rogers- Smith Center
3. Ethan Wessling- Beloit
4. Alex Baldwin- Russell
120 State qualifiers
Sophomore Brandan Ball came into the tournament with by far the best record at 120 lbs 30-2. He struggled a little in his opening round match, but after that, he cruised to the regional title. He knocked of Brendan Arnold by fall in the second period. In the third place match Alex Conn got the 4-2 win over Jim Weller.
1. Brandon Ball- Hoisington
2. Brendan Arnold- Lyons
3. Alex Conn- Beloit
4. Jim Weller- Southeast of Saline
126 State qualifiers
Junior Cory Knight cruised to the title match, winning both bouts by fall. He got a battle in the finals from Sawyer Havenstein, the only other wrestler at 126 that came into the tournament with more than 20 wins. It was a close battle but Knight got the 15-9 victory. In the third place bout, Ryan Krause beat Luke Eckert 10-4.
1. Cory Knight- Southeast of Saline
2. Sawyer Havenstein-Rieley Co.
3. Ryan Krause- Russell
4. Luke Eckert- Minneapolis
132 State qualifiers
Sophomore Tyler Watts was never really challenged in his run to a regional title, winning every match by fall, including a first period victory over Isaac Kuder in the title match. In the third place match up, Cody Boatman got the 7-5 decision over Tyler Rockwell.
1. Tyler Watts- Beloit
2. Isaac Kuder- Minneapolis
3. Cody Boatman- Riely Co.
4. Tyler Rockwell- Marysville
138 State qualifiers
Perhaps the first upset came at 138. Other wrestlers came into the tournament with better records than Junior James Landoll, but he met all challengers. In the championship match be he took down Rex Trahan with by third period fall. In the third place battle, Zach Sanders also won by fall in the second period over Zach Fischer.
1. James Landoll- Maryville
2. Rex Trahan- Minneapolis
3. Zach Sanders- Hoisington
4. Zach Fisher- Smith Center
145 State qualifiers
Eddie Creek became the first senior to take a regional title, when he held of Chance Demel for a 8-7 win by decision. In the third place match Bowe Behymer also squeaked out the win 5-4 over Regis Weiss. Creek was also named wrestler of the meet.
1. Eddie Creek- Marysville
2. Chance Demel- Hoisington
3. Bowe Behymer- Beloit
4. Regis Weiss- Russell
152 State qualifiers
With just three losses on the season Senior Kregg Clarke probably came into the tournament as the favorite at 152 and he did not disappoint. He knocked of Clay Pickel in the finals 12-5. In the third place match, it was a thriller, with Sean Ussery coming out on the winning end of a 9-8 decision over Matt Manka.
1. Kregg Clarke- Lyons
2. Clay Pickel- Smith Center
3. Sean Ussrey- Lincoln
4. Matt Manka- Hoisington
160 State qualifiers
Sophomore Nick Wuthnow showed why he had just one loss on the season, winning his first three matches by fall. He got a little bit more of a challenge in the finals from Jesse Nelson, but Wuthnow still got the relatively easy 14-3 decision. In the third place match Garrett Lott picked up the 10-3 decision over Dylan Walker.
1. Nick Wuthnow- Smith Center
2. Jesse Nelsen- Marysville
3. Garrett Lott- Minneapolis
4. Dylan Walker- Russell
170 State qualifiers
There were several wrestlers at 170 that had more than 20 wins, so this may have been the most wide open of the weight classes. But on this day experience won out. Junior Clay Cosand won by an 8-2 decision over freshman Josh Brazzle. In the third place match Louis Fraizer won 10-4 over Hagen Hanzlick.
1. Clay Cosand- Rock Hill
2. Josh Brazzle- Riley Co.
3. Louis Fraizer- Smith Center
4. Hagen Hanzlick- Hoisington
182 State qualifiers
Brock Long held serve at 182. The senior came into the meet with a 24-1 record. He got a challenge from Eric Hellrud, who also came into the meet with just one loss. Tough bout, but it was Long getting the 4-2 decision. In the third place match Kyler Atwood got the win by fall in the first period over JeVonte Dyke.
1. Brock Long- Southeast of Saline
2. Eric Hellerud- Hoisington
3. Kyler Atwood- Smith Center
4. JeVonte Dyke- Republic Co
195 State qualifiers
For most of the day, Smith Center and Hoisington were the two teams to beat. But the only time the met in the title match was at 195. Senior Josh McDowell pretty much controlled the match, getting the 11-4 decision. In the third place match, it was Jale Brazzle getting the easy 10-1 decision.
1. Josh McDowell- Smith Center
2. Cayton Janosek- Hoisington
3. Jake Brazzle- Riley Co.
4. Eric Hersberger- Stafford
220 State qualifiers
The only over time match of the day came at 220 and it was a thriller. Senior Jaishawn Bahia got the takedown 30 seconds in the extra period to get the 6-4 decision over Cody Batt. Dillon Coomes won by first period fall over DJ Serviss to take third.
1. Jaishawn Bahia- Riley Co.
2. DJ Serviss- Fairfield
3. Dillon Cooms- Thunder Ridge
4. DJ Serviss- Farfield
285 State qualifiers
Senior Jacob English may have signed a college scholarship to play football at Wyoming, but he showed he's a pretty good wrestler as well. He picked up the win by first period fall over Kyler Besher. In the third place match Brady Moore won 5-3 over Fritz Berger.
1. Jacob English- Beloit
2. Kyler Besher- Southeast of Saline
3. Brady Moore- Hoisington
4. Fritz Burger- Sylvan Lucas
_______FINAL Team Standings
Hoisington 166.5
Smith Center 159
Marysville 137.5
Beliot 110
Southeast of Saline 93.5
Minneapolis 88.5
Lyons 86.5
Russell 78.5
Riley Co. 63.5
Republic Co.66
Lincoln 39
Stafford 29
Sacred Heart 27
Rock Hills 26
Thunder Ridge 25.5
Ellsworth 22
Benninton 15.5
Langdon-Fairfield 15
Sylvan-Lucas 14
St. John's Military 3
Osborne 0
