The Colby Eagles know what second place tastes like. They got a nice dish of it last year. With that fresh in their minds, they wanted to finish one spot higher this year, but had to settle for leftovers instead.
The Holton Wildcats won the 4A State Tournament with a score of 104.5. They were followed by Colby and Andale.
"We came here to win first," Eagle coach Matt Sims said. "It's a tough thing to do, but, you know, Holton's a great team, Andale's a great team, Bonner's a great team, the kids wrestled hard. We're disappointed, but in the end second place won't seem so bad, but we'd like to have first."
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Colby's Dustin Reed became a three-time state champion and achieved a perfect season when he beat El Dorado's Bryce Morgan in a 7-3 decision in the 126 weight class. Reed said it wasn't an easy ride to the top, though.
"I had to go out and work hard every match and I did my best," Reed said. "Being a three timer is amazing, you know."
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The Eagles also had a second place finish in the 170 weight class with junior Andrew Taylor, who lost to Smoky Valley senior Trevor Whittaker.
This was Whittaker's second year at state, but he made the most of it. During the match, the Vikings coach reminded the senior to use his own style.
"I just wrestle my own match, keep my own pace," Whittaker said. "Just make kids work at what I do best instead of going to their game.
Andale was looking for it's third straight state title, but the team had to settle for placing three straight years in a row. They did this with only five wrestlers competing.
"We are really excited for them," head coach Brad Lies said. "We had our seniors, they really stepped up huge for us."
They were lead by senior Levi Eck who won the 182 match against Goodland's Colton Cooper with a pin.
"It feels good," Eck said. "It would have felt even better with the team in there, but you can't always get what you want."
Andale's Kyle Armstrong had a second place finish. He lost to the undefeated Aaron Puckett of Bonner Springs in an 8-0 major decision in the 160 weight class.
Pratt Junior Caeser Regaldo won the 113 weight class title. He beat El Dorado's Reno Hughey who is a freshman. Regaldo qualified his freshman year and placed third his sophomore year.
"It was my goal this year to get a state championship," Regaldo said. "I worked hard for it."
El Dorado brought two Hughey's along. The older one, Austin, took first in the 145 weight class by a 9-1 major decision. This was after he was the runner up in the 138 weight class last year. Having two state wrestlers in the family was exciting.
"We work a lot together and help each other out," Austin said.
Concordia Junior Skyler Hittle won the 195 crown by a 7-3 decision.
"It's the greatest feeling there is," Hittle says. "To know all of your hard work's paid off and you can call yourself the best.'
Hittle also said his next goal would be to go undefeated next year.
Sophomore Jake Goldstein of Augusta had a perfect season and ended it with a 2-0 decision over Bonner Springs junior Josiah Seaton in the 106 weight class.
