Colby wrestling dominates at Chapman Regional

The Colby High School wrestling team took care of the business it had set up for itself Saturday in the final day of the Class 4A Chapman Regional.

Friday night the Eagles went to sleep knowing they already were guaranteed of having six wrestlers qualify for the 2012 Class 4A state tournament. The Eagles also had six wrestlers alive on the consolation portion of the brackets and Colby controlled a 30-point lead in the team standings.

Saturday the Eagles took care of the team title of the Chapman Regional and en route earned six more berths in next weekend’s state tournament, which will take place Friday and Saturday at Salina’s Bicentennial Center.

In all, Colby scored 171 team points in Chapman’s regional, and had 10 individual wrestlers qualify for the state tournament. McPherson finished in second, team wise, with 139 points while Smoky Valley finished third with 134, Concordia finished fourth with 134 and Abilene placed fifth with 117.5 points.

McPherson, Concordia and Smoky Valley qualifed seven wrestlers each, while Abilene and Holton qualified six wrestlers each, Clay Center qualified four, Royal Valley and Santa Fe Trail qualified three each while Wamego, Topeka Hayden and Larned qualified one each.

"I think it was a good regional," Colby coach Matt Sims said. "You look at the top teams, McPherson is taking seven, Smoky is taking seven, Concordia, seven, Abilene six. I mean there is a lot of good teams, a lot of parity. It was a tough regional."

Colby earned three individual champions as Dustin Reed (120), Konnor Kriss (138) and Beau Brown (170) won their respective divisions. Concordia, Abilene and Clay Center earned two individual champions each.

Abilene earned titles from Zane Baugh (106) and Kane Kelly (182) while Concordia picked up titles from Taelor Mendenhall (126) and Jordan Brown (220). Clay Center’s titles came from Rusty Yarrow (152) and Gavin Grater (160).

"We did a nice job," Sims said. "We brought 12 guys here and have 10 going to state. I was a little bit disappointed about the consolation semifinal round, we went 0-4 there, but it was good getting there. We are on the bracket, we just have to get after it next weekend."

Sims said that have 10 state entrants is a decent start for the Eagles, who are currently the No. 4 ranked Class 4A team according to the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, but Sims still believes there is still more work to be done in Salina.

"I think it is a good start but now we just have to win matches down there," Sims said. "I think it gives a little confidence for next weekend but we still know that we have to go to work."