SUPER SIX: Wildcats send six wrestlers to state

Louisburg senior Ryan Adams was one of six Lousiburg wrestlers to qualify for the Class 4A state tournament last Saturday during the regional tournament in Burlington. Adams finished third overall at 145 pounds.

 

BURLINGTON – Going into the blood round of the Class 4A regional wrestling tournament in Burlington, Louisburg had already qualified three for the state tournament and were looking for more.

The Wildcats put four wrestlers in the pivotal round and it wasn’t going to be easy.

Senior Thad Hendrix (106 pounds), freshman Cade Holtzen (113) and junior Austin Moore already had spots locked up as they wrestled in regional finals, but four more were trying to garner a state berth on the back side of the bracket.

With a spot in the state tournament on the line, Louisburg came away with three more qualifiers last Saturday as they will send six overall to the upcoming Class 4A state tournament this weekend in Salina. The top four in each weight class earned a state bid.

Senior Tucker Batten (138), senior Ryan Adams (145) and junior Blue Caplinger (160) punched their tickets with big wins in the consolation semifinals. It was also the first time Batten or Caplinger had qualified for state.

“Tucker and Blue probably gave me the biggest adrenaline rushes of the weekend,” Bovaird said. “After their matches, I had to get out and walk to try to bring down my heartrate. Very exciting matches, and I’m so proud to see them pull things together at the regional tournament to qualify for state. Nothing is ever guaranteed at this point in the season, and these guys really had to fight for their victories.”

When it was all said and done, Hendrix, Holtzen and Moore each finished second their weight class. Adams and Batten finished third, while Caplinger took fourth. Junior Gabe Bonham (132) also made it to the blood round, but lost a 6-0 decision to finish one win shy of a state berth.

“We had six wrestlers seeded in the top four in their weights, and all six of them ended up qualifying,” Bovaird said. “We had two or three others who were positioned in their brackets in spots where I thought they might have been able to upset some guys and make it in. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make that happen this year.”

Hendrix will make his third trip to the state tournament and will do so thanks to a pair of wins to start the tournament on Friday. He started off with a major decision over Anderson County’s Carter Sommer and then followed that up with a pin of Fort Scott’s Donald Harper to put him in the regionals finals.

The Louisburg senior went on to fall in his finals match by an 11-7 decision to Chanute’s Trent Clements, but Hendrix is excited for what lies ahead.

“My goal was to make it to state and see what I could do out there again,” Hendrix said. “It is just awesome making it for three years now and it is a big deal and was a whole lot of fun.

“Going into the tournament, I knew that I could do some work in my bracket. I knew what my potential was and it definitely worked out. I think I wrestled my best. I was gunning for first place, but things didn’t go my way there, but second is not bad either.”

Like Hendrix, Holtzen didn’t have much drama in his first three matches at 113 pounds. He opened with a 34 second pin of Iola’s Damiean Dryden and then went on to pin Labette County’s Joe Hobbs in the second period. Holtzen made the regional finals after he pinned Anderson County’s Ashton Miller in the second period.

Holtzen, the No. 6-ranked wrestler at 113 pounds, faced off with Paola’s Preston Martin – the defending state champion, and made things interesting before he eventually got pinned. Holtzen got the first takedown on Martin and then almost had back points before he eventually fell late in the first period.

“I wrestled pretty good,” Holtzen said. “I was able to get the takedown (on Martin) and was feeling pretty good, but he got an escape and then I almost got him again and thought I had him pinned for a second. But he is a good wrestler and he got me with a funk move and he is really tough on top.

“It is a pretty cool feeling to be able to go to state, especially as a freshman. I feel like I wrestled pretty good, but I could have wrestled better in a couple of my matches. I am just excited to be going to state though.”

Moore rolled through his part of the bracket at 195 pounds that eventually saw him advance to the regional finals. He recorded a pair of pins in 19 and 31 seconds, respectively, to start tournament action and then got a revenge win against Prairie View’s Chanz Gerleman after he pinned him in the first period to earn his second straight trip to state.

A familiar opponent awaited Moore in the finals in Columbus’ Ridge Smith. Moore had seen Smith the last three years at regionals, and each time ended with a loss.

The Louisburg junior made things interesting as he nearly tied the match with a takedown in the third period, but fell in a 5-2 decision.

“I wrestled him in the third place match last year and I knew he was going to be tough,” Moore said. “He is good on his feet and he got strong tie-ups on me. I thought I was going to be able to get that takedown at the end, but I wasn’t able to get it and he was just able to ride me out.

“It is a really good feeling to go to state though. It is always a goal of mine to qualify for state and hopefully I can medal. I feel like I wrestled better on my first day, but I am just looking forward to state.”

Batten, Adams and Caplinger each made the regional semifinals and had close losses in each of those matches.

Batten won a 7-3 decision over Paola’s Bre Douglas to start the day and advanced to the semis against Spring Hill’s Wyatt Dickie. Batten took a 5-0 lead, but came up short in a wild 13-10 decision.

That loss sent Batten to the consolation semifinals where he downed Anderson County’s Gavin Wolken by a 5-0 decision to qualify for state. He then advanced to the third place match where he defeated Douglas again, this time by an 8-0 decision.

As for Adams, the No. 5-ranked wrestler in Class 4A, he opened with a pair of pins to reach the semifinals where he squared off with Paola’s Brendan Ohlmeier. Adams was upset by Ohlmeier by a 4-2 decision that sent the Louisburg senior to the blood round.

Adams then won by a 13-5 major decision over Frontenac’s Jeremiah Mellnick to qualify for state for the third consecutive year, and pinned Chanute’s Dalton Misener in 43 seconds in the third-place match.

“Ryan had a little hiccup Friday night in the semis — his opponent was ready for him,” Bovaird said. “It was smart wrestling and coaching on Paola’s part. Ryan bounced back just fine and won two dominant matches Saturday to finish third.”

Caplinger had to wrestle through a difficult 160-pound bracket, that featured three-state ranked wrestlers, including himself.

He started off with a pin of Osawatomie’s Drake West and then won a close 2-1 decision over Chanute’s Brayden Dillow, before falling by a 7-4 decision to Burlington’s Brett Bober.

Caplinger bounced back to pin Anderson County’s Dalton Duke in the second period to earn a state bid. His third-place match was just as exciting, but lost in overtime to Columbus’ Kale Smith, who had a takedown in the extra period.

Louisburg also had to say goodbye to a pair of seniors in Kyle Allen (126) and Garrett Caldwell (182), who each wrestled their final matches with the Wildcats.

“It’s tough seeing that happen, especially since Garrett and Kyle have put in so much time,” Bovaird said. “Those two really dedicated quite a bit of off-season time to wrestling. I can’t thank them enough for the example they’ve set for the younger wrestlers. They volunteer their time at the youth wrestling practices, they’re always the first ones to step up when I need volunteers, and they won quite a few matches wearing the purple singlet.”

All six Louisburg wrestlers will try to get a state medal starting this Friday when they compete at the 4A tournament in Salina at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center. Action begins at 10 a.m., and continues into Saturday.

 

LOUISBURG REGIONAL RESULTS

 

TEAM SCORES

1. Chanute 198
2. Paola 145
3. Burlington 135
4. Anderson County 5
5. Spring Hill 122
6. Louisburg 117
7. Prairie View 5
8. Columbus 86
9. Ottawa 60
10. Frontenac 51
11. Labette County 27
12. Fort Scott 22
13. Osawatomie 21
14. Parsons 15
15. Iola 7
16. Baxter Springs 0

 

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

 

106

Thad Hendrix (30-15) placed 2nd and scored 19.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Thad Hendrix (Louisburg) 30-15 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Thad Hendrix (Louisburg) 30-15 won by major decision over Carter Sommer (Garnett-Anderson County) 9-28 (MD 11-0)
• Semifinal – Thad Hendrix (Louisburg) 30-15 won by fall over Donald Harper (Fort Scott) 8-9 (Fall 1:52)
• 1st Place Match – Trent Clements (Chanute) 19-13 won by decision over Thad Hendrix (Louisburg) 30-15 (Dec 11-7)

113

Cade Holtzen (42-3) placed 2nd and scored 22.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Cade Holtzen (Louisburg) 42-3 won by fall over Damiean Dryden (Iola) 1-8 (Fall 0:34)
• Quarterfinal – Cade Holtzen (Louisburg) 42-3 won by fall over Joe Hobbs (Altamont-Labette County) 14-20 (Fall 2:35)
• Semifinal – Cade Holtzen (Louisburg) 42-3 won by fall over Ashton Miller (Garnett-Anderson County) 25-17 (Fall 3:53)
• 1st Place Match – Preston Martin (Paola) 38-2 won by fall over Cade Holtzen (Louisburg) 42-3 (Fall 1:44)

126

Kyle Allen (24-18) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Kyle Allen (Louisburg) 24-18 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Kyle Montojo (Fort Scott) 23-16 won by fall over Kyle Allen (Louisburg) 24-18 (Fall 4:43)
• Cons. Round 2 – Kyle Allen (Louisburg) 24-18 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 3 – Jaden Malson (Parsons) 18-10 won by fall over Kyle Allen (Louisburg) 24-18 (Fall 2:20)

132

Gabe Bonham (18-15) place is unknown and scored 4.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Gabe Bonham (Louisburg) 18-15 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Logan McDonald (Chanute) 27-11 won by fall over Gabe Bonham (Louisburg) 18-15 (Fall 4:29)
• Cons. Round 2 – Gabe Bonham (Louisburg) 18-15 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 3 – Gabe Bonham (Louisburg) 18-15 won by fall over Will Wunderly (Fort Scott) 2-9 (Fall 2:32)
• Cons. Semi – Ethan Totty (Burlington) 33-6 won by decision over Gabe Bonham (Louisburg) 18-15 (Dec 6-0)

138

Tucker Batten (30-12) placed 3rd and scored 13.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Tucker Batten (Louisburg) 30-12 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Tucker Batten (Louisburg) 30-12 won by decision over Bre Douglas (Paola) 25-17 (Dec 7-3)
• Semifinal – Wyatt Dickie (Spring Hill) 27-12 won by decision over Tucker Batten (Louisburg) 30-12 (Dec 13-10)
• Cons. Semi – Tucker Batten (Louisburg) 30-12 won by decision over Gavin Wolken (Garnett-Anderson County) 24-21 (Dec 5-0)
• 3rd Place Match – Tucker Batten (Louisburg) 30-12 won by major decision over Bre Douglas (Paola) 25-17 (MD 8-0)

145

Ryan Adams (32-6) placed 3rd and scored 19.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Ryan Adams (Louisburg) 32-6 won by fall over Gunnar Laurance (Columbus) 4-20 (Fall 0:16)
• Quarterfinal – Ryan Adams (Louisburg) 32-6 won by fall over Casen Barker (Iola) 6-7 (Fall 2:26)
• Semifinal – Brendan Ohlmeier (Paola) 31-12 won by decision over Ryan Adams (Louisburg) 32-6 (Dec 4-2)
• Cons. Semi – Ryan Adams (Louisburg) 32-6 won by major decision over Jeremiah Mellnick (Frontenac) 14-14 (MD 13-5)
• 3rd Place Match – Ryan Adams (Louisburg) 32-6 won by fall over Dalton Misener (Chanute) 26-14 (Fall 0:43)

152

Jacob Briley (1-12) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Cole Denny (Garnett-Anderson County) 35-7 won by fall over Jacob Briley (Louisburg) 1-12 (Fall 1:26)
• Cons. Round 1 – Osmosis Jones (Columbus) 2-15 won by decision over Jacob Briley (Louisburg) 1-12 (Dec 9-2)

160

Blue Caplinger (33-12) placed 4th and scored 13.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Blue Caplinger (Louisburg) 33-12 won by fall over Drake West (Osawatomie) 3-19 (Fall 0:49)
• Quarterfinal – Blue Caplinger (Louisburg) 33-12 won by decision over Brayden Dillow (Chanute) 19-8 (Dec 2-1)
• Semifinal – Brett Bober (Burlington) 38-5 won by decision over Blue Caplinger (Louisburg) 33-12 (Dec 7-4)
• Cons. Semi – Blue Caplinger (Louisburg) 33-12 won by fall over Dalton Duke (Garnett-Anderson County) 27-10 (Fall 2:47)
• 3rd Place Match – Kale Smith (Columbus) 27-8 won in sudden victory – 1 over Blue Caplinger (Louisburg) 33-12 (SV-1 3-1)

170

Ben Wiedenmann (9-20) place is unknown and scored 2.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Tucker Mace (Ottawa) 23-22 won by decision over Ben Wiedenmann (Louisburg) 9-20 (Dec 6-0)
• Cons. Round 1 – Ben Wiedenmann (Louisburg) 9-20 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 2 – Ben Wiedenmann (Louisburg) 9-20 won by decision over Dawson Mast (Burlington) 12-14 (Dec 9-4)
• Cons. Round 3 – Hunter Boone (LaCygne-Prairie View) 30-13 won by fall over Ben Wiedenmann (Louisburg) 9-20 (Fall 1:32)

182

Garrett Caldwell (16-25) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Mikey Stribling (Paola) 30-12 won by fall over Garrett Caldwell (Louisburg) 16-25 (Fall 1:22)
• Cons. Round 1 – Garrett Caldwell (Louisburg) 16-25 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 2 – Braden Robinson (Chanute) 15-15 won by fall over Garrett Caldwell (Louisburg) 16-25 (Fall 2:27)

195

Austin Moore (41-5) placed 2nd and scored 22.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Austin Moore (Louisburg) 41-5 won by fall over Dean Diviney (Spring Hill) 4-12 (Fall 0:19)
• Quarterfinal – Austin Moore (Louisburg) 41-5 won by fall over Isaiah Levy (Garnett-Anderson County) 19-10 (Fall 0:31)
• Semifinal – Austin Moore (Louisburg) 41-5 won by fall over Chanz Gerleman (LaCygne-Prairie View) 16-2 (Fall 1:54)
• 1st Place Match – Ridge Smith (Columbus) 32-3 won by decision over Austin Moore (Louisburg) 41-5 (Dec 5-2)

220

James Nelson (2-11) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – James Nelson (Louisburg) 2-11 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Dallas Higginbotham (Garnett-Anderson County) 36-3 won by fall over James Nelson (Louisburg) 2-11 (Fall 0:32)
• Cons. Round 2 – James Nelson (Louisburg) 2-11 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 3 – Antonio Espinosa (Ottawa) 17-22 won by fall over James Nelson (Louisburg) 2-11 (Fall 1:52)

285

Hunter Day (17-24) place is unknown and scored 4.00 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Wyaitt Cox-Halliburton (LaCygne-Prairie View) 32-13 won by fall over Hunter Day (Louisburg) 17-24 (Fall 2:34)
• Cons. Round 1 – Hunter Day (Louisburg) 17-24 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 2 – Hunter Day (Louisburg) 17-24 won by fall over Austin Woodard (Spring Hill) 12-21 (Fall 2:11)
• Cons. Round 3 – Todd Fritch (Chanute) 20-14 won by fall over Hunter Day (Louisburg) 17-24 (Fall 0:44)

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