Wildcats find individual success in Tonganoxie

Louisburg sophomore Brandon Doles works for some back points against Frontenac’s Storm Niegsch on Saturday in Tongnaoxie. Doles upset Niegsch, the state’s No. 5-ranked wrestler, in a 5-3 decision.

TONGANOXIE – The Louisburg wrestling team had one final meet before the end of 2019, and before it even started, the Wildcats were faced with several challenges.

Maybe the biggest was the fact the Wildcats had three open weight classes during the Randy Starcher Memorial Dual Tournament. That means, in some cases, the Wildcats would have to give up 18 points in every dual.

That was one of the reasons the Wildcats finished the Dec. 21 tournament with an 0-5 record at Tonganoxie High School.

Louisburg opened with a 57-21 loss to eventual champion Shawnee Heights. The Wildcats also came up short to Coffeyville-Field Kindley (48-28), Frontenac (48-33), Eudora (45-29) and Independence (45-24).

As tough as the team results were, the Wildcats still had several individuals who fared well in their final competition of the year.

Junior Ryan Owens (120 pounds) and Cade Holtzen (132) were each perfect with a 5-0 record on the day.

Owens picked up a big victory in his first match of the tournament as he pinned Shawnee Heights’ Decker Stickelman, the No. 6-ranked wrestler in Class 5A, in just 28 seconds. Owens later went on to record two more pins and had another victory by major decision.

Holtzen also had a strong performance as he finished the day with three pins, but also recorded two close decisions. Holtzen outlasted Eudora’s Will Schreiner by a 3-1 decision and then held on for a 2-1 victory over Independence’s Zak Al-Bureni.

Freshman Kaven Bartlett (113) and junior Ben Wiedenmann (170) each left Tonganoxie with only one loss.

Wiedenmann, who wrestled through a knee injury, recorded two pins and also won by technical fall and major decision. As for Bartlett, he finished with two pins and a 20-7 major decision.

Sophomore Brandon Doles (160) finished his day with a 3-2 record, but one of those wins were a big one. Doles upset Frontenac’s Storm Niegsch, who is ranked No. 5 in Class 4A, in a 5-3 decision. He also recorded a pair of major decisions.

Sophomore A.J. Reed (182) had a 2-3 record, while Jarrett Hoyle (138), Johnathan Keegan-Childs (195) and Cole Ewalt (220, 285) each had one win.

Louisburg will take a break from the dual competitions and will host the Louisburg Wildcat Classic on Jan. 11 in its first action back from the holiday break.

Wildcats fall to Olathe West

On Dec. 18, the Louisburg wrestling team traveled for a quick dual with Olathe West and the Wildcats left with a 54-29 loss to the Owls.

Ryan Owens (120 pounds), Cade Holtzen (132) and Xander Chennault (170) each won by pin, while Brandon Doles (160) picked up a victory by technical fall. Kaven Bartlett (113) won by forfeit.

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