-
Final
LOU
TONG46
32 -
Final
BUR
LOU41
52 -
Final
LOU
AC36
29 -
Final
BAL
LOU56
45 -
Final 2OT
FRON
LOU63
64 -
Final
EUD
LOU41
34 -
Final
LOU
OTT44
51 -
Final
SH
LOU48
42 -
Final
LOU
BAL31
66 -
Jan 17-20
PLEA
INV
-
Jan 27, 730 pm
LOU
BONSP
-
Jan 31, 730 pm
LOU
PAO
-
Feb 3, 730 pm
OTT
LOU
-
Feb 7, 730 pm
TONG
LOU
-
Feb 10, 730 pm
LOU
SH
-
Feb 14, 730 pm
LOU
EUD
-
Feb 21, 730 pm
PAO
LOU
-
Feb 23, 730 pm
LOU
HAR
-
Final
LOU
TONG55
11 -
Final
BUR
LOU19
56 -
Final
LOU
AC38
31 -
Final
BAL
LOU44
72 -
Final
FRON
LOU39
42 -
Final
EUD
LOU35
38 -
Final
LOU
OTT31
47 -
Final
SH
LOU47
39 -
Final
LOU
BAL44
27 -
Jan 16-21
TONG
INV
-
Jan 27, 6 pm
LOU
BONSP
-
Jan 31, 6 pm
LOU
PAO
-
Feb 3, 6 pm
OTT
LOU
-
Feb 7, 6 pm
TONG
LOU
-
Feb 10, 6 pm
LOU
SH
-
Feb 14, 6 pm
LOU
EUD
-
Feb 21, 6 pm
PAO
LOU
-
Feb 23, 5 pm
LOU
HAR
-
Final
PIP
LOU12
9 -
Final
PIP
LOU9
2 -
Final
BAL
LOU8
3 -
Final
BAL
LOU14
9 -
Final
SH
LOU13
1 -
Final
SH
LOU3
6 -
Final
WEL
LOU4
3 -
Final
WEL
LOU4
19 -
Final
LOU
BONSP23
5 -
Final
LOU
BONSP2
15 -
Final
LOU
TONG4
5 -
Final
LOU
OTT4
6 -
Final
LOU
OTT14
6 -
Final
LOU
OSA19
7 -
Final
LOU
OSA16
2 -
Final
LOU
AC4
7 -
Final
LOU
AC5
6 -
Final
EUD
LOU3
5 -
Final
LOU
PAO0
10 -
Final
LOU
PAO6
12
-
Final
PIP
LOU4
7 -
Final
PIP
LOU17
1 -
Final
BAL
LOU2
5 -
Final
BAL
LOU3
12 -
Final
SH
LOU13
1 -
Final
SH
LOU16
4 -
Final
WEL
LOU19
13 -
Final
WEL
LOU18
7 -
Final
LOU
BONSP6
7 -
Final
LOU
BONSP1
11 -
Final
LOU
TONG1
11 -
Final
LOU
OTT3
7 -
Final
LOU
OTT3
14 -
Final
LOU
OSA11
5 -
Final
LOU
OSA12
2 -
Final
LOU
AC13
1 -
Final
LOU
AC12
7 -
Final
EUD
LOU13
0 -
Final
LOU
PAO7
4 -
Final
LOU
PAO5
9
-
Final
PAO
LOU3
1 -
Final
LOU
DES1
2 -
Final
LOU
OW0
2 -
Final
PIP
LOU1
2 -
Final
BUR
LOU0
2 -
Final
LOU
BONSP3
1 -
Final
LOU
LAN INV0
4 -
Final
LOU
SH0
3 -
Final
OTT
LOU3
2 -
Final
LOU
GIR2
0 -
Final
LOU
FS2
1 -
Final
LOU
LOU INV2nd
Pl -
Final
LOU
BAL1
3 -
Final
TONG
LOU1
3 -
Final
LOU
OTT INV2
3 -
Final
LOU
EUD2
3 -
Final
LOU
CIR INV2nd
Pl -
Final
LOU
WAM2
0 -
Final
LOU
OLN2
0
Wildcat wrestling ready to build on last season’s historic finish
- Updated: December 1, 2022

Louisburg seniors Kaven Bartlett (pictured) and Elijah Eslinger return to lead the Wildcat wrestling team this season after both earned state medals a year ago.
The Louisburg wrestling team had an historic finish to its season last year.
For the first time in school history, the Wildcats finished with three state medalists. The good news for Louisburg, two of them are back for another run at a state title.
Seniors Kaven Bartlett (138 pounds) and Elijah Eslinger (285) return to lead the Wildcats for the 2022-23 season. The two seniors are a part of a 10-member senior class on a team that currently has 40 wrestlers.
Throw in the fact that the wrestlers have a new practice room to work out in, and they are excited for what this season has in store.
“Practices are great,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “We are loving the new wrestling room, and the guys have been working their tails off already. We started off with 45 kids and are down to 40 so far, but I love the wrestlers’ attitudes.”
Bartlett and Eslinger both finished sixth in the state after both made the state semifinals. Eslinger is currently ranked No. 5 in the preseason 4A rankings, while Bartlett is No. 6.
“Both guys have put in a lot of time in the offseason,” Bovaird said. “Kaven and Elijah both had strong finishes to their junior seasons, and the great thing is that they’ve been motivated to improve all throughout the offseason. They both want to wrestle in college and I love the examples they’re setting for the program.”
The Wildcats also return another state qualifier to lead the group in Ashton Moore. The Louisburg sophomore made it to the state tournament as a freshman, but will have to wait a little longer to get on the mat.
Moore is currently out with an injury he sustained during the football season, but Bovaird hopes to have him back after the new year.
“Sitting out is eating away at Ashton, you can tell,” Bovaird said. “Once he gets the all-clear to get back on the mat, he’s going to be a voracious competitor. He’ll need to overcome the obstacle of lost mat time, but with that kid’s work ethic and competitive nature, combined with his strength and athleticism, it’ll be a great season for him.”
Louisburg will have a mix of veterans and newcomers as it begins its journey for the 22-23 season.
Junior J’lee Collins (126 pounds), sophomore Mika McKitrick (132), senior Jesse Murphy (150), sophomore Jay McCaskill (157), sophomore Brayden Yoder (190), senior Trace Eslinger (190/215) and senior Kyle Oram (215) return with at least some varsity experience from a year ago.
The Wildcats will also lean on newcomers Will Showalter (106), freshman Hayden Heffernon (113), freshman Keegan Rogers (120), sophomore Logan Henry (126), senior Aidan Robinson (144), freshman Vance Hahn (165) and senior Brecon Klugman (175) as they will compete for time on the varsity level.
“We’ll have some new faces on the mat this season, along with some veterans,” Bovaird said. “Will Showalter is a strong athlete and he’s finally filling his weight at 106. J’Lee Collins, Mika McKitrick and Logan Henry are going to be battling for spots at 126-132 early on. Jesse Murphy will be a solid guy at 144 or 150. A couple of sophomores in the higher weights are also going to make some waves in Jay McCaskill at 157 and Brayden Yoder at 190. Also, I’ve got two seniors at 215 with Trace Eslinger and Kyle Oram.”
The Wildcats have high expectations for themselves this season, but Bovaird knows it is all about having the right frame of mind.
“One of our biggest focuses this year will be on our mindset,” Bovaird said. “The season motto is ‘It’s a Pscyhological Thing,’ from the legendary Dan Gable. Gable once said, ‘It’s a psychological thing. They fear it, but they know they can do it.’ This season, we’ve got lots of experienced kids, but we want to be sure that we peak in February when we’re supposed to peak, and we’re going to work on overcoming all the pscyhological obstacles we possibly can.
Louisburg opens its season this Friday as it travels to the Fort Scott Dual Tournament. Matches are set to begin at 3 p.m.