-
Final
LOU
BAL3
1 -
Final
OW
LOU2
0 -
Final
DES
LOU2
1 -
Final
LOU
WI TRIN0
2 -
Final
LOU
PIP0
2 -
Final
OTT
LOU0
3 -
Final
LOU
FRON INV1st
PL -
Final
BONSP
LOU0
3 -
Sep 24, 630 p
EUD
LOU
-
Sep 26, 5 pm
LOU
FS
-
Sep 26, 5 pm
LOU
GIR
-
Sep 28, 8 am
LOU
LOU INV
-
Oct 1, 630 p
LOU
PAO
-
Oct 3, 630 p
SH
LOU
-
Oct 5, 9 am
LOU
OTT INV
-
Oct 8, 630 p
LOU
TONG
-
Oct 12, 9 am
LOU
ATCH INV
-
Oct 17, 5 pm
LOU
OTT
-
Oct 17, 5 pm
LOU
WAM
-
Final
LOU
BL2
1 -
Final
IND
LOU1
2 -
Final
LOU
PITT3
2 -
Final
LOU
BONSP2
1 -
Final
LAN
LOU3
1 -
Sep 19, 6 pm
LOU
EUD
-
Sep 24, 6 pm
BAL
LOU
-
Sep 26, 6 pm
LOU
SH
-
Oct 1, 6 pm
CHA
LOU
-
Oct 3, 6 pm
OTT
LOU
-
Oct 7, 430 p
LOU
PAR
-
Oct 10, 6 pm
TONG
LOU
-
Oct 15, 6 pm
LOU
PAO
-
Oct 17, 630 p
LOU
LEAV
-
Oct 22, 6 pm
BV
LOU
-
Oct 24, 4 p
LOU
BAL
-
Final
HAR
LOU3
13 -
Final
HAR
LOU1
13 -
Final
LOU
SH0
9 -
Final
BAL
LOU6
12 -
Final
LOU
OTT14
8 -
Final
LOU
OTT21
4 -
Final
SH
LOU4
5 -
Final
WEL
LOU1
14 -
Final
WEL
LOU2
10 -
Final
LOU
BONSP7
0 -
Final
LOU
BONSP5
1 -
Final
LOU
TONG9
4 -
Final
LOU
PIP19
15 -
Final
LOU
PIP5
7 -
Final
LOU
LAN5
4 -
Final
LOU
LAN5
4 -
Final
LOU
BV6
16 -
Apr 25, 430 p
LOU
AC
-
Apr 25, 6 pm
LOU
AC
-
Final
LOU
PV19
3 -
Final
LOU
CHA6
10 -
Final
EUD
LOU5
16 -
Postponed
EUD
LOU
-
Final
LOU
PAO4
11 -
Final
LOU
PAO18
3 -
Final
BL
LOU10
4
-
Final
FRON
LOU11
0 -
Postponed
FRON
LOU
-
Final
BAL
LOU2
13 -
Final
LOU
OTT10
11 -
Final
LOU
OTT10
0 -
Final
SH
LOU13
2 -
Final
SH
LOU16
5 -
Final
WEL
LOU3
4 -
Final
WEL
LOU6
7 -
Final
LOU
BONSP4
1 -
Final
LOU
BONSP13
10 -
Final
LOU
TONG9
4 -
Final
LOU
TONG3
5 -
Final
LOU
MAC5
21 -
Final
LOU
EMP5
2 -
Final
LOU
BVW1
2 -
Final
FS
LOU12
0 -
Final
FS
LOU14
9 -
Final
EUD
LOU14
2 -
Final
LOU
LAN4
5 -
Final
LOU
CHAN0
10 -
Final
LOU
LAN1
3 -
Final
LOU
CHA1
6 -
Final
LOU
PAO9
2 -
Final
LOU
PAO12
3 -
Final
LOU
BAL10
0
-
Final
TONG
LOU51
53 -
Final
LOU
BUR51
63 -
Final
AC
LOU37
44 -
Final
LOU
BAL42
60 -
Final
LOU
FRON57
46 -
Final
LOU
EUD46
53 -
Final OT
LOU
SH60
57 -
Final
BAL
LOU62
46 -
Final
NEK
LOU55
54 -
Final 2OT
GIR
LOU58
56 -
Final
LOU
WAM45
56 -
Final
BON
LOU45
53 -
Final
PAO
LOU16
47 -
Final
LEE
LOU71
46 -
Final
LOU
OTT52
62 -
Final
LOU
TONG45
40 -
Final
SH
LOU44
42 -
Final
EUD
LOU52
49 -
Final
LOU
PAO46
29 -
Final
HAR
LOU57
52
-
Final
TONG
LOU48
28 -
Final
LOU
BUR38
43 -
Final
AC
LOU35
31 -
Final
LOU
BAL23
42 -
Final
LOU
FRON48
55 -
Final
LOU
EUD37
56 -
Final
LOU
SH46
59 -
Final
BAL
LOU52
31 -
Final
NEK
LOU41
49 -
Final
CHA
LOU53
36 -
Final
GIR
LOU42
34 -
Final
LOU
WAM24
63 -
Final
BON
LOU35
40 -
Final
PAO
LOU38
42 -
Final
LOU
OTT29
45 -
Final
LOU
TONG40
39 -
Final
SH
LOU43
37 -
Final
EUD
LOU38
30 -
Final
LOU
PAO39
35 -
Final
HAR
LOU33
40
Wildcats pull together to defeat Ottawa on Senior Night
- Updated: January 27, 2023
Louisburg senior Elijah Eslinger gets a pin Thursday to give the Wildcats a 39-36 win over Ottawa on Senior Night at Louisburg High School.
Out two starters and down double digits at home to Ottawa on Senior Night, there was a little unknown if Louisburg could pull out a dual win over the Cyclones.
On one of the more important nights of the year, the Wildcats came through. Louisburg won five of the last seven matches, and even the ones it didn’t get a victory, prevented the Cyclones from getting some key points in a 39-36 Louisburg win.
Louisburg sophomores Greysen Dixon (126 pounds) and Jonas Briley (157) were filling in for starters J’Lee Collins and Jay McCaskill, who were out. Although Dixon was pinned in his match, Briley came through with a pin to keep the Wildcats in it.
Then against difficult opponents, senior Jesse Murphy (144) and freshman Vance Hahn (165) made things tough as they lost by decision, allowing only three points to Ottawa in each match.
“Two key starters being out left us in a little bit of a situation, but I think we’re in a spot with our program where the next man up can step out and do their part for the team,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “J’Lee has been sick, so Greysen Dixon stepped up and filled in. Going into the third period, he was looking good and was only trailing 4-8 when he got caught on his back. Jay banged up his knee at Blue Valley Northwest, so sophomore Jonas Briley bumped up and filled in at 157. Coach Crossley and I have worked with Jonas since he was a little kid, so we knew that his grit and intensity would help him in that match, and it definitely paid off for us when he got the pin.
“Two others really stepped up and went above and beyond — freshman Vance Hahn dropped a decision at 165 and senior Jesse Murphy lost by decision at 144, both of them against pretty strong opponents. We’d talked about ‘bonus points’ before the dual and how it’s important to fight off your back in a dual. The guys have really bought into the team aspect of high school wrestling.”
Louisburg won six other matches on the night as Will Showalter (106), Kaven Bartlett (138) and Brayden Yoder (190) each won by pin, while Ashton Moore won by decision at 175 pounds. Hayden Heffernon (113) also had a bye to give the Wildcats six points.
All that set things up for senior Elijah Eslinger. With the Wildcats down three points going into the final match, the Louisburg heavyweight recorded a quick first period pin to give his team a 3-point win.
“With Elijah being our closer, it’s a great way to wrap up a dual,” Bovaird said. “Look at what he went through as a freshman — weighing 225 pounds and going up against upperclassmen who weighed all of 285 pounds. He took his lumps that year, and then as a sophomore he figured out a few things. Now, he’s focused, disciplined, and reliable. I love having a team leader like him to be our anchor.”
It all made for a memorable Senior Night that saw the Wildcat program honor their 11 seniors and their parents. Kaven Bartlett, Kaleb Carter, Elijah Eslinger, Trace Eslinger, Brecon Klugman, Cameron McClellan, Jesse Murphy, Kyle Oram, Aidan Robinson, Grant Strubbe and Luke York all saw their final home competition.
The senior group started small, but more than doubled in size three years ago.
“The dedication of these seniors has been outstanding, and I’m so proud that we were able to get a team victory on Senior Night,” Bovaird said. “That was one of the objectives we talked about before the dual — sending our seniors off on a high note. This would be their last chance to compete in our home gym, and it’s important to make a statement at home like that in front of family and friends.
“While we have a large group of seniors, there’s only a handful that’s been out all four years — Kaven Bartlett, Elijah Eslinger, Trace Eslinger, Jesse Murphy, and Luke York. The others joined the program as sophomores and stuck with it. That’s probably the thing I’m most proud of. These guys have all bought into what the sport of wrestling can offer. They stayed committed to the program and I know they’ll be reaping the benefits down the road from what they’ve learned from wrestling.”
The Wildcats will continue their difficult schedule Saturday as they compete in the Baldwin Invitational. Matches begin at 9 a.m.
“I’m definitely excited for the challenges of Baldwin this weekend,” Bovaird said. “There are some teams we don’t see very often before state — Goodland, Jeff West, Wamego and Rock Creek. We’ll get a lot of head-to-head matches against strong kids. It’ll be a great litmus test to see what we need to polish up on before league, regionals and state.”