Wildcats medal six at Tonganoxie in final action before holidays

Louisburg junior Ashton Moore works for a pin during his 190-pound match Saturday at Tonganoxie. Moore finished second at the Randy Starcher Invitational.

TONGANOXIE — Louisburg ventured outside of the dual format for the first time this season Saturday at the Randy Starcher Invitational in Tonganoxie.

The Wildcats more than held their own as they earned six medals on the day and finished sixth in the team standings. It was a positive way to end 2023 for Louisburg as it went up against some tough competition. 

“All-in-all, I think we performed pretty well as a team,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “We were up against some pretty solid competition — Tonganoxie is ranked third in 4A, Savannah is ranked fifth in Missouri 2A and Independence is ranked fourth in 4A. Lansing and Frontenac are also pretty tough teams. If they don’t end up ranked at some point, I’d be surprised.”

Louisburg racked up 142.5 points to finish sixth in the team standings. Tonganoxie won their home tournament with 285 points and Savannah (Mo.) was second with 211.

A pair of Wildcats also found themselves in the championship match of their respective weight classes. Juniors Jay McCaskill (157 pounds) and Ashton Moore (190) both made their way to the title match, but finished runner-up.

McCaskill (11-4) had six matches on the day, but wrestled strong throughout the tournament. He recorded four straight pins, and then registered a 10-4 decision over Lansing’s Aidan Lessard in the semifinals.

In the championship, McCaskill lost a tough 6-4 decision to Savannah’s Nic Scheib, who he had pinned earlier in the tournament.

As for Moore, he recorded two pins and a major decision before going up against Junction City’s Griffin Bohanan, who is state placer in Class 6A. Moore got the best of him in a 6-4 decision to advance to the championship.

Moore squared off with Tonganoxie’s Colton Brusven in the championship, but lost a 10-6 decision in a match that was tied going into the third period.

“Both of those guys gave it everything they’ve got,” Bovaird said. “Jay ended up losing to a kid he’d pinned earlier in the tournament, but that finals match was his sixth match of the day. He nearly had that kid pinned again in the third period though. 

“Ashton had a win over a Junction City wrestler who placed third in 6A state last year, and then he went toe-to-toe with a Tonganoxie kid who’s already a 2-time state placer. Ashton had the kid on the ropes, too. A simple moment of hesitation allowed his opponent an angle at his shot to get the winning points. That’s a match that I’m sure the Tongie kid doesn’t want to have again.”

Senior J’Lee Collins finished third at 126 pounds. After losing his first match of the day, Collins responded to win three matches in a row — all by pin — including a first period victory over Tonganoxie’s Jack Wensel in the third place match.

Junior Canaan Clayton (113 pounds), junior Mika McKitrick (138) and senior Traden Noll (152) each finished fourth.

The Wildcats had a full lineup Saturday, and then some, as they had several unattached wrestlers as well that some important mat time.

“J’Lee found himself in a tough match in the first round, and he ended up losing by pin to a kid that we’ll see several more times this season,” Bovaird said. “Canaan won his first medal for us and Traden had a great return to the program with a fourth place medal. Mika showed that he’s a working machine by taking fourth at 138. He only started wrestling a few years ago, and he’s made huge strides and has become an excellent leader.

“Also, we were able to take five unattached wrestlers and get them some varsity mat time, which I always find is huge. It helps us prepare for what’s coming down the road. Kids who aren’t quite varsity level just yet get some experience, plus they get the chance to win some matches and block other teams from scoring points. We had a bunch of our guys take some losses this weekend, but in the bigger scheme of things, we’re learning a ton of things that can’t be taught in the practice room.”

Louisburg will return to action on Jan. 6 when the Wildcats host their home invitational. 

106

Levi Cotter (8-6) placed 6th and scored 8.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Mason Gibbons (Independence HS) 12-0 won by fall over Levi Cotter (Louisburg HS) 8-6 (Fall 3:22)
• Round 3 – Lawson Francis (Savannah) 14-4 won by fall over Levi Cotter (Louisburg HS) 8-6 (Fall 3:02)
• Round 4 – Levi Cotter (Louisburg HS) 8-6 won by fall over Tyler Prager (Oskaloosa HS) 0-8 (Fall 0:22)
• Round 5 – Levi Cotter (Louisburg HS) 8-6 won by fall over Gabe Campbell (Eudora HS) 2-8 (Fall 3:09)
• 5th Place Match – Beau Underwood (Tonganoxie HS) 3-6 won by fall over Levi Cotter (Louisburg HS) 8-6 (Fall 4:22)

113

Canaan Clayton (11-3) placed 4th and scored 16.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Canaan Clayton (Louisburg HS) 11-3 won by fall over Loredo Escobar (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 0-5 (Fall 0:32)
• Round 3 – Canaan Clayton (Louisburg HS) 11-3 won by fall over David Scurto (Oskaloosa HS) 2-9 (Fall 0:37)
• Quarterfinal – Canaan Clayton (Louisburg HS) 11-3 won by fall over Colton Minick (Independence HS) 9-4 (Fall 0:31)
• Semifinal – Kyle Sloan (Frontenac HS) 7-4 won by fall over Canaan Clayton (Louisburg HS) 11-3 (Fall 3:52)
• 3rd Place Match – Brodie Starcher (Tonganoxie HS) 4-1 won by decision over Canaan Clayton (Louisburg HS) 11-3 (Dec 8-5)

120

Will Showalter (6-7) placed 9th and scored 0.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Jordan Bauswell (Tonganoxie HS) 6-5 won by major decision over Will Showalter (Louisburg HS) 6-7 (MD 9-1)
• Round 2 – Kelvin Velasquez (Savannah) 3-6 won by decision over Will Showalter (Louisburg HS) 6-7 (Dec 12-8)
• Round 3 – Zane Aikin (Frontenac HS) 8-5 won by decision over Will Showalter (Louisburg HS) 6-7 (Dec 10-3)
• Round 5 – Sawyer Jorgensen (Lansing HS) 14-0 won by fall over Will Showalter (Louisburg HS) 6-7 (Fall 1:37)
• 9th Place Match – Will Showalter (Louisburg HS) 6-7 received a bye () (Bye)

126

J`Lee Collins (8-4) placed 3rd and scored 19.0 team points.

• Round 1 – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg HS) 8-4 received a bye () (Bye)
• Round 2 – Clayton Crookham (Tonganoxie HS) 6-4 won by fall over J`Lee Collins (Louisburg HS) 8-4 (Fall 3:47)
• Round 4 – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg HS) 8-4 won by fall over Caleb Waldroff (Savannah) 0-8 (Fall 0:46)
• Round 5 – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg HS) 8-4 won by fall over Jacob Garner (Lansing HS) 8-6 (Fall 1:03)
• 3rd Place Match – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg HS) 8-4 won by fall over Jack Wensel (Tonganoxie HS) 3-2 (Fall 1:43)

132

Logan Henry (8-3) placed 6th and scored 8.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Logan Henry (Louisburg HS) 8-3 won by fall over Joseph Malec (Tonganoxie HS) 0-5 (Fall 0:52)
• Round 2 – Blake Riedel (Tonganoxie HS) 6-3 won by fall over Logan Henry (Louisburg HS) 8-3 (Fall 2:33)
• Round 4 – Logan Henry (Louisburg HS) 8-3 won by fall over William King (Oskaloosa HS) 1-9 (Fall 0:43)
• Round 5 – Brady Sloan (Frontenac HS) 11-3 won by fall over Logan Henry (Louisburg HS) 8-3 (Fall 4:30)
• 5th Place Match – Bryson Jeffers (Savannah) 4-3 won by fall over Logan Henry (Louisburg HS) 8-3 (Fall 3:09)

132

Freddy Moreau (1-4) placed 9th.

• Round 1 – Riley Dilka (Lansing HS) 14-1 won by fall over Freddy Moreau (Louisburg HS) 1-4 (Fall 3:22)
• Round 2 – Hawken Andrews (Eudora HS) 11-5 won by fall over Freddy Moreau (Louisburg HS) 1-4 (Fall 3:45)
• Round 3 – Jonathan Fairbank (Independence HS) 4-7 won by fall over Freddy Moreau (Louisburg HS) 1-4 (Fall 5:31)
• Round 4 – Bryson Jeffers (Savannah) 4-3 won by fall over Freddy Moreau (Louisburg HS) 1-4 (Fall 4:24)
• 9th Place Match – Freddy Moreau (Louisburg HS) 1-4 won by fall over Joseph Malec (Tonganoxie HS) 0-5 (Fall 1:18)

138

Blake Oliphant (3-2) placed 5th.

• Round 1 – Gavin Henderson (Frontenac HS) 5-8 won by decision over Blake Oliphant (Louisburg HS) 3-2 (Dec 11-4)
• Round 2 – Blake Oliphant (Louisburg HS) 3-2 won by fall over Junior Reyes (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 5-5 (Fall 2:12)
• Quarterfinal – Kohen Wright (Independence HS) 9-0 won by fall over Blake Oliphant (Louisburg HS) 3-2 (Fall 1:37)
• Cons. Round 1 – Blake Oliphant (Louisburg HS) 3-2 won by fall over Cristian Colop (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 4-6 (Fall 1:41)
• 5th Place Match – Blake Oliphant (Louisburg HS) 3-2 won by decision over Newt Schreiner (Eudora HS) 9-7 (Dec 4-1)

138

Mika McKitrick (7-6) placed 4th and scored 14.5 team points.

• Round 1 – Mika McKitrick (Louisburg HS) 7-6 won by fall over Owen Leffert (Tonganoxie HS) 2-3 (Fall 1:42)
• Round 3 – Mika McKitrick (Louisburg HS) 7-6 won by decision over Newt Schreiner (Eudora HS) 9-7 (Dec 6-3)
• Quarterfinal – Mika McKitrick (Louisburg HS) 7-6 won by fall over Cristian Colop (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 4-6 (Fall 1:30)
• Semifinal – Kohen Wright (Independence HS) 9-0 won by tech fall over Mika McKitrick (Louisburg HS) 7-6 (TF-1.5 1:38 (21-4))
• 3rd Place Match – Dax Duffett (Tonganoxie HS) 3-2 won by fall over Mika McKitrick (Louisburg HS) 7-6 (Fall 0:58)

144

Greysen Dixon (1-6) placed 10th and scored 0.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Braeden Moore (Tonganoxie HS) 10-1 won by fall over Greysen Dixon (Louisburg HS) 1-6 (Fall 1:05)
• Round 3 – Damian Davis (Junction City HS) 7-8 won by decision over Greysen Dixon (Louisburg HS) 1-6 (Dec 8-3)
• Round 4 – Ethan Jones (Frontenac HS) 3-2 won by decision over Greysen Dixon (Louisburg HS) 1-6 (Dec 8-1)
• Round 5 – Otto Nevins (Lansing HS) 5-5 won by fall over Greysen Dixon (Louisburg HS) 1-6 (Fall 2:34)
• 9th Place Match – Kingston Dishman (Tonganoxie HS) 1-4 won by major decision over Greysen Dixon (Louisburg HS) 1-6 (MD 13-3)

150

Colin Robinson (2-4) placed 7th.

• Round 1 – Lincoln LaFave (Savannah) 12-5 won by fall over Colin Robinson (Louisburg HS) 2-4 (Fall 1:07)
• Round 2 – Saxton Renfro (Independence HS) 11-1 won by fall over Colin Robinson (Louisburg HS) 2-4 (Fall 1:16)
• Round 3 – Colin Robinson (Louisburg HS) 2-4 won by fall over Brycon Speer (Eudora HS) 6-10 (Fall 1:24)
• Round 4 – Angel Cordova (Frontenac HS) 8-6 won by major decision over Colin Robinson (Louisburg HS) 2-4 (MD 11-2)
• 7th Place Match – Colin Robinson (Louisburg HS) 2-4 won by fall over Binod Bhjuel (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 3-8 (Fall 2:35)

150

Traden Noll (9-5) placed 4th and scored 16.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Noah Bailey (Tonganoxie HS) 9-1 won by fall over Traden Noll (Louisburg HS) 9-5 (Fall 1:23)
• Round 3 – Traden Noll (Louisburg HS) 9-5 won by fall over Dylan Todd (Junction City HS) 9-6 (Fall 5:19)
• Round 4 – Traden Noll (Louisburg HS) 9-5 won by fall over Jackson Sigrist (Savannah) 0-6 (Fall 1:06)
• Round 5 – Traden Noll (Louisburg HS) 9-5 won by fall over Binod Bhjuel (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 3-8 (Fall 1:32)
• 3rd Place Match – Lincoln LaFave (Savannah) 12-5 won by major decision over Traden Noll (Louisburg HS) 9-5 (MD 12-0)

157

Jay McCaskill (11-4) placed 2nd and scored 24.5 team points.

• Round 1 – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg HS) 11-4 won by fall over Aaron Lopez (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 1-10 (Fall 0:25)
• Round 2 – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg HS) 11-4 won by fall over Preston Warbritton (Oskaloosa HS) 7-7 (Fall 0:36)
• Round 3 – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg HS) 11-4 won by fall over Nic Scheib (Savannah) 16-5 (Fall 4:25)
• Quarterfinal – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg HS) 11-4 won by fall over Chris Ortiz (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 4-8 (Fall 1:25)
• Semifinal – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg HS) 11-4 won by decision over Aidan Lessard (Lansing HS) 10-6 (Dec 10-4)
• 1st Place Match – Nic Scheib (Savannah) 16-5 won by decision over Jay McCaskill (Louisburg HS) 11-4 (Dec 6-4)

165

Bryce Thompson (7-4) placed 7th and scored 4.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Brady Martin (Tonganoxie HS) 11-1 won by fall over Bryce Thompson (Louisburg HS) 7-4 (Fall 1:41)
• Round 3 – Josh Brookshire (Junction City HS) 13-2 won by fall over Bryce Thompson (Louisburg HS) 7-4 (Fall 4:30)
• Round 4 – Robert Ragland (Savannah) 6-9 won by fall over Bryce Thompson (Louisburg HS) 7-4 (Fall 2:53)
• Round 5 – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg HS) 7-4 won by fall over Gabrial Hernandez (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 4-7 (Fall 4:42)
• 7th Place Match – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg HS) 7-4 won by fall over Vance Hahn (Louisburg HS) 3-5 (Fall 0:48)

165

Vance Hahn (3-5) placed 8th.

• Round 1 – Wyatt Frazier (Frontenac HS) 10-4 won by fall over Vance Hahn (Louisburg HS) 3-5 (Fall 1:46)
• Round 2 – Braedon Speer (Eudora HS) 7-3 won by fall over Vance Hahn (Louisburg HS) 3-5 (Fall 1:55)
• Round 3 – Vance Hahn (Louisburg HS) 3-5 won by fall over Jan Sagaro (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 2-6 (Fall 3:12)
• Round 4 – LaMarcus Allen (Independence HS) 7-4 won by fall over Vance Hahn (Louisburg HS) 3-5 (Fall 3:02)
• 7th Place Match – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg HS) 7-4 won by fall over Vance Hahn (Louisburg HS) 3-5 (Fall 0:48)

175

Elias Pugh (7-7) placed 9th and scored 2.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Cooper Bogenhagen (Junction City HS) 11-3 won by decision over Elias Pugh (Louisburg HS) 7-7 (Dec 8-2)
• Round 3 – Dominic Ricciardi (Frontenac HS) 12-1 won by major decision over Elias Pugh (Louisburg HS) 7-7 (MD 19-5)
• Round 4 – Cael Dye (Tonganoxie HS) 3-2 won by decision over Elias Pugh (Louisburg HS) 7-7 (Dec 9-5)
• Round 5 – Thomas Messersmith (Tonganoxie HS) 5-6 won by fall over Elias Pugh (Louisburg HS) 7-7 (Fall 0:52)
• 9th Place Match – Elias Pugh (Louisburg HS) 7-7 won by fall over Ethan Riley (Tonganoxie HS) 0-5 (Fall 0:42)

190

Ashton Moore (11-3) placed 2nd and scored 21.5 team points.

• Round 1 – Ashton Moore (Louisburg HS) 11-3 won by fall over Alonzo Burke (Frontenac HS) 8-6 (Fall 1:48)
• Round 2 – Ashton Moore (Louisburg HS) 11-3 won by major decision over Elijah Townsend (Lansing HS) 2-3 (MD 15-1)
• Round 3 – Ashton Moore (Louisburg HS) 11-3 won by fall over Reilly Neis (Eudora HS) 9-7 (Fall 1:48)
• Round 5 – Ashton Moore (Louisburg HS) 11-3 won by decision over Griffin Bohanan (Junction City HS) 11-4 (Dec 6-4)
• 1st Place Match – Colton Brusven (Tonganoxie HS) 7-0 won by decision over Ashton Moore (Louisburg HS) 11-3 (Dec 10-6)

215

Brayden Yoder (8-6) placed 6th and scored 8.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Cooper Burnsides (Savannah) 15-2 won by fall over Brayden Yoder (Louisburg HS) 8-6 (Fall 3:50)
• Round 3 – Chris Coy (Junction City HS) 10-5 won by decision over Brayden Yoder (Louisburg HS) 8-6 (Dec 7-2)
• Round 4 – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg HS) 8-6 won by fall over Miles Meek (Louisburg HS) 2-3 (Fall 1:13)
• Round 5 – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg HS) 8-6 won by fall over Brayden Folsom (Tonganoxie HS) 0-4 (Fall 1:37)
• 5th Place Match – Jacob Garris (Independence HS) 4-4 won by fall over Brayden Yoder (Louisburg HS) 8-6 (Fall 1:45)

215

Miles Meek (2-3) placed 7th.

• Round 1 – Cooper Burnsides (Savannah) 15-2 won by fall over Miles Meek (Louisburg HS) 2-3 (Fall 0:47)
• Round 2 – Chris Coy (Junction City HS) 10-5 won by decision over Miles Meek (Louisburg HS) 2-3 (Dec 1-0)
• Round 3 – Miles Meek (Louisburg HS) 2-3 won by fall over Brayden Folsom (Tonganoxie HS) 0-4 (Fall 2:34)
• Round 4 – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg HS) 8-6 won by fall over Miles Meek (Louisburg HS) 2-3 (Fall 1:13)
• 7th Place Match – Miles Meek (Louisburg HS) 2-3 won by fall over Noah Carlson (Tonganoxie HS) 0-4 (Fall 0:46)

285

Xander Lucas (4-9) placed 7th and scored 2.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Julian Bush (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 7-4 won by fall over Xander Lucas (Louisburg HS) 4-9 (Fall 3:31)
• Round 3 – Trystan Chadwick (Savannah) 10-6 won by fall over Xander Lucas (Louisburg HS) 4-9 (Fall 3:27)
• Round 4 – Xander Lucas (Louisburg HS) 4-9 received a bye () (Bye)
• Round 5 – Jaxon Dominic (Tonganoxie HS) 3-1 won by fall over Xander Lucas (Louisburg HS) 4-9 (Fall 2:50)
• 7th Place Match – Xander Lucas (Louisburg HS) 4-9 won by fall over Daron Cheadle (Kansas City-JC Harmon HS) 0-6 (Fall 1:03)

Wildcats down Olathe West in home opener

Louisburg continued its strong dual run Thursday when it hosted Olathe West in its home opener.

The Wildcats split with the Owls, but earned those extra points to pull out the 39-33 victory and improved their dual record to 9-1 on the season.

“We didn’t wrestle our best, but I think it has a lot to do with several factors,” Bovaird said. “First, it’s the middle of our finals week, and I know that there were a lot of guys on the team who were worried about doing their best to end the semester on a high note academically. Also, it was our last week to certify at our weights we wanted to go for regionals, so there were a number of guys who were working to get down to weight and stay hydrated at the same time. We had some gutsy matches where we showed a lot of fortitude.”

Louisburg jumped out to an early lead and held on for the 6-point win despite losing its final four matches of the night.

Traden Noll, Jay McCaskill, Bryce Thompson, Elias Pugh, Ashton Moore, Brayden Yoder and Levi Cotter each earned victories for the Wildcats. 

Noll held on for a 6-5 decision, while Pugh found himself down 10-0 before earning a pin as both matches proved pivotal in the final score. Yoder also earned a first round pin over a returning 6A state qualifier.

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