Wildcats medal 10 as they cruise to Wellsville title

Louisburg senior Traden Noll gets a quick pin Thursday during the Aaron Patton Memorial Tournament at Wellsville High School. Noll won the 150-pound title.

WELLSVILLE — The Aaron Patton Memorial Tournament was a new one on the Louisburg wrestling schedule.

The Wildcats certainly made a lot of memories in their tournament debut.

Louisburg won the team tournament title with 188.5 points last Thursday at Wellsville High School. The Wildcats captured the crown by more than 40 points.

Between the girls and boys teams, the Wildcats also left Wellsville with 10 medalists, including a pair of champions in Traden Noll (150 pounds) and Ashton Moore (190).

“I’m really proud of how everyone wrestled Thursday,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “I know it was our first time going to this meet, and we were competing without two of our starters, but everyone showed a ton of heart competing. The reason I wanted to get into this meet was so we could see a handful of new 4A teams — specifically Jeff West and Wellsville — along with some 3A teams that we normally never get to see. I just like a variety of opponents for us.”

Noll (16-7) won his first tournament title of the season at 150 pounds and did so in convincing fashion. He finished 3-0 with two pins, including a pin of Jefferson West’s Allen Hawkins in the first place match.

As for Moore (21-3), he recorded his second consecutive tournament win. The Louisburg junior finished 4-0 with three pins, and followed it up with a 4-0 decision over Prairie View’s Parker Schwarz in the championship.

“Both guys had some dominant performances in their weights,” Bovaird said. “In his finals match, Ashton was creating all the action against a pretty tough opponent. I’d say that they both competed really well in their brackets.”

The Wildcats had six more wrestlers reach the championship match, but came up one win short of a title. Freshman Levi Cotter (106), junior Canaan Clayton (113), senior J’Lee Collins (126), junior Jay McCaskill (157), freshman Bryce Thompson (165) and junior Brayden Yoder (215) finished second overall.

Cotter (13-10) recorded a pair of pins to reach the title match, but lost a 9-3 decision to Jayhawk-Linn’s Landon Higgins. Clayton (16-7) also fared well with a 3-0 record entering his first place mach, but was pinned by Central Heights’ Baker Moore.

Collins (12-7) also recorded two pins to reach the championship match and faced off with Jefferson West’s Karson Kahler in the championship. He lost a 16-2 major decision to Kahler.

McCaskill (18-6), who recorded three straight pins to reach the title match, found himself in a rematch with Jayhawk-Linn’s Andres Flores. The two met at the Louisburg Invitational earlier this month, and Flores got the best of McCaskill this time around with a second period pin. 

Thompson (13-7) won by pin in two straight matches to reach the championship, but was pinned by West Elk’s Creyo Koop.

Yoder reeled off three straight pins to reach the title match and found himself in a tough match against Wellsville’s Carter Wilmarth. Yoder was eventually pinned late in the second period.

Louisburg junior Mika McKitrick was fourth at 138 pounds and was the ninth member of the boys team to earn a medal. 

“Everyone was able to contribute to our team score by winning matches for us,” Bovaird said. “Levi took second at 106, losing to a Jayhawk-Linn kid who’d pinned him twice earlier this year. Canaan Clayton took second, earning his first silver medal for us. Collins ran into a tough returning state qualifier from Jeff West who was very solid technically. McCaskill’s finals match was actually pretty close, but he got caught in a scramble before getting pinned. 

“Thompson knocked off two seniors to get to the finals before falling to the No. 2 all-class ranked kid in the finals. Yoder had two awesome takedowns in the finals, but got caught on his back in the second period and gave up the fall. Despite having two starters out, we still won the tournament by over 40 points, and I’m really happy with our guys’ performances, as well as our ladies.”

On the girls side, freshman Leola Eslinger captured her second varsity medal of the season. Eslinger, who is 14-2 on the year, had a strong showing as she posted a 3-1 record on the day at 145 pounds.

After opening with a pin to start the tournament, Eslinger was pinned by Prairie View’s Shawna Case in the semifinals. Eslinger bounced back to pin Jayhawk-Linn’s Abigail Stone in the consolation semifinals, and then pinned Wellsville’s Natalie Peel in the third place match.

“This was Leola’s third competition that was officially labeled ‘varsity,’ and she earned her second third place medal of the season,” Bovaird said. “She’s been getting more and more confident with every competition this season, and I’m excited to see how she does in the postseason.”

Louisburg is back in action tonight as the Wildcats host Lawrence in a dual for Senior Night. Matches begin at 5 p.m.

106

Levi Cotter (13-10) placed 2nd and scored 18.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Levi Cotter (Louisburg) 13-10 won by fall over Cody Arenholz (Olathe South) 0-2 (Fall 1:51)
• Semifinal – Levi Cotter (Louisburg) 13-10 won by fall over Davonte Vantrece (Osawatomie) 8-6 (Fall 0:26)
• 1st Place Match – Landon Higgins (Jayhawk Linn) 19-3 won by decision over Levi Cotter (Louisburg) 13-10 (Dec 9-3)

113

Canaan Clayton (16-7) placed 2nd and scored 14.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 16-7 won by fall over Hunter Weigart (Gardner Edgerton) 7-3 (Fall 3:16)
• Round 2 – Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 16-7 won by decision over Johnathan Miller (Prairie View ) 7-6 (Dec 5-3)
• Round 4 – Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 16-7 won by fall over Tyson Benjamin (Wellsville) 5-13 (Fall 3:20)
• Round 5 – Baker Moore (Central Heights) 17-6 won by fall over Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 16-7 (Fall 3:05)

120

Will Showalter (10-13) place is unknown and scored 5.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Will Showalter (Louisburg) 10-13 won by fall over Jotham Meyer (Central Heights) 8-12 (Fall 1:49)
• Quarterfinal – Landon Petitjean (Osage City) 13-10 won by fall over Will Showalter (Louisburg) 10-13 (Fall 1:33)
• Cons. Round 2 – Will Showalter (Louisburg) 10-13 won by fall over Santiago Montelonglo (Olathe North) 0-2 (Fall 2:32)
• Cons. Semi – Logan Walters (Paola) 12-2 won by decision over Will Showalter (Louisburg) 10-13 (Dec 8-4)

126

J`Lee Collins (12-7) placed 2nd and scored 18.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 12-7 won by fall over Jaxson Seyfert (Gardner Edgerton) 9-7 (Fall 1:28)
• Semifinal – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 12-7 won by fall over Daityn Meek (Osage City) 10-11 (Fall 0:24)
• 1st Place Match – Karson Kahler (Jeff West) 12-2 won by major decision over J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 12-7 (MD 16-2)

132

Freddy Moreau (6-8) place is unknown and scored 4.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Freddy Moreau (Louisburg) 6-8 won by fall over Jaden Bunce (Ottawa) 2-5 (Fall 5:46)
• Quarterfinal – Ethan Bartley (Burlington) 10-11 won by fall over Freddy Moreau (Louisburg) 6-8 (Fall 1:46)
• Cons. Round 1 – Freddy Moreau (Louisburg) 6-8 won by fall over Jaden Bunce (Ottawa) 2-5 (Fall 4:39)
• Cons. Round 2 – Lincoln Schaffer (Prairie View ) 11-12 won by fall over Freddy Moreau (Louisburg) 6-8 (Fall 2:46)

138

Mika McKitrick (12-12) placed 4th and scored 12.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 12-12 won by fall over John Sand (West Franklin ) 1-6 (Fall 0:23)
• Quarterfinal – Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 12-12 won by fall over Hunter Eaks (Central Heights) 0-7 (Fall 0:45)
• Semifinal – Aden McManus (Burlington) 18-4 won by fall over Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 12-12 (Fall 1:16)
• Cons. Semi – Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 12-12 won by tech fall over Zion Allio (Olathe South) 7-6 (TF-1.5 4:34 (18-1))
• 3rd Place Match – Namir Franklin (Olathe North) 7-5 won by fall over Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 12-12 (Fall 1:34)

144

Blake Oliphant (5-8) place is unknown and scored 3.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Benton Eimers (Gardner Edgerton) 9-1 won by fall over Blake Oliphant (Louisburg) 5-8 (Fall 3:24)
• Cons. Round 1 – Blake Oliphant (Louisburg) 5-8 won by fall over Madden Crum (Olathe North) 0-2 (Fall 4:50)
• Cons. Round 2 – Caleb Sobelman (Olathe South) 4-4 won in sudden victory – 1 over Blake Oliphant (Louisburg) 5-8 (SV-1 4-2)

150

Traden Noll (16-7) placed 1st and scored 23.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Traden Noll (Louisburg) 16-7 won by fall over Brig Scherman (Paola) 8-6 (Fall 0:16)
• Semifinal – Traden Noll (Louisburg) 16-7 won by major decision over Tucker Noonan (Burlington) 13-10 (MD 12-0)
• 1st Place Match – Traden Noll (Louisburg) 16-7 won by fall over Allen Hawkins (Jeff West) 10-5 (Fall 3:27)

157

Jay McCaskill (18-6) placed 2nd and scored 22.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 18-6 won by fall over Jacob Loftus (Olathe South) 1-4 (Fall 2:23)
• Quarterfinal – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 18-6 won by fall over Kyzer Lehmann (Burlington) 8-13 (Fall 1:27)
• Semifinal – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 18-6 won by fall over Dodge Browning (Osawatomie) 12-3 (Fall 1:35)
• 1st Place Match – Andres Flores (Jayhawk Linn) 19-4 won by fall over Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 18-6 (Fall 2:52)

165

Bryce Thompson (13-7) placed 2nd and scored 18.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 13-7 won by fall over Colten Wittman (Anderson County ) 7-9 (Fall 1:24)
• Semifinal – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 13-7 won by fall over Jace Troutman (Wellsville) 11-7 (Fall 1:59)
• 1st Place Match – Creyo Koop (West Elk) 23-0 won by fall over Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 13-7 (Fall 0:48)

190

Ashton Moore (21-3) placed 1st and scored 26.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 21-3 won by fall over Josh Doan (Jayhawk Linn) 2-15 (Fall 0:49)
• Quarterfinal – Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 21-3 won by fall over Noah Martinez (Osage City) 8-10 (Fall 0:10)
• Semifinal – Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 21-3 won by fall over Brayden Riggs (Burlington) 11-13 (Fall 0:59)
• 1st Place Match – Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 21-3 won by decision over Parker Schwarz (Prairie View ) 8-6 (Dec 4-0)

215

Brayden Yoder (16-7) placed 2nd and scored 22.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 16-7 won by fall over Cam Ebrecht (Olathe South) 7-3 (Fall 2:55)
• Quarterfinal – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 16-7 won by fall over Zach Soetaert (Wellsville) 0-2 (Fall 1:20)
• Semifinal – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 16-7 won by fall over Jaden Morrison (West Franklin ) 2-6 (Fall 0:23)
• 1st Place Match – Carter Wilmarth (Wellsville) 22-1 won by fall over Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 16-7 (Fall 3:42)

285

Xander Lucas (5-11) place is unknown and scored 3.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 5-11 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Gavin Ericson (Osage City) 10-1 won by fall over Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 5-11 (Fall 1:44)
• Cons. Round 2 – Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 5-11 won by fall over Kaysen Jensen (Jayhawk Linn) 6-4 (Fall 0:50)
• Cons. Round 3 – Landon Sweat (Gardner Edgerton) 6-1 won by fall over Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 5-11 (Fall 3:56)

125

Allison Martin (1-8) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Mya Vetsch (Jeff West) 13-4 won by fall over Allison Martin (Louisburg) 1-8 (Fall 3:31)
• Cons. Round 1 – Pyper Walker (Gardner Edgerton) 5-10 won by decision over Allison Martin (Louisburg) 1-8 (Dec 10-6)

145

Leola Eslinger (14-2) placed 3rd and scored 16.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Leola Eslinger (Louisburg) 14-2 won by fall over Serenity Boothe (Anderson County) 2-8 (Fall 1:21)
• Semifinal – Shawna Case (Prairie View) 14-6 won by fall over Leola Eslinger (Louisburg) 14-2 (Fall 2:37)
• Cons. Semi – Leola Eslinger (Louisburg) 14-2 won by fall over Abigail Stone (Jayhawk Linn) 6-6 (Fall 1:11)
• 3rd Place Match – Leola Eslinger (Louisburg) 14-2 won by fall over Natalie Peel (Wellsville) 10-6 (Fall 1:20)

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