Wildcats record best team finish at Baldwin Invite

Louisburg senior Traden Noll pins his opponent Saturday at the Baldwin Invitational. Noll finished third at 150 pounds.

BALDWIN CITY — Louisburg may not have had anyone in the finals of the Baldwin Invitational on Saturday, but that didn’t mean the Wildcats didn’t leave their mark.

Not only did the Wildcats leave with six medals, they also recorded their best-ever team finish at the Baldwin tournament. Louisburg took third in the team standings with 157.5 points.

Tonganoxie won the 17-team tournament with 255 points and Santa Fe Trail was second with 179.

“The thing is, even if our guys aren’t wrestling their best, they’re still battling with their opponents,” Bovaird said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re up against a more experienced or technically superior opponent. Our guys aren’t afraid to get out on the mat and scrap. 

“Coming home with a third place team finish was an awesome outcome, especially since we had no finalists. So many of those team points were scored on the backside of the brackets. That is our highest finish at Baldwin since we got into that tournament in 2012. Five years ago, when we had guys like Cade Holtzen, Austin Moore, and Blue Caplinger in the finals, we finished sixth.”

Louisburg junior Ashton Moore and senior Traden Noll led the Wildcats on the day as both finished third in their respective weight classes, but Moore had a little bit of setback.

In what was a competitive 190-pound weight class, Moore earned a spot in the semifinals against Tonganoxie’s Colton Brusven. The two battled it out and it eventually went to overtime, before Brusven came out with a 4-2 decision and Moore suffered an injury during the match.

Moore still battled back to earn a 11-1 major decision over Ottawa’s Sam Clevenger in the consolation semis, and then won a 2-1 overtime match against Prairie View’s Parker Schwarz for third.

“The 190-pound weight class is stacked in our area,” Bovaird said. “It’s got Jack Harvey (returning state champ from Baldwin), Colton Brusven (returning state placer from Tonganoxie), and Ashton. They were all in the same bracket at Baldwin, and they’ll all be there together for league and regionals. Ashton tweaked his knee during his overtime loss to Brusven, but he was a warrior coming back to finish third against a couple of really strong kids. He’s going to take some time to recuperate, but I’m excited to see him battle it out at regionals.”

Noll also put together one his better performances of the season at 150 pounds. Noll opened the tournament with a pair of wins, before falling to Tonganoxie’s Noah Bailey in the semifinals.

He worked his way back on the other side of the bracket. Noll pinned Buhler’s Max Harmony in the second period, and then won a 6-2 decision of Santa Fe Trail’s Chase Jeanneret in the third place match.

“These past couple of weeks, Traden has been wrestling the best I’ve ever seen him wrestle,” Bovaird said. “He’s listening really well, and he’s getting great results against some tough opponents. His third place match was against a returning state qualifier from Santa Fe Trail, and Traden just wrestled tough and smart. Definitely excited to see him finish out the year with an exclamation.”

Junior Canaan Clayton (113 pounds), senior J’Lee Collins (126), junior Logan Henry (132) and junior Jay McCaskill (157) each left Baldwin with a fourth place medal.

Clayton went 2-2 on the day and his last match he suffered a medical forfeit due to an injury in the third place round.

Collins recorded a 3-2 record, with both of his losses coming to Ottawa’s Cole Mader, including losing by pin in the third place match. Collins won by fall, technical fall and by an 8-6 decision in his other matches.

Henry opened his tournament run with a pair of pins, before falling to Tonganoxie’s Blake Riedel in the semifinals. Henry bounced back to pin Perry-Lecompton in the consolation semifinals, but was pinned by Santa Fe Trail’s Blake Slavin for third.

As for McCaskill, he also began with two straight pins, but lost a tough overtime match to Rock Creek’s Aidan McKinney. McCaskill responded to beat Wamego’s Ethan Ibendahl to earn a spot in the third place match, but lost to Ottawa’s Dalton Evans by a 4-2 decision to end his day.

“We knew that Baldwin would be a tough meet, and just like the previous week at Blue Valley Northwest, this is the kind of competition we need to be seeing right now,” Bovaird said. “Many of the teams at Baldwin are also in our regional, so that gives a great idea of who we’re going to need to beat to get to state in each weight class. Canaan, J’Lee, Logan and Jay had some great matches, and they finished the day with a medal in their respective weights.”

On Friday, the Louisburg girls team of Allison Martin and Leola Eslinger competed in the Baldwin Invitational girls tournament and found some success. 

Eslinger took seventh at 145 pounds with a 3-2 day, while Martin was 1-2 at 125 pounds.

“For Allison, it was is awesome for her to be able to win a match at a very tough varsity tournament,” Bovaird said. “Leola was 3-2 on the day, finishing seventh and earning 2 pins. Those two are growing so much as wrestlers, and they’re setting an outstanding precedent for girls wrestling at Louisburg.”

The girls return to action today as they competed in the Frontier League Tournament at Spring Hill High School. The boys will have off till next Wednesday when they compete at league, also at Spring Hill. 

106

Levi Cotter (17-16) placed 6th and scored 6.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Beau Underwood (Tonganoxie) 8-13 won by fall over Levi Cotter (Louisburg) 17-16 (Fall 4:23)
• Cons. Round 1 – Levi Cotter (Louisburg) 17-16 won by fall over Chris Murphy (Burlington) 9-14 (Fall 2:54)
• Cons. Semi – Tyler Chrisp (Tonganoxie) 25-12 won by fall over Levi Cotter (Louisburg) 17-16 (Fall 0:38)
• 5th Place Match – Caul Johns (Ottawa) 18-11 won by fall over Levi Cotter (Louisburg) 17-16 (Fall 4:04)

113

Canaan Clayton (20-12) placed 4th and scored 12.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 20-12 won by decision over Asher Englert (Baldwin) 11-10 (Dec 5-2)
• Semifinal – Colton Parsons (Buhler) 14-9 won by fall over Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 20-12 (Fall 2:23)
• Cons. Semi – Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 20-12 won by fall over Blake Longacre (Eudora) 1-9 (Fall 0:41)
• 3rd Place Match – Asher Englert (Baldwin) 11-10 won by medical forfeit over Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 20-12 (M. For.)

120

Will Showalter (13-19) place is unknown and scored 4.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Will Showalter (Louisburg) 13-19 won by fall over Carson Cunningham (Ottawa) 3-10 (Fall 0:49)
• Quarterfinal – Lucas Batz (Holton) 28-8 won by major decision over Will Showalter (Louisburg) 13-19 (MD 13-2)
• Cons. Round 2 – Brode Bergsma (Goodland) 13-16 won by fall over Will Showalter (Louisburg) 13-19 (Fall 2:40)

126

J`Lee Collins (20-12) placed 4th and scored 13.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 20-12 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Cole Mader (Ottawa) 16-11 won by fall over J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 20-12 (Fall 2:32)
• Cons. Round 2 – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 20-12 won by fall over Mason Torneden (Santa Fe Trail) 1-5 (Fall 1:18)
• Cons. Round 3 – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 20-12 won by tech fall over Tyler Hecke (Wamego) 15-14 (TF-1.5 2:42 (17-2))
• Cons. Semi – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 20-12 won by decision over Ayedin Johnson (Baldwin) 17-12 (Dec 8-6)
• 3rd Place Match – Cole Mader (Ottawa) 16-11 won by fall over J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 20-12 (Fall 2:30)

132

Logan Henry (17-10) placed 4th and scored 18.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Logan Henry (Louisburg) 17-10 won by fall over Zaylund Lee (Wamego) 6-18 (Fall 1:28)
• Quarterfinal – Logan Henry (Louisburg) 17-10 won by fall over Jacob Harmon (Rock Creek) 10-10 (Fall 3:04)
• Semifinal – Blake Riedel (Tonganoxie) 18-8 won by fall over Logan Henry (Louisburg) 17-10 (Fall 3:48)
• Cons. Semi – Logan Henry (Louisburg) 17-10 won by fall over Justin Booth (Perry-Lecompton) 8-15 (Fall 2:01)
• 3rd Place Match – Blake Slavin (Santa Fe Trail) 19-3 won by fall over Logan Henry (Louisburg) 17-10 (Fall 2:41)

132

Freddy Moreau (6-10) place is unknown.

• Champ. Round 1 – Justin Booth (Perry-Lecompton) 8-15 won by decision over Freddy Moreau (Louisburg) 6-10 (Dec 7-6)
• Cons. Round 1 – Newt Schreiner (Eudora) 15-14 won by fall over Freddy Moreau (Louisburg) 6-10 (Fall 0:56)

138

Mika McKitrick (17-17) place is unknown and scored 4.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 17-17 won by fall over Kenny Luyo (Rock Creek) 6-6 (Fall 1:05)
• Quarterfinal – Atticus Guenther (Santa Fe Trail) 18-8 won by fall over Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 17-17 (Fall 0:31)
• Cons. Round 2 – Levi Benedick (Prairie View) 9-14 won by fall over Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 17-17 (Fall 1:52)

144

Blake Oliphant (5-15) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Braeden Moore (Tonganoxie) 24-2 won by tech fall over Blake Oliphant (Louisburg) 5-15 (TF-1.5 2:07 (19-4))
• Cons. Round 1 – Korbin Brady (Santa Fe Trail) 9-6 won by fall over Blake Oliphant (Louisburg) 5-15 (Fall 3:31)

150

Traden Noll (24-10) placed 3rd and scored 19.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Traden Noll (Louisburg) 24-10 won by major decision over Declan McKinney (Rock Creek) 7-10 (MD 15-1)
• Quarterfinal – Traden Noll (Louisburg) 24-10 won by fall over Jacob Waldy (Hayden) 26-9 (Fall 2:33)
• Semifinal – Noah Bailey (Tonganoxie) 30-4 won by fall over Traden Noll (Louisburg) 24-10 (Fall 1:04)
• Cons. Semi – Traden Noll (Louisburg) 24-10 won by fall over Max Harmony (Buhler) 16-9 (Fall 2:38)
• 3rd Place Match – Traden Noll (Louisburg) 24-10 won by decision over Chayse Jeanneret (Santa Fe Trail) 18-8 (Dec 6-2)

150

Colin Robinson (6-9) place is unknown.

• Champ. Round 1 – Chayse Jeanneret (Santa Fe Trail) 18-8 won by fall over Colin Robinson (Louisburg) 6-9 (Fall 1:53)
• Cons. Round 1 – Colin Robinson (Louisburg) 6-9 won by fall over Brody Nicol (Holton) 3-5 (Fall 0:49)
• Cons. Round 2 – Jacob Waldy (Hayden) 26-9 won by fall over Colin Robinson (Louisburg) 6-9 (Fall 3:37)

157

Jay McCaskill (27-11) placed 4th and scored 18.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 27-11 won by fall over Kyzer Lehmann (Burlington) 12-17 (Fall 0:53)
• Quarterfinal – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 27-11 won by fall over Chance Gray (Perry-Lecompton) 16-15 (Fall 1:12)
• Semifinal – Aidan McKinney (Rock Creek) 17-3 won in sudden victory – 1 over Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 27-11 (SV-1 12-7)
• Cons. Semi – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 27-11 won by fall over Ethan Ibendahl (Wamego) 11-17 (Fall 1:39)
• 3rd Place Match – Dalton Evans (Ottawa) 24-8 won by decision over Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 27-11 (Dec 4-2)

165

Vance Hahn (4-11) place is unknown.

• Champ. Round 1 – Dylan Williams (Baldwin) 22-9 won by fall over Vance Hahn (Louisburg) 4-11 (Fall 1:04)
• Cons. Round 1 – Vance Hahn (Louisburg) 4-11 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 2 – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 16-9 won by fall over Vance Hahn (Louisburg) 4-11 (Fall 2:17)

165

Bryce Thompson (16-9) placed 5th and scored 12.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 16-9 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Dawsyn Valdois (Buhler) 20-8 won by major decision over Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 16-9 (MD 11-2)
• Cons. Round 2 – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 16-9 won by fall over Vance Hahn (Louisburg) 4-11 (Fall 2:17)
• Cons. Round 3 – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 16-9 won by fall over Reese Parish (Ottawa) 14-15 (Fall 2:05)
• Cons. Semi – Dylan Williams (Baldwin) 22-9 won by fall over Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 16-9 (Fall 0:29)
• 5th Place Match – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 16-9 won by major decision over Justin Cole (Santa Fe Trail) 13-9 (MD 13-4)

175

Elias Pugh (20-13) placed 6th and scored 11.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Elias Pugh (Louisburg) 20-13 won by decision over Keldyn Cox (Baldwin) 10-15 (Dec 10-9)
• Quarterfinal – Talon Conrad (Wamego) 17-7 won by major decision over Elias Pugh (Louisburg) 20-13 (MD 14-4)
• Cons. Round 2 – Elias Pugh (Louisburg) 20-13 won by fall over Talon Bentley (Labette County) 7-16 (Fall 1:43)
• Cons. Round 3 – Elias Pugh (Louisburg) 20-13 won by fall over Caige Starnes (Perry-Lecompton) 15-16 (Fall 3:57)
• Cons. Semi – Broderick Desch (Hayden) 20-10 won by decision over Elias Pugh (Louisburg) 20-13 (Dec 9-3)
• 5th Place Match – Nick Allen (Rock Creek) 18-9 won by tech fall over Elias Pugh (Louisburg) 20-13 (TF-1.5 4:37 (21-6))

190

Ashton Moore (31-5) placed 3rd and scored 19.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 31-5 won by fall over Gavyn Smith (Santa Fe Trail) 14-14 (Fall 1:59)
• Quarterfinal – Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 31-5 won by fall over Logan Franz (Goodland) 25-12 (Fall 3:16)
• Semifinal – Colton Brusven (Tonganoxie) 19-3 won in sudden victory – 1 over Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 31-5 (SV-1 4-2)
• Cons. Semi – Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 31-5 won by major decision over Sam Clevenger (Ottawa) 20-11 (MD 11-1)
• 3rd Place Match – Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 31-5 won in tie breaker – 1 over Parker Schwarz (Prairie View) 10-8 (TB-1 2-1)

215

Miles Meek (7-9) placed 6th.

• Champ. Round 1 – Miles Meek (Louisburg) 7-9 won by fall over Ethan Horinek (Goodland) 8-8 (Fall 0:00)
• Quarterfinal – Jake Meyer (Wamego) 18-4 won by fall over Miles Meek (Louisburg) 7-9 (Fall 1:25)
• Cons. Round 2 – Miles Meek (Louisburg) 7-9 won by fall over Brayden Folsom (Tonganoxie) 1-8 (Fall 2:14)
• Cons. Round 3 – Miles Meek (Louisburg) 7-9 won by fall over John Broadwell (Labette County) 17-13 (Fall 1:52)
• Cons. Semi – Tage Skocny (Santa Fe Trail) 13-18 won by fall over Miles Meek (Louisburg) 7-9 (Fall 2:20)
• 5th Place Match – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 21-13 won by fall over Miles Meek (Louisburg) 7-9 (Fall 2:16)

215

Brayden Yoder (21-13) placed 5th and scored 13.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 21-13 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Tage Skocny (Santa Fe Trail) 13-18 won by decision over Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 21-13 (Dec 7-5)
• Cons. Round 2 – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 21-13 won by fall over Rickey Lowery (Perry-Lecompton) 10-17 (Fall 2:46)
• Cons. Round 3 – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 21-13 won by fall over Reilly Neis (Eudora) 15-15 (Fall 0:23)
• Cons. Semi – Conner Murry (Baldwin) 18-9 won in tie breaker – 1 over Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 21-13 (TB-1 4-2)
• 5th Place Match – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 21-13 won by fall over Miles Meek (Louisburg) 7-9 (Fall 2:16)

285

Xander Lucas (8-18) placed 7th and scored 8.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 8-18 won by fall over German Herrera (Goodland) 1-2 (Fall 2:41)
• Quarterfinal – John Goodwin (Prairie View) 13-12 won by fall over Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 8-18 (Fall 1:17)
• Cons. Round 2 – Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 8-18 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 3 – Hank Beard (Baldwin) 13-15 won by fall over Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 8-18 (Fall 1:48)
• 7th Place Match – Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 8-18 won by fall over Lane Wilkerson (Ottawa) 3-13 (Fall 2:40)