Wildcat wrestling sends six to state

Louisburg junior Will Showalter is picked up by assistant coach Shawn Crossley after he qualified for state Saturday at the Class 4A regional in Tonganoxie.

TONGANOXIE — The Class 4A regional wrestling tournament in Tonganoxie had its fair share of challenges for Louisburg, but several wrestlers were able to continue their season for another week.

The Wildcats qualified six for state during Saturday’s tournament and all of them finished in either third or fourth place against some difficult competition.

Canaan Clayton (113 pounds), Will Showalter (120), Logan Henry (132), Traden Noll (150), Jay McCaskill (157) and Ashton Moore (190) will wrestle for a state medal this week in Salina.

As a team, the Wildcats finished sixth in the team standings with 97 points.

“It was so exciting to see these guys get out there and check off one of their season goals,” Louisburg coach Bobby Bovaird said. “Taking six is a pretty decent number, especially when you look at how the teams ahead of us did: Tonganoxie qualified 10, Santa Fe Trail qualified 9, Baldwin qualified 7 and Holton and Silver Lake qualified 5.”

Moore and McCaskill are returning state qualifiers for the Wildcats and had a challenging bracket as both wrestlers finished fourth overall.

Moore, who was ranked No. 5 in Class 4A coming into the tournament, had two other state-ranked wrestlers in his bracket and he met one of them in the semifinals. 

After a quick first period pin in his quarterfinal match, Moore squared off with Tonganoxie’s Colton Brusven in the semifinals. Brusven, who is No. 3 in the state, narrowly defeated Moore by a 6-4 decision in overtime.

Moore followed it up with a seven second pin of Silver Lake’s Blaise Hill to secure a trip to state. Moore then lost a tough 3-2 decision to Ottawa’s Sam Clevenger in the third place match.

As for McCaskill, he won his first two matches of the day by first period pins, but then went up against Ottawa’s Dalton Evans in the semifinals and lost 9-4.

McCaskill secured a state berth with a 7-0 decision over Santa Fe Trail’s Luke Greenfield, before falling 11-7 to Bishop Miege’s Graham Hawks in the third place match.

“Ashton has been taking things easy since the Baldwin tournament when he tweaked his knee, and he’s been easing back into full-fledged competition mode,” Bovaird said. “He lost to the Tonganoxie kid in overtime, which was a great match. He’s got a little bit of rust to knock off, but I’m really excited to see how he does in his state bracket. 

“Jay also had some great matches last weekend. He’s at a point in the season where he’s going out there and wrestling hard. He’s not being overly conservative and holding back; he’s taking risks, he’s not afraid of losing or making mistake, and that will make him very dangerous at the state tournament.”

The other four Wildcat qualifiers will make their first trip to state as all of them recorded big wins at Tonganoxie.

Clayton shook off a semifinal loss to win back-to-back matches at 113 pounds and punched his ticket to state. He pinned Silver Lake’s Preston Stafford in the consolation semis and then won a 4-0 decision over Baldwin’s Asher Englert in the third place match.

Henry also ended his regional tournament with victory and did so while battling an illness. He wrestled six matches on the day and finished 4-2.

After a semifinal loss to Baldwin’s Gunnar Reichard, Henry rattled off three straight wins, including a pin of Eudora’s Newt Schreiner in the consolation semifinals to earn a state berth. He then followed it up with a pin of Silver Lake’s Zach Rodenbaugh to take third.

Noll also had his fair share of tough matches at 150 pounds. He opened with a pin of Bishop Miege’s Jacob Drone in the quarterfinals, but lost a tough 3-2 decision in overtime of the semifinals to Santa Fe Trail’s Chayse Jeanneret.

Noll would bounce back to earn a spot at state with a 3-0 decision over Baldwin’s Max Harvey in the blood round. He was then pinned by Silver Lake’s Trent Harris in the third place match.

Showalter, a junior captain for the Wildcats, had a busy day with five matches. He opened with a loss in the semifinals to Baldwin’s Jayden Wastage, but then recorded back-to-back pins to reach the consolation semifinals.

It was there where Showalter earned a hard-fought 6-5 decision over Eudora’s Dane Baumgartner. The Louisburg 120-pounder then lost to Santa Fe Trail’s Bryce Combes in the third place match.

“What an exciting weekend for those guys,” Bovaird said. “Canaan has wrestled with our club team since the beginning, and it was awesome news to hear that KSHSAA would be allowing homeschool kids compete for their high school programs. He’s such a hard worker, very respectful, and a fantastic addition to the program. Logan showed how much of a warrior he is by stepping on the mat battling a little sickness this weekend. He was leading his quarterfinals opponent 17-8 when the fatigue got to him. Logan then rattled off four straight wins to finish third.

“Traden has been aiming for a trip to the state tournament for a long time. He’s put in so much work with the sport of wrestling over the years, and I’m so proud to see his hard work pay off. Will was in one of those brackets where certain things had to work out just right, and at the end of the day, Will stepped up and did what he needed to do in order to get to state. “

As celebratory as the regional was, it was also the end of the road for some Wildcats — including seniors J’Lee Collins (126) and Elias Pugh (175) — who saw their high school careers come to an end with a 1-2 tournament performance.

“While it was awesome to see those six wrestlers be able to qualify for state, it was also pretty heart-breaking for the other eight wrestlers,” Bovaird said. “Two of them are seniors who have given us great leadership all season. A lot of tears were shed by the wrestlers, their families and the coaches. The thing is, with J’Lee, he hasn’t finished his journey with the sport of wrestling, as he’ll be wrestling for Benedictine next year. Elias has had at least one junior college program asking about him. Our other six wrestlers that didn’t qualify are all underclassmen with at least one more year left with the program.”

The state tournament will feature a 3-day format this season due to having both the Class 3-2-1A boys and 4-1A girls tournaments in Salina as well. Action will begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday with the first round, followed by the championship quarterfinals and the first round of consolation.

There will be more consolation action on Friday, followed by place matches and the championship on Saturday.

“It’s going to be an interesting experience,” Bovaird said. “This is the first time that state has been stretched out over three days. That’s three weigh-ins the guys will have to make. They’re doing three rounds Thursday, three on Friday, and then the consolation semis and medal matches Saturday. It’s exciting, though, because we’ll also be able to see the girls 4-1A state tournament and the 3-2-1A boys state tournament. We’ve never been able to watch those.”

106

Levi Cotter (21-20) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Bryce Cormier (Silver Lake) 31-9 won by major decision over Levi Cotter (Louisburg) 21-20 (MD 10-0)
• Cons. Round 1 – Levi Cotter (Louisburg) 21-20 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Semi – Caul Johns (Ottawa) 23-17 won by major decision over Levi Cotter (Louisburg) 21-20 (MD 8-0)

113

Canaan Clayton (24-16) placed 3rd and scored 10.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 24-16 received a bye () (Bye)
• Semifinal – Brodie Starcher (Tonganoxie) 19-12 won by major decision over Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 24-16 (MD 10-0)
• Cons. Semi – Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 24-16 won by fall over Preston Stafford (Silver Lake) 12-21 (Fall 0:26)
• 3rd Place Match – Canaan Clayton (Louisburg) 24-16 won by decision over Asher Englert (Baldwin) 12-12 (Dec 4-0)

120

Will Showalter (18-24) placed 4th and scored 11.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Will Showalter (Louisburg) 18-24 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Jayden Westgate (Baldwin) 27-5 won by fall over Will Showalter (Louisburg) 18-24 (Fall 2:40)
• Cons. Round 2 – Will Showalter (Louisburg) 18-24 won by fall over Kaden Wuellner (Meriden-Jefferson West) 1-20 (Fall 1:59)
• Cons. Round 3 – Will Showalter (Louisburg) 18-24 won by fall over Carson Cunningham (Ottawa) 3-18 (Fall 2:11)
• Cons. Semi – Will Showalter (Louisburg) 18-24 won by decision over Dane Baumgartner (Eudora) 2-3 (Dec 6-5)
• 3rd Place Match – Bryce Combes (Santa Fe Trail) 24-9 won by fall over Will Showalter (Louisburg) 18-24 (Fall 2:32)

126

J`Lee Collins (24-17) place is unknown and scored 3.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 24-17 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Cole Mader (Ottawa) 22-17 won by fall over J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 24-17 (Fall 2:54)
• Cons. Round 2 – J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 24-17 won by fall over Bennett Jackson (Shawnee Mission-Bishop Miege) 7-26 (Fall 1:19)
• Cons. Round 3 – Garrett Homles (Silver Lake) 32-11 won by decision over J`Lee Collins (Louisburg) 24-17 (Dec 4-2)

132

Logan Henry (25-14) placed 3rd and scored 21.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Logan Henry (Louisburg) 25-14 won by fall over Payton Teel (Hiawatha) 5-19 (Fall 1:26)
• Quarterfinal – Gunnar Reichard (Baldwin) 14-20 won by fall over Logan Henry (Louisburg) 25-14 (Fall 4:19)
• Cons. Round 2 – Logan Henry (Louisburg) 25-14 won by fall over Yanni Jimenz (Topeka-Hayden) 7-17 (Fall 2:25)
• Cons. Round 3 – Logan Henry (Louisburg) 25-14 won by major decision over Cesar Sandoval (Holton) 15-19 (MD 15-5)
• Cons. Semi – Logan Henry (Louisburg) 25-14 won by fall over Newt Schreiner (Eudora) 19-19 (Fall 2:10)
• 3rd Place Match – Logan Henry (Louisburg) 25-14 won by fall over Zach Rodenbaugh (Silver Lake) 17-10 (Fall 0:55)

138

Mika McKitrick (18-23) place is unknown and scored 4.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 18-23 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Dax Duffett (Tonganoxie) 19-10 won by fall over Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 18-23 (Fall 1:07)
• Cons. Round 2 – Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 18-23 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 3 – Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 18-23 won by fall over Parker Gillen (Silver Lake) 24-17 (Fall 2:01)
• Cons. Semi – Ethan Williams (Baldwin) 28-8 won by fall over Mika McKitrick (Louisburg) 18-23 (Fall 3:52)

144

Blake Oliphant (6-20) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Blake Oliphant (Louisburg) 6-20 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Cale Hein (Holton) 40-5 won by fall over Blake Oliphant (Louisburg) 6-20 (Fall 2:00)
• Cons. Round 2 – Blake Oliphant (Louisburg) 6-20 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 3 – Grady Sumrall (Ottawa) 14-22 won by decision over Blake Oliphant (Louisburg) 6-20 (Dec 8-2)

150

Traden Noll (30-14) placed 4th and scored 11.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Traden Noll (Louisburg) 30-14 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Traden Noll (Louisburg) 30-14 won by fall over Jacob Drone (Shawnee Mission-Bishop Miege) 20-21 (Fall 3:27)
• Semifinal – Chayse Jeanneret (Santa Fe Trail) 25-10 won in tie breaker – 1 over Traden Noll (Louisburg) 30-14 (TB-1 3-2)
• Cons. Semi – Traden Noll (Louisburg) 30-14 won by decision over Max Harvey (Baldwin) 21-18 (Dec 3-0)
• 3rd Place Match – Trent Harris (Silver Lake) 31-15 won by fall over Traden Noll (Louisburg) 30-14 (Fall 0:27)

157

Jay McCaskill (34-14) placed 4th and scored 13.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 34-14 won by fall over Maddex Doherty (Wellsville) 12-25 (Fall 0:29)
• Quarterfinal – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 34-14 won by fall over Andrew Keithley (Holton) 21-17 (Fall 0:26)
• Semifinal – Dalton Evans (Ottawa) 32-12 won by decision over Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 34-14 (Dec 9-4)
• Cons. Semi – Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 34-14 won by decision over Luke Greenfield (Santa Fe Trail) 18-9 (Dec 7-0)
• 3rd Place Match – Graham Hawks (Shawnee Mission-Bishop Miege) 33-8 won by decision over Jay McCaskill (Louisburg) 34-14 (Dec 11-7)

165

Bryce Thompson (18-14) place is unknown and scored 4.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 18-14 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Dylan Williams (Baldwin) 24-11 won by fall over Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 18-14 (Fall 4:31)
• Cons. Round 2 – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 18-14 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 3 – Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 18-14 won by fall over Malakie Laws (Perry-Lecompton) 14-22 (Fall 1:38)
• Cons. Semi – Jude Krentz (Topeka-Hayden) 27-3 won by fall over Bryce Thompson (Louisburg) 18-14 (Fall 4:42)

175

Elias Pugh (21-17) place is unknown and scored 2.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Keldyn Cox (Baldwin) 12-17 won by fall over Elias Pugh (Louisburg) 21-17 (Fall 1:07)
• Cons. Round 1 – Elias Pugh (Louisburg) 21-17 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 2 – Elias Pugh (Louisburg) 21-17 won by decision over Chris McClendon (Wellsville) 8-7 (Dec 9-8)
• Cons. Round 3 – Kayden Clelland (Silver Lake) 17-15 won by decision over Elias Pugh (Louisburg) 21-17 (Dec 5-4)

190

Ashton Moore (35-7) placed 4th and scored 11.0 team points.

• Quarterfinal – Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 35-7 won by fall over Coltin Wade (Perry-Lecompton) 1-8 (Fall 1:04)
• Semifinal – Colton Brusven (Tonganoxie) 22-6 won in sudden victory – 1 over Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 35-7 (SV-1 6-4)
• Cons. Semi – Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 35-7 won by fall over Blaise Hill (Silver Lake) 3-22 (Fall 0:07)
• 3rd Place Match – Sam Clevenger (Ottawa) 28-15 won by decision over Ashton Moore (Louisburg) 35-7 (Dec 3-2)

215

Brayden Yoder (25-18) place is unknown and scored 4.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 25-18 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Carter Wilmarth (Wellsville) 29-4 won by fall over Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 25-18 (Fall 3:45)
• Cons. Round 2 – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 25-18 received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 3 – Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 25-18 won by fall over Rickey Lowery (Perry-Lecompton) 13-24 (Fall 0:58)
• Cons. Semi – Conner Murry (Baldwin) 21-10 won by fall over Brayden Yoder (Louisburg) 25-18 (Fall 2:23)

285

Xander Lucas (12-23) place is unknown and scored 3.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 – Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 12-23 received a bye () (Bye)
• Quarterfinal – Alex Strother (Santa Fe Trail) 26-7 won by fall over Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 12-23 (Fall 1:01)
• Cons. Round 2 – Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 12-23 won by fall over Ean Winsor (Holton) 5-17 (Fall 2:21)
• Cons. Round 3 – Jacob McConnell (Wellsville) 16-18 won by fall over Xander Lucas (Louisburg) 12-23 (Fall 0:38)

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