By: J. Long

I thoroughly enjoyed my first state wrestling tournament. Several area kids took home titles, Chase Nitcher, Valley Center (125), Cade Blair, Valley Center (140), Chris Watson, Andover Central (152), Kyle Detmer, Carroll (160), and Jake Cole, Carroll (215).

Watson’s win was very impressive considering he suffered a shoulder injury in the second period. I thought they were going to have to stop the match, but he battled through it. Overall I was very impressed with all of the wrestlers and coaches. The state put on a very good tournament and everyone associated with it deserves a pat on the back.

by joanna

It’s all over. It’s done. No one is here but us poor saps on press row.

What a day. Goddard wins the team title, Boaz Beard and Tyler Caldwell finish their careers with their fourth state titles, Heights collapses, Maize comes through for third, Derby loses again to Goddard.

I’m exhausted just typing that.

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by joanna

Matt Browning sent me these updates on the 4A tournament in Salina:

Nathan Furches, Clearwater won 1-0 at 119. He recorded an escape point early in the third period.

Zake Peters, Augusta won 9-7 at 125.

Jake Hattabaugh, Andale won 4-3 at 140.

Andale is going to finish in the top five, with the top three being an outside shot.

Benny Armstrong from Andale lost to John Hambleton from Labette Co. 3-2.

Darnell Bortz from Pratt won at 189.

B.J. Finney from Andale lost 3-1 to Tank Burns at 285.

Andale finished 4th. Augusta 8th.

Colby is your state champion.

by joanna

7:45 p.m. –Kyle Caylor from Northwest won his second straight title, beating Blue Valley’s Nick Pearch 8-3.

7:15 p.m. – Goddard’s Tyler Caldwell wins his fourth championship, winning 11-0 in the 160-pound final. Boaz Beard pinned his opponent at 189, completing the Lions’ double four-time individual championship.

It was cool to see the two make history, becoming the first two teammates to win four state titles the same season. They were so happy for each other. Caldwell told me that if Beard hadn’t won, it would have been worse than if he himself hadn’t won. I’ll have more on these two in the paper and later on this blog.

We’re at 215 right now.

Catching up, Derby’s Alex Feldkamp defeated Heights’ Chase Nelson in overtime. The final points were questioned by Heights coach Mike Church, who made his disappointment quite clear to the officials. Nelson, who is friends with Feldkamp, was a champ last year. The loss for Heights also, I’m pretty sure, gave the third-place trophy to Maize. Maize had three in the finals, won two. Heights had four in the finals, won one.

Today is always an emotional day. But it’s been more emotional than usual, I believe. And not always pretty.

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By J. Long

7:42 p.m. — Things are wrapping up here. The final weight division of the night just started. There haven’t been too many upsets today. Kyle Detmer (160 pound division) got his redemption by winning his second state title. Teammate Jake Cole (215 divison) also won a state title.

Emporia has already won the team title. Emporia has 155.5 points with one wrestler still competing. Lansing finished with 152.

5:10 p.m. — Well, so far the Wichita area is o-1. Bo Pursel, Lansing defeated Colby Watters, Ark City in the 103 pound weight division.

4:40 p.m. — We’re moments away from the finals. In fact, they just did the mic check. Joanna talked about this earlier, but I’m tripping because all of the coaches are now dressed up. I’m all for a nice suit and a tie, but wrestling is one sport where I thought a coach in a polo and khakis was top of the line. I was obviously wrong, they’re a couple of coaches out here with Pat Riley style.

Terry Alley of Andover Central just won the Coach of the Year award given out by the Kansas Wrestling Officials Association (KWOA).

Well now we are awaiting the conclusion of the parade of champions and then the main event.  

2:51 p.m. — We’re a little less than an hour and a half away from the start of the finals. Though every final should be competitive, I’m looking forward to the 152 pound weight division Tyler Sutherland, Liberal (39-2) vs. Chris Watson, Andover Central (39-0). The Wichita area has done exceptionally well so far. Of the 28 participants in today’s 5A final 10 of them are from the area. 
In the team race, Emporia has a healthy lead over Bishop Carroll and Valley Center. Emporia leads with 146.50 points with Lansing right behind them at 136. Carroll is third with 110 and Valley Center fifth at 90.

By Casey Walkup, KSN Sports

Day after day…week after week, all we hear about in the national media is Brian Butler this…Bryce Brown that, and more Bryce Brown this…. and Brian Butler that. I have set on my thoughts long enough on this situation and now I am going to give my two cents!

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by joanna

The Class 6A and 5A sub-states are out. We’ll have them up today, and they’ll run in Saturday’s paper. For 6A, it’s boys Wednesday and Friday (championships), it’s girls Thursday and Saturday (championships).

For 5A, it’s girls Wednesday and Friday (championships), it’s boys Thursday and Saturday (championships).

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by joanna

I spent yesterday afternoon calling coaches to see if any of their kids who had trained or were training under Brian Butler had been contacted by the NCAA. No one knew anything about it.

But the NCAA did meet with East coach Brian Byers on Thursday, and the NCAA met with Northwest player Colby Duranleau.

How do you feel about this if you were/are with the program? How would you feel about the future of Potential Players? Do you think the NCAA is merely trying to make sure things are on the up-and-up with the nation’s top running back?

by joanna

Not sure what you guys want to discuss today. I’m focused on wrestling, Brian Butler, how the heck the NFL is making money hand over fist so it can pay guys $40 million signing bonuses, how the heck Manny Ramirez can turn down a gazillion dollars for a two-year contract, and how the heck there can be snow flurries this morning when it was nearly 80 degrees just the other day.

by joanna

Hmmm, I almost forgot to do a basketball recap. So if I’m not at a basketball game, is it really played? Just kidding.

Here we go.

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