Lange and Blochlinger Finish 2nd as Panther Wrestling Ends Season at State
The KSHSAA 4A boys and girls State Wrestling Championship Tournaments were held Friday and Saturday in Salina at the Tony's Pizza Event Center over the final two days of February.
Concordia sent 7 wrestlers to compete for a State medal - three girls and four boys.
Matches began at 9 AM each day. Below is how the Panthers did at State.
GIRLS
140 - Gabi Lange was the #5 seed in the bracket. Lange started her tournament with a pin over the #12 seed Obree Barnes of Anderson County in 3:56. In the quarterfinals, Lange defeated the #4 seed and number 4-ranked wrestler in the state, Haydan Williams of Haven, with a 14-1 Major Decision. In the semifinals, Lange pinned the #8 seed Kaylee Weibert of NCKL foe Abilene. Weibert upset the #1 seed and number 3-ranked wrestler in the state, Jade Willard of Paola, to advance to the semifinal. Lange pinned the Cowgirl in 1:44. Finally, in the State Championship match, Lange was defeated by her NCKL rival, the #1 seed and number 1-ranked wrestler in the state, Megan Ryan of Rock Creek. Ryan pinned Lange after a long 4:17 battle. Gabi Lange is pictured below on the podium after finishing 2nd in the state with a 35-5 overall record!
190 - Isabelle Alexander was the #16 seed in the bracket. Alexander started her tournament getting pinned by the #1 seed and number 2-ranked wrestler in the state, Zoie Hesse of Iola, in 61 seconds. Hesse went on to finish 2nd in the state. In the first consolation round, Alexander was pinned by the #9 seed Ali Simhiser of Fort Scott. Alexander's season ends with a 21-18 overall record and an appearance at State!
235 - Ava Rowland was the #10 seed in the bracket. Rowland started her tournament with a pin victory over the #7 seed Michaela Miller of LaCygne-Prairie View. Rowland, after being down 1-0, got a pin and pulled off the upset. In the quarterfinals, Rowland was pinned by the #2 seed and number 4-ranked wrestler in the state, Chloe Pope of Girard, in 2:15. Pope went on to finish 6th in the state. In the second consolation round, Rowland pinned the #9 seed, Christan Kucan of Holton, in 41 seconds. Rowland's season came to an end in the third consolation round against the #11 seed Izzy Greer of El Dorado. Greer pinned Rowland in 2:07 and went on to finish 4th in the state. Rowland ends her freshman year with a 20-10 overall record and two wins at the state tournament!
#10 BOYS
165 - Drake Blochlinger was the #3 seed in the weight class. To start the tournament, Blochlinger pinned the #14 seed Kyzer Lehmann of Burlington in 99 seconds. In the quarterfinals, Blochlinger pinned the #6 seed Brody Nicol of Holton in only 55 seconds! In the semifinals, Blochlinger faced the #2 seed and number 2-ranked wrestler in the state, Bodhi Shay of Paola. Both wrestlers were scoreless through the first two periods. In the first 3 seconds of the 3rd period, Blochlinger earned an escape point, and that was the only point scored in the bout. Blochlinger won in a 1-0 Decision. Finally, in the State Championship match, Blochlinger faced the #1 seed and number 1-ranked wrestler in the State, Brady Martin of Tonganoxie. Martin defeated Blochlinger with a close 4-1 Decision. Blochlinger is pictured below on the podium after finishing in 2nd at State with a 47-3 overall record!
175 - Deekon Holbert was the #5 seed in the weight class. To start the tournament, Holbert pinned the #12 seed and NCKL foe Nick Allen of Rock Creek in 2:18. In the quarterfinals, Holbert faced the #4 seed and number 4-ranked wrestler in the state, Aaron Wyrick of Labette County. Wyrick defeated Holbert with a 19-10 Major Decision and went on to finish 3rd in the state. In the second consolation round, Holbert pinned the #14 seed Brody Bowser of NCKL foe Clay Center in a long 4:21 battle. In the third consolation round, Holbert pinned the #8 seed Max Harvey of Baldwin in only 70 seconds! In the consolation semifinals, Holbert was defeated by the #3 seed and number 3-ranked wrestler in the state, Caleb Menke of Topeka Hayden. Menke went on to finish 4th in the state. Finally, in the 5th place match, Holbert faced the #6 seed and number 6-ranked wrestler in the state, Von Grubbs of Hugoton. Holbert, after trailing 5-4, got a pin and the victory. Holbert is pictured below on the podium after finishing the season with a 43-9 overall record and 5th place at State!
190 - Tre Hamiel was the #3 seed in the weight class. To start the tournament, Hamiel defeated the #14 seed and NCKL foe Haidan Simon of Wamego with a 9-0 Major Decision. In the quarterfinals, Hamiel faced the #11 seed Dalton Wulf of Clearwater after he upset the #6 seed Jeremiah Melugin of Independence. Hamiel won with a close 7-3 Decision. In the semifinals, Hamiel faced the #2 seed and the number 3-ranked wrestler in the state, Jude Krentz of Topeka Hayden. Krentz defeated Hamiel in a close 4-1 Decision. Krentz finished 2nd in the state. In the consolation semifinals, Hamiel was defeated by the #8 seed and number 5-ranked wrestler in the state, Easton Eisenhour of Scott City, in a close 8-3 Decision. Eisenhour went on to finish 4th in the state. Finally, in the 5th place match, Hamiel faced the #12 seed Jacob Burklow of Buhler. Hamiel defeated Burklow in a close 4-1 Decision. Hamiel is pictured below after finishing the season with a 36-7 overall record and 5th place at State!
215 - Max Metzler was the #10 seed in the weight class. Metzler started his tournament with a pin over the #7 seed, Gabe Johnson of Hiawatha. Metzler was trailing 5-4 going into the final period and got a pin in the first 30 seconds to get the pin victory in 5:32. In the quarterfinals, Metzler was pinned by the #2 seed and number 2-ranked wrestler in the state, Kash Smith of Columbus in 1:23. In the second consolation round Metzler pinned the #8 seed Uvaldo Martinez of Hugoton after a long 4:39 battle. Metzler's season came to an end in the third consolation after falling to the #6 seed and number 5-ranked wrestler in the state, Dylan Hall of McPherson, in a close 8-4 Decision. The Senior's career comes to an end with a 27-10 overall record and two wins at the state tournament!