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Buffalo wrestlers looking to buck trend; bring home state title

Published 12/3/2009 in Prep-Garden City

By JASON ELMQUIST

jelmquist@gctelegram.com

Questions once again surround the Garden City High School wrestling program. But unlike last year's "Who do they have?" and "What should be expected?" This year's questions are more like "Do they have what it takes to claim Garden City's eighth state wrestling title -- and the first in 10 years?"

"We have a great chance of taking a state title," senior Joey Dozier said. "We have a lot of great freshmen and some sophomores who are stepping up. We look like we have a really good team. Coming in with the returning points that we do, along with the incoming freshmen, we have a great chance."

It's been 10 years since Garden City last won a state championship in 1999 -- despite having just one individual claiming a state title with Jordon Nichols in the 160-pound weight class. The last individual champion for Garden City came in 2002 by Ryan Kromer at 152.

But giving Garden City a leg up heading into this season is the fact GCHS has the most returning points from state in Class 6A.

This year, the Buffs have at least two wrestlers primed to buck that trend with seniors Lane Greenlee and Joey Dozier. Both took third-place in their respective weight classes at last year's state tournament. Coming into this year, Greenlee is ranked No. 2 in the 125-pound class in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association pre-season poll while Dozier is pre-season ranked No. 1 in the 145-pound division. But GCHS coach Monte Moser plans to wrestle Dozier at 152 and put freshman Derrik Ortiz at 145.

"I'm nervous about this year, but I'm excited because it looks really good," Dozier said. "But I've just got to keep pushing like I always do. It's going to be a tough season."

Dozier had just three losses all of last season -- including a loss in the Rocky Welton Invitational finals against one of the top-rated wrestlers in the nation. He also avenged his first loss of the season, with his final loss coming in the semifinals at state to a wrestler he won't be seeing this year.

Greenlee had an up and down season a year ago, before taking first at the regional meet in Dodge City and going on to finish third at state. The issue for Greenlee will be the wrestler ranked ahead of him -- Wichita Heights' Daniel DeShazer, who knocked off Greenlee in last year's semifinals and won the state title in 2008. However, just like with Dozier, Moser predicts Greenlee to move up a class and wrestle in the 130 weight division.

"This is the first season I haven't really felt any pressure," Greenlee said. "I'm not really worried about anything. I've just been putting in the extra time and going for that state championship."

Moser will have junior Aaron Anguiano filling in at 125 after beating out Juan Hernandez. Anguiano, who was one of the top wrestlers at 119-pounds a year ago, but failed to reach state due to an injury at the regional tournament.

The Buffs are ranked No. 6 in Class 6A in the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association pre-season poll -- just one spot ahead of where they finished at the state tournament. Along with Greenlee and Dozier, GCHS has four other wrestlers ranked in their respective weight classes. Anthony Calderon, is ranked No. 2 at 103 after finishing fourth at state, but he will be competing at 112 with freshman Jonathan Guerrero taking on the 103-pound division.

After missing last season because of an injury, Colt McElroy -- who went to state in 2008 -- is ranked No. 6 at 119.

Also ranked sixth in his weight class is Braxston Medina in the 135-pound division. At last year's state tournament, Medina finished fifthat 130. And coming off a strong finish to last season, Aaron DeLeon, who finished sixth in the 160 class, comes into the season ranked fifth in Class 6A. However, like several of the other wrestlers, DeLeon is projected to be bumped up to wrestle at 171.

Also returning from last year's state appearance are Jonathan Heiman and Eddy Gomez. Heiman is projected to wrestle in the 140-pound class, with Eddy Gomez filling in at 160. "We have several wrestlers who missed making state by one match and they are hungry to go to state," Moser said. "Then we have several kids who qualified that missed placing by one round and they're definitely hungry. They didn't get blown away in that last match, but lost by a couple of points -- which sometimes is even more frustrating."

Last year, the heavy weights were an issue for the team. But Moser is hoping that sophomore Jason Carreon can help in the 285-pound division, while senior Dane Myers were compete at 189, and junior Eric Requence will be in the 215 class.

"We've got several guys coming back in the heavier classes," Moser said. "Jason Carreon, who was our JV heavy weight, has stepped up. Last year, the last match he won one of the ranking matches against the varsity heavy weight and then lost two, which put him out for regionals. But he wasn't that far behind the other guy. He's been lifting weights and looks to be in pretty good shape. So we're anxious to watch him wrestle this year."

The Buffaloes will travel to Amarillo, Texas for the Amarillo Team Duals on Dec. 4-5. Moser said the team will also be taking Krystal Martinez, who compete in the girls tournament in Amarillo, wrestling in the 130-pound class.

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Projected Varsity Roster

103 -- Jonathan Guerrero, Fr.

112 -- Anthony Calderon, So.

119 -- Colt McElroy, Jr.

125 -- Aaron Anguiano, Jr.

130 -- Lane Greenlee, Sr.

135 -- Braxston Medina, So.

140 -- Jonathan Heiman, So.

145 -- Derrik Ortiz, Fr.

152 -- Joey Dozier, Sr.

160 -- Eddy Gomez, Jr.

171 -- Aaron DeLeon, Jr.

189 -- Dane Myers, Sr.

215 -- Eric Requence, Jr.

285 -- Jason Carreon, So.

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GCHS Wrestling 2009-2010 Schedule:

Dec. 4-5 at Amarillo (Texas) Team Duals

Dec. 8 vs. Scott City

Dec. 11-12 at Colby Tournament

Dec. 17 at Dodge City

Dec. 19 at Goodland Tournament

Jan. 8-9 at Maize Tournament

Jan. 16-17 at Netwon Tournament

Jan. 21 vs. Liberal

Jan. 28 vs. Castle View (Colo.)

Jan. 29-30 Rocky Welton Invitational

Feb. 4 vs. Hays/Great Bend

Feb. 11 vs. Colby

Feb. 20 Regionals

Feb. 26-27 State in Wichita

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Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association

Pre-season rankings

Class 6A

Team -- 1. Derby; 2. Goddard; 3. Wichita Northwest; 4. Junction City; 5. Wichita Heights; 6. Garden City; 7. Blue Valley North; 8. Dodge City; 9. Olathe North; 10. Wichita Campus.

GCHS individual rankings

103 -- 1. Kaleb Bonilla, Goddard; 2. Anthony Calderon, GCHS; 3. Alex Garcia, Dodge City; 4. Chandler Gordon, Shawnee Mission Northwest; 5. Trung Le, Derby; 6. Geoffrey Wright, Blue Valley West.

119 -- 1. Cody Beasley, Wichita Campus; 2. Dane Norris, Manhattan; 3. Tre Humphrey, Shawnee Mission South; 4. Brijin McCullough, Wichita Southeast; 5. Justin Martinez, Goddard; 6. Colt McElroy, GCHS.

125 -- 1. Daniel DeShazer, Wichita Heights; 2. Lane Greenlee, GCHS; 3. Josh Haug, Blue Valley North; 4. Brady Heincker, Derby; 5. Zack Vesta, Manhattan; 6. Trevor Bolerjack, Olathe South.

135 -- 1. Zack Tanenbaum, Blue Valley North; 2. Trey Houlden, Goddard; 3. Hunter Edwards, Dodge City; 4. Travis Reinhart, Derby; 5. Andy Jones, Shawnee Mission North; 6. Braxton Medina, GCHS.

145 --1. Joey Dozier, GCHS; 2. Cody Shavlik, Derby; 3. Connor Middleton, Olathe Northwest; 4. Tanner Johnson, Shawnee Mission East; 5. Cody Harrison, Topeka; 6. Will Greenhaw, Shawnee Mission Northwest.

160 -- 1. Reece Wright-Conklin, Lawrence; 2. Evon Royal, Junction City; 3. D.J. Collins, Wichita South; 4. Dalton Stanley, Washburn Rural; 5. Aaron DeLeon, GCHS; 6. Mike Arend, Blue Valley West.

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