The Garden City Telegram
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3 2 1A State Wrestling
Published 2/25/2008 in None : Area High Schools
By MIKE KESSINGER
mkessinger@gctelegram.com
HAYS -- With one simple gesture, Scott City's Francisco Antillon made it known for sure who the top wrestler in the 103-pound weight class is in Class 3-2-1A. Just one weight higher, Lakin's Dalton Davis made it known in his class with a little bit more jubilation to it.
No matter how they did it, the one sure thing is they are both state champions.
Antillon defended his title with a 5-0 decision against Chris Ceman of Phillipsburg. The match was scoreless going into the third period before Antillon scored an escape and reverse to pull away. When time expired, Antillon pushed himself off the mat and raised No. 1 with his pointer finger.
"It feels good to be a state champion, especially in my first two years of high school," Antillon said.
Antillon was top finisher for Scott City, who had four wrestlers medal. In fourth place standings-wise after the first day, the Beavers were overcome by the momentum Norton built early Saturday. Scott City finished fifth as a team with 85 points. Smith Center won its second straight state title, holding off Mid-Continent League rival Phillipsburg 127.5 to 126.5. Beloit rounded out the top three with 121.5 points and Norton was fourth with 101.5.
"I'm pretty proud of our kids," Scott City head coach Jon Lippelmann said. "We had some great rounds and some lousy ones, of course they weren't bad. We had all of our kids alive up until the last on the back side. We had a real bad round where we lost all three. We came in here with one medal winner from last year and we walk out with four."
In the 112-pound class match that followed Antillon's, the moment became one that Lakin wrestling has been waiting for. Davis claimed a 6-5 decision against Billy Broeckelman from Norton in a see-saw battle. Davis trailed 2-0 early before battling his way back. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Lakin coach Larron Hurst swung his arm into the air, assistant coach Matt Shultz raised both hands above his head.
Handed a 10-4 loss against Broeckelman in their regional title match, Davis jumped up off the mat with no time left Saturday and launched his mouth piece into the air. The individual state title is a first for a Lakin wrestler.
"It was one of the best experiences I've ever had," Davis said. "It's what I expected. The crowds going crazy, it's really competitive. I really like it."
The final outcome of the match set off a celebration among the Lakin contingent. After a few minutes to reflect on what he had just witnessed, the pride in Hurst's eyes gleamed.
"It couldn't happen to a better kid," Hurst said. "A few years ago he had some ups and downs, he had some adversity personally. He worked hard. He's a joy to coach."
Davis' title was the last championship for a Telegram area wrestler as Scott City's Logan Numrich placed second. He was pinned 1:33 into the first period by Ryan Swatzell from Phillipsburg in the 171-pound class final. Antillon and Numrich were the only Beavers four wrestlers to be in the title match. Morgan Numrich and Chaston Hoeme each placed fourth. Morgan Numrich was defeated by Jesse Gantz from Stafford in the 140-pound third place match, 6-1, and Hoeme lost a 9-5 decision to Kelly Younkin from Oakley.
Ben Brown from Wichita County placed third as he pinned Tad Miller from Stockton in the third round. Brown trailed 4-5 in the final period before scoring a reverse, then finishing it with a pin.
"I was tired, he was tired," Brown said. "He started coughing, and I saw an opportunity to take advantage."
The only wrestler from Wichita County to qualify, Brown scored 18 points for the Indians.
Lakin brought three wrestlers as Samantha Gonzales (103) and John Lynch (135) each went 1-2. Gonzales was the only female wrestler in the tournament.
Holcomb's Jarrett Stanton (145) finished 1-2. He lost his first match to Darrell Melcher from Herington 6-2, then defeated Plainville's Josh Darnell 5-3, before falling to Derek Soucie from Wichita-Independent 10-1.
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Class 4A
Derek Newell may not have had a glamorous record going into the Class 4A state wrestling tournament at the Bicentennial Center in Salina, but the Ulysses junior it really matter.
Newell finished the two-day event with a runner-up finish in the 152-pound weight class. He was pinned in the third period of the championship match by Andover-Central's Chris Watson.
On the first day though, Newell made an impressive run. In his first two rounds, Newell pinned Jess Lemon from Chapman with six seconds left in regulation, then Labette County's John Hambleton in the second period. He advanced to the championship match with a 7-2 decision over Smoky Valley's Adam Lackey.
Newell's three wins and Robbie Hines' fifth place finish led the Tigers to 37 points and finished 14th as a team between the two. Clay Center repeated as the 4A champions with 151 team points.
Hines finished 4-2 with his final match being a 5-3 decision over Andale's Colton Eck. In his first round, Hines pinned Colton Kral from Prairie View, then lost a major decision to Jake Gentzler from Andover-Central. The loss to Gentzler put in the back side bracket.
Hugoton finished with sevent points, all scored by Cody Hill in the 140-pound class. He finished with a 2-3 mark. After winning his first two matches, Hill lost three straight. The final match was a 10-4 decision against Brandon Hopkins from Anderson County. He opened the tournament with a 8-1 decision against Nick Collins against Augusta, then a 6-1 decision against Abilene's Quinton Wuthnow.
Derek Schnittker (103) and Rafael ORtiz (130) went 0-2.
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