Staff writer
The Warriors laid a royal smack down Friday and Saturday at the regionals tournament at Jayhawk-Linn in Mound City, placing second as a team, and sending five of eight wrestlers to 321A state, two of whom won their brackets.
Senior Bryce Shults took pride in the fact that the Warriors achieved second place with what coach Tyler McMichael termed a “small but mighty” team.
With just eight wrestlers, Marion scored 120.5 team points to 146 points scored by Douglas, who won the tournament with a full roster of 14.
Shults, Jarrett Johnson, Noah Albin, Charlie Nordquist, and Tyler Palic all advanced to state.
At 180 pounds Nordquist, who qualified for state last year, and Palic, Marion’s 195-pounder who place sixth in state last year, each logged several pins and went undefeated to win their weight brackets.
Nordquist, who said it felt “pretty good to win,” has a 28-18 record for the season and Palic is 37-12.
Shults, at 138 pounds, and Albin, at 152 pounds, both placed second, each winning all but their finals matches. Shults placed fourth at state last year and is a four-time state qualifier. Albin is a three-time state qualifier.
Shults, who is 38-8 for the season, hopes to place in the top three.
Albin said he was a little nervous but did not expect any surprises at state. His record is 26-17.
At 132 pounds, Johnson, went 3-1 before pinning an opponent in the match for third place. Johnson is 30-10 for the season, and qualified for state a fourth time. He did not express any concern
Ethan Darnall, Brock Mitchell, Kolton Brewer, and Jarrett McLinden were eliminated from competition during the tournament.
Palic said the team has been doing a lot of live wrestling during practice to prepare for the tournament.
Marion wrestlers in the 321A state tournament Friday and Saturday at Fort Hays State University in Hays.