Slater, Palic and Nordquist advance to Hays

By Ryan RicHter

Staff writer

Forest Slater, Todd Palic, and Charlie Nordquist will represent Marion this weekend at the Class 3-2-1A state wrestling tournament at Fort Hays State University.

The three qualified Saturday, securing top four-finishes in their weight classes at the Fredonia regional.

Of 22 schools, short-handed Marion finished 11th with 61½ points.

Eureka rolled to a regional title, whipping runner-up Douglass 170½-123½.

Slater’s midseason surge continued, as he went 3-2 for fourth place.

The 11-19 Slater will face Beloit’s Mason Fuller in the first round.

For sophomore Todd Palic, it wasn’t a matter of if he’d qualify for state, but when.

Palic took the first step both his brothers Kyle and Tyler did in becoming three-year qualifiers.

Palic had a regional title within reach, but fell short, going 2-1 for second place.

Palic opens the tournament against Doniphan West’s Nathaniel Howerton.

Nordquist finished third at Hays a year ago, however, a late season slump due to health appeared to slow him down.

The 220-pound senior seemed to snap out of it as he cruised through the bracket unbeaten, pinning all four of his opponents.

Sylvan Grove’s Tra Barrientes is Nordquist’s first-round opponent.

The Warriors’ other competitor, Will Alleven, also came on late, and may be a year away from qualifying.

The sophomore wrapped up the tournament 2-2, barely missing a bid for qualifying.

Junior Luke Lanning missed any chance at qualifying as he was sidelined with illness.

Friday’s action begins at 10 a.m. with Saturday’s starting an hour earlier at Fort Hays State’s Gross-Coliseum.