Warriors send four to state wrestling tournament
Marion High School wrestlers Cody Wildin, Dillon Wildin, Charlie Holub, and John Barr III finished in the top four of their weight divisions Saturday at the Burlington Class 3-2-1A regional, earning trips to the state tournament this weekend in Hays.
While Marion and Peabody-Burns school districts field a combined team during the regular season, regional scoring separates the schools for team scoring.
Marion finished seventh out of 22 teams, while Peabody-Burns placed 20th. If the scores had been combined, the joint Warrior squad would have finished sixth.
Third-place finishes went to Dillon Wildin in the 130-pound class, Holub, at 140 pounds, and Barr III in the 152-pound division.
Cody Wildin placed fourth in the 119-pound class.
"We wrestled very well this weekend," said Warrior head coach Chad Adkins. "We had three wrestlers, Derek Riggs, Hank Collett, and Tylor Neil, that were one match away from qualifying for the state tournament."
Adkins also had words of praise for Warrior senior Ben Leppke.
"I want to recognize Ben for his dedication to our wrestling program," said Adkins. "We wish things could have turned out better for him in his senior season."
Fort Hays State University will host the Class 3-2-1A state tournament Friday and Saturday at Gross Coliseum. Opening round action begins at 10 a.m.
Class 3-2-1A REGIONAL WRESTLING — Burlington
Team results:
1. Burlington 153 1/2; 2. Eureka 136 1/2; 3. Wichita Independent 107 1/2; 4. Hillsboro 106 1/2; 5. Chase County 97; 6. Remington 92; 7. Marion 87 1/2; 8. West Elk 82; 9. Halstead 62 1/2; 10. Flinthills 51; 11. Caney Valley 36 1/2; 12. Central Heights 36; 13. Jayhawk-Linn 35; 14. Bluestem 26; 14. Pittsburg Colgan 26; 16. Fredonia 20; 16. Neodesha 20; 18. Cherryvale 17; 19. Goessel 9; 20. Peabody-Burns 5; 21. Erie 0; 21. Sedgwick 0.
Marion County schools individual results:
(103) 1. Bennett, Remington, dec. Brown, Flinthills, 6-3; 3. Ray, Eureka, pinned Jost, Hillsboro, 4:22.
(119) 1. Harshman, Chase County, dec. Brobst, Eureka, 4-2; 3. Brown, Flinthills, dec. C. Wildin, Marion, 5-2.
(130) 1. Bechtel, Eureka, pinned Mueller, Hillsboro, 1:41; 3. D. Wildin, Marion, m. dec. Pressley, Burlington, 12-2.
(140) 1. Thibault, Halstead, pinned Frey, W. Independent, 5:05; 3. Holub, Marion, dec. Jones, Hillsboro, 5-1.
(145) 1. Leihy, Hillsboro, dec. Kopfman, Burlington, 8-6; 3. Soucie, W. Independent, dec. Abrahams, Remington, 7-3.
(152) 1. Whetzell, Pittsburg Colgan, pinned Andrade, Halstead, 5:06; 3. Barr, Marion, dec. Stultz, Goessel, 7-4.
(171) 1. Yoder, Hillsboro, pinned Madison, West Elk, 2:51; 3. Mills, Remington, dec. Ditto, Burlington, 4-2.
