FORT SCOTT — For four years Devin Culler has worked and learned on the wrestling mat. He turned that effort into a Kansas Class 4A Regional Wrestling Tournament bronze medal and a trip to the state tournament.
Culler went after the gold medal in the 160-pound weight class when the regional tournament began Friday at Fort Scott High School. The Iola High senior lost in the semifinals which put him on the path to third place.
“I had a chip on my shoulder. He (Kurt Weaver) had knocked me out of last year’s regional,” Culler said after defeating Paola High’s Kurt Weaver 3-1 in Saturday’s third-place match. “I knew I had to stay calm and collected. If you worry, terrible things happen.”
After a scoreless first period, Weaver allowed Culler to go up 1-0, giving up an escape point as he figured he could take Culler down. It didn’t happen.
The third period began with Culler up 1-0 and in the top position. Weaver got loose for an escape to tie the match. Culler worked his way to get a takedown. Protecting a 3-1 lead in the final minute, Culler kept bringing Weaver back down to the mat and controlling him.
“This is really an amazing feeling,” Culler said of taking third and earning a berth in the state tournament this Friday and Saturday in Salina.
Culler won’t be alone. Iola High freshman Trey Colborn captured the fourth-place medal in the 285-pound weight class at the regional meet Saturday.
“I came in here to win a couple of matches and go to state. This feels great and I’m excited about going to state,” Colborn said.
Colborn had to go up against Labette County High’s Spencer Gatewood for the second time in the regional. Gatewood pinned Colborn in the first round of their championship quarterfinal match Friday.
Gatewood lost his semifinal match, putting him in the consolation side. Colborn had two matches in front of him as he headed into Saturday’s consolation bracket action. Win and advance.
It came down to one match. Chanute’s 285-pounder was injured in his semifinal and could not continue. Colborn had to win one more and he was headed to the state tournament
Colborn received a bye then took on another familiar opponent, Coffeyville’s Austin Ryder. Colborn fell behind 6-0 on two near-falls to Ryder. Ryder put Colborn on his back twice in the second period, but the Mustang freshman refused to be pinned.
Colborn was in the top position to open the third period and he controlled Ryder. He turned Ryder and got a three-point near fall then received a penalty point assessed against Ryder for stalling.
Trailing 6-4, Colborn turned Ryder one more time. He didn’t get the pin but did score three points to close the match and win it 7-6.
“It took a lot of heart and I knew I had to get it done,” Colborn said. “I was excited about facing Gatewood again. I wrestled better this time against him.”
Gatewood escaped then took Colborn down in the second period of their third-place match. Gatewood pinned Colborn in 2 minutes, 18 seconds.
Culler claimed 4-0 win over Pittsburg’s Quincy Muathe in the consolation semifinals which punched his ticket to state.
“I really wanted this. I wasn’t going to lose and I knew I had beaten him before. Of course, it was a closer match this time but I felt I was in control the whole match,” Culler said.
It was scoreless after one round then Culler scored two points on a reversal in the second period and kept Muathe on the mat. In the third period, the two wrestlers were on their feet and Culler scored two points with a takedown.
Iola had two other wrestlers win and advance to the consolation semifinals Saturday. Sophomore Bryce Misenhelter lost 8-0 to Christian Tavernaro of Fort Scott at 182 and junior Chase Roettgen fell 6-2 to Tanner Foulk of Osawatomie in the 220-pound bracket.
Earlier in the day, Roettgen had a rough and tumble match against Travis Hodgson of Columbus. It was tied 6-6 late in the third period. Roettgen won the match 8-6 with a takedown with 30 seconds left in the match.
Misenhelter recorded two wins in consolation rounds Saturday. He pinned Tim Cornett of Anderson County in 1:24 then pinned Karter Krokstrom of Chanute in 1:28.
Iola had seven wrestlers eliminated from the regional tournament in the first round of action Saturday morning, which was the second round of consolation bracket matches.
Tristan Sigfusson, a sophomore, lost 7-2 to Lane Rosenberg of Labette County at 120 pounds. In the 126-pound bracket, freshman Kaleb Mock was pinned by Conner Patton of Paola in 1:28.
Sophomore Cody Conner fell victim to his own favorite pinning move — a cradle hold. Conner had the hold on Trent Walker of Labette County but Walker rolled it and had Conner on his shoulders for a pin at the 1:44 mark of the 132-pound match.
Iola senior Brent Clark, a four-year IHS wrestler, ended his career, losing in the 138-pound class. He was pinned by William Holland of Prairie View in 2:03.
Sophomore Jacob Rhoads lost a heartbreaker in the 145-pound bracket. Rhoads broke a 2-2 tie against Ottawa High’s Kevin Farrell with a takedown with 25 seconds left in the match. Rhoads then allowed Farrell to get up and gave up a point, giving himself a 4-3 lead.
Farrell came up with a takedown with six seconds on the clock. Rhoads appeared to have a reversal but it came a half second too late as time expired and he lost 5-4.
Junior Zeph Larney had a tough match against Curtis Moore of Paola at 152 and lost 6-2.
At 195, senior Denton Christian was pinned by Skyler McGuire of Pittsburg in 4:14. Christian wrestled three years — freshman, sophomore and senior — for Iola High.
The Mustangs finished 13th as a team with 42 points in the 15-team regional. Pittsburg won the team regional championship with 222 points followed by Prairie View with 184.5 points, Chanute with 173 and Fort Scott with 170.5 points.
Culler, Colborn are state-bound wrestlers
