FREDONIA — Iola High’s Devin Culler challenged the fourth-ranked 160-pounder in Kansas Class 3-2-1A in the championship match at Saturday’s Fredonia Invitational.
Hunter Stalford of Caney Valley High proved the best on Saturday. Stalford scored a technical fall, 15-0 decision, over Culler. Culler claimed the silver medal in the 160-pound weight class.
Culler began the day with a pin in 41 seconds of Jodie Murphy of Erie. In the quarterfinals, Culler pinned Chris Bluml of Valley Center High in 5 minutes, 49 seconds.
Culler defeated Deandre Tipton of Wichita South High 6-0 in the semifinals. Culler is 21-6 on the season.
Iola had two other wrestlers place in their weight classes at the 30th annual Fredonia High Invitational.
Bryce Misenhelter claim-ed fourth in the 182-pound class. After a first-round bye, Misenhelter lost 9-0 to Luke Plummer of Fredonia.
Misenhelter worked back through the consolation side of the bracket. He had a bye, then pinned Kylan Dixon of Frontenac in 1:51.
In the consolation semifinals, Misenhelter pinned Rakim Dean of Wichita South in 3:48. That put him in the third-place match.
It also had Misenhelter facing Plummer again. Plummer won but it was a 4-3 decision over Misenhelter. Misenhelter is 16-12 in varsity action.
Chase Roettgen lost a heartbreaker in double overtime 4-2 to Jacob Henricks of Maize South High to finish sixth in the 220-pound division. Roettgen has a 16-12 varsity record.
Roettgen pinned Nigel Harris of Putnam City High in 3:22 to begin the day. He lost 17-4 to Seth Birkes of Wichita South in the quarterfinals.
Roettgen received a bye in the first round of consolation action. He pinned Adam Hess of Valley Center in 2:09, then lost 8-0 to Ethan Gustus of Caney Valley. He went into the fifth-place match against Henricks.
At 120 pounds, Iola’s Tristan Sigfusson was pin-ned by Lane Rosenberg of Labette County, received a bye and lost 10-5 to Aaron Juby of Leon-Bluestem High.
At 145 pounds, Iola’s Raymond Branstetter was pinned by Harley Haag of Putnam City, Okla., received a bye and was pinned by Blake Ray of Bluestem.
At 152 pounds, Travis Rieske was pinned by Danny Yarnell of Erie and by Dakota Swanson of Andover High.
