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.
Also at 152 pounds, Zeph Larney was pinned by Kalin Collins of Wichita South, beat Josh Moyer of Maize South 4-1, then was pinned by Yarnell of Erie.
