CHANUTE — The Iola Middle wrestling team hit the mats at the Kent Frazell Invitational in Chanute on Monday afternoon.
Five Mustangs finished in first place in their respective weight classes. They are Noah Anderson, Brock Michael, Kale Pratt, Rohan Springer and Zoie Hesse.
“Zoie Hesse is a tough girl,” said Iola head coach Jason Bates. “She’s competitive and a smart athlete. Noah Anderson has really done a good job at being coachable. Brock Michael is a great asset to our team. He likes to laugh and joke, which always lightens the mood, but he also is a hard worker.”
“Kale Pratt is another wrestler that has really worked on being coachable,” Bates continued. “Rohan Springer is another young man that works hard. He’s smart but inexperienced when it comes to athletics. It’s hard the first time and there’s a big learning curve. Rohan has been working on position all week.”
Ruger Boren took second place with 10 team points in the boys 86-94 pound weight class. Boren first took down Labette County’s Gavin Myers in a 3-2 decision, then won against Frontenac Junior High’s Owen Welsh in a 4-2 decision. He then lost to Royster’s TJ Cash in a 33-second fall.
Cadin Peres took second place with 11 team points in the boys 93-99 pound weight class. Peres won by a 2-0 decision over Labette County’s Brock McCarty before being taken down by Fort Scott’s Gus Krebs on a fall 51 seconds into the match. Peres then won by a 9-0 major decision over Coffeyville’s Lincoln Tatman, 9-0.
Braxtin Martin finished in third place with nine team points in the boys 103-109 pound weight class. Martin first took down Labette County’s Mason Kremer on a fall 1:09 into the match before losing to Royster’s Jorden Paterson in an 18-second fall. Martin then lost to Columbus’ Shade Schuberger on a fall 1:54 into the match.
“Overall I’m proud of the team and their performance,” said Bates. “We didn’t win as many matches or get as many first place medals as we have in the past tournaments, but the wrestlers seemed more receptive to being coached. They stayed focused even in tough situations, and they acted like champions when they won and when they lost.”
Beau Erickson came in fourth place with four team points in the boys 105-109 pound weight class. Erickson first lost to Royster’s Kasen Audis on a fall 52 seconds into the match before falling to Girard’s Sammy Blair 25 seconds into the match. Erickson slipped to Columbus’ Levi Simpson on a fall 53 seconds into the match.
James Hunt placed second with 10 team points in the boys 110-114 pound weight class. Hunt took down Labette County’s Jaden Geiger with an 8-1 decision. He then beat Girard’s Keaton Huber in a 2-0 decision. Hunt lost to Royster’s Anthony Beard in a 7-2 decision.
Evan LaCrone took fourth place with four team points in the boys 111-116 pound weight class. LaCrone knocked off Girard’s Johnny Walker with a 3-1 decision before losing to Independence’s Kaeston Lewis on a fall 2:19 into the match. LaCrone then fell to Parsons’ Mario Zacarias in a 3-1 decision.
“Our biggest obstacle in many of our tournaments is getting over bad habits,” Bates said “I preach over and over that our practice has to simulate competition as closely as possible in attitude, effort, and accuracy. If the repeated actions are fundamentally sound, then what comes out in competition will be sound.”
Anderson came in first place with 16 team points in the boys 113-116 pound weight class. Anderson defeated Parsons’ Blane Beery in a 6-4 decision before he beat Frontenac’s Isaac Hamm in a 6-5 decision. He then won by a fall over Columbus’ Brody Carter 2:39 into the match.
Keegan Hill placed in second with two team points in the boys 114-120 pound weight class. Hill lost to Parsons’ Dakota Woodke in a 7-3 decision before he knocked off Independence’s Harlin Bagely in a 4-2 sudden death victory.
Michael came in first place with 16 team points in the boys 121-124 pound weight class. He first defeated Fort Scott’s Lane Laird in an 8-2 decision before toppling Coffeyville’s Cade Keller on a fall over 1:14 into the match. Michael then won by decision over Labette County’s Vincent Mullin in a 6-2 decision.
