SALINA — Iola High’s wrestling team went up to the Class 4A Kansas State Wrestling Championships on Friday with three wrestlers and on the first day of competition saw all three pick up victories.
“Getting a win is great for next year,” IHS head coach Jason Bates said. “It really prepares us and give us motivation.”
Senior Andrew Garber (32-5) began his day with the most dramatic match featuring any of the three Mustang grapplers.
Garber faced off with Colby’s Brady Slinger and the pair wrestled to a scoreless first period. Garber had the choice when the second period began and the 195-pounder choose to go in the down position.
Garber quickly got his escape and took a 1-0 lead. He maintained his lead into the third period, when Slinger chose down.
Slinger matched Garber’s escape with one of his own and the match was knotted at one.
With under 20 seconds to go, and overtime looming, Garber came up with a big move and was able to take down the Colby wrestler.
“I just felt it so I went with it and it paid off,” Garber said.
Slinger added an escape but it was too late. Garber advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3-2 decision.
Unfortunately for Garber, Anthony Capul was waiting for him in the quarterfinals, after the top-ranked Andover wrestler cruised through his first round opponent with a 20-second pin.
Garber wouldn’t let Capul control him that easily and he managed to avoid giving up the pin, but still fell 9-3.
“He had strength,” Garber said. “If I committed to more of my shots or combo’ed I maybe could have got him.”
TAVON Blazek dropped his opening round match to Basehor-Linwood’s Alex Bejarano.
Blazek took the fight to Bejarano, but despite his aggressiveness, he was pinned in 5 minutes, 46 seconds.
Colton Toney was also pinned in his opening match. Wellsville’s Miguel Lujan topped the Iola heavyweight in 1:28.
Toney bounced right back in the consolation round with a resounding pin in just 2:14 over Basehor-Linwood’s Paul Frith.
