TOPEKA — Seven individuals from Iola and area towns claimed medals in events during the first weekend of the 2012 Kansas Sunflower State Games. The Games feature events for all ages for three weekends in July.
Iola’s Larry Wilson captured the gold medal in the pole vault for men ages 45-49. He cleared 11 feet while his son Michael, a junior at Iola High, took the bronze medal in the 15-16-year boys’ pole vault with a height of 12 feet.
Three wrestlers from Iola competed in the folkstyle tournament Saturday at Topeka’s Seaman High School. All earned silver medals.
Stephen McDonald, a senior at Iola High, went 3-1 to take the silver medal in the 205-226 pound class in wrestling. McDonald pinned Brent Woodward of Seaman High in 1 minute, 48 seconds, beat Anthony Fitchett of Blue Valley Southwest 4-0 and pinned Tavon Alleyne of Blue Valley Southwest in 5:26. McDonald lost 5-2 to Rakan Ashi of Emporia, deciding the championship.
Jeremy Ridge and Seth Sanford of Allen County Kids Wrestling Club also competed.
Ridge was 3-1 to place second in the 9-10-year-old divisions’ 79-73-pound class. Ridge was pinned by Clayton Moison of Lawrence Elite in 1:36 then made quick work of his next three opponents. Ridge pinned Gunner Smith of Team Hawks in 24 seconds, Nolan Craine of Mulvane Wrestling in 35 seconds and Caden Womack of ConKids in 48 seconds.
Sanford took second in the 13-14-year-old division’s 187-212-pound weight class. He lost 6-4 to Kayne Hutchison of Junction City 6-4 then pinned NomKiWash Potts of Odgen Outlaws in 31 seconds.
SAM AGUIRRE, a senior at Yates Center High, took the gold medal in the 17-18-year-old boys’ 110-meter high hurdles in 15.88 seconds. Aguirre also was third in the 100-meter dash for his age division in 12.62 seconds.
Former IHS standout Stephen Neuenswander earned two silver medals and two bronze medals in track and field. He placed second in the long jump (19’9 1/2”), second in the triple jump (42’0”), third in the high jump (5’2”) and third in the 200-meter dash in the 19-29-year-old men’s division. He also took eighth in the 100-meter dash in 13.10 seconds.
Kyla Drake of Moran placed sixth in the 13-14-year-old girls’ division in 100-meter dash in 14.48 seconds. Drake tied for eighth in the 200-meter dash in 29.11 seconds and was ninth in the long jump at 13’3”.
More events are slated for this weekend in Topeka. Larry Wilson and others are competing in pickleball on Saturday. Anyone participating in other events please let the Register know. Call 620-365-2111.
