OSAWATOMIE — Iola High’s TJ Taylor made it 3-for-3 when it comes to league wrestling championships, and set a school record while he was at it.
Taylor, wrestling in the 126-pound division, captured a Pioneer League championship by pinning both of his opponents in quick fashion.
That makes him the first three-time Pioneer League titlist in IHS history — and he’s just a junior.
Taylor has won all 20 of his matches this season for Iola.
(For good measure, Taylor also was a middle school league champion in both the seventh and eighth grades at Iola Middle School.)
The Mustangs registered two second-place finishes as well, Xander Sellman at 106 pounds, and Danny Boeken at 220 pounds.
Sellman (7-9) won his first match over Burlington’s Quade Conkle before falling in the championship round to unbeaten Max Black of Santa Fe trail vin pin in the second round.
Boeken (16-4) pinned Prairie View’s Noah Nordgren before falling to Will Rhoades of Santa Fe Trail via pin. Rhoades, at 20-2, is one of the state’s top 220-pound wrestlers.
Iola is idle over the next two weeks before the Mustangs head to Fort Scott for the Class 4A Districts, with a shot at a state wrestling berth on the line.
Pioneer League Championships
Xander Sellman, second place at 106 pounds
— Sellman def. Quade Conkle, Burlington, (technical fall-21-4)
— Max Black, Santa Fe Trail, def. Sellman, (fall 3:12)
Damian Wacker, 120 pounds
— Skilor Gray, Osawatomie, def. Wacker, (fall 1:37)
