Three Mustangs took home first place honors when Iola High School hosted the Pioneer League wrestling tournament on Thursday. Trent Jones, Dominic McGee, and Wyatt Westervelt were crowned kings of the league.
TJ Taylor, who is 25-4 on the season, finished second in his weight class after being defeated by Osawatomie’s Chance Mitzer by a 6-5 decision. Taylor got a bye in the quarterfinals and won in the semis over Anderson County’s Trinton Guernsey by pin in the first round, 1:36 into the match.
Ryan Wools and Korbin Cloud both finished third in their classes.
Wools is 11-11 on the season and was relegated to the third place match after losing in the semis to Santa Fe Trail’s Cody Black by pin in the second round. In the third place match, Wools defeated Anderson County’s Connor Prothe with a quick 41-second pin.
Cloud, who has rebounded well from a difficult start to the season, is 17-9 on the year. Cloud was put in the third place match after losing to Anderson County’s AJ Schaffer by a 6-0 decision. Cloud defeated Santa Fe Trail’s Logan Casky by a 4-2 decision to finish third.
Jones is now 24-3 this season. He received a bye in the first round but dominated in his semi and won via pin in 51 seconds before winning the first place match in a 7-4 decision over Anderson County’s John Wright.
Westervelt also received a first round bye. In his second round match, he won by a 20-5 technical fall before pinning his first place match opponent, Santa Fe Trail’s Thomas Baughman in 1:12.
McGee had an impressive road to the gold. After getting a first round bye, McGee took the semi-final win over Anderson County’s Dalton Kellerman via pin in 1:01. McGee defeated Prairie View’s Wayde Cox-Halliburton by a 4-2 decision. McGee’s win over Cox-Halliburton marked a measure of revenge from a loss earlier this season.
“Our boys continue to improve every tournament,” said Iola coach Jason Bates. “That’s our goal, to be better than the day before. All our wrestlers are competing with confidence and are excited to continue their journey to state.”
Next for the Mustangs is the regional meet next Saturday in Frontenac. All wrestlers from Friday qualified.
“Our boys are focused and ready to work,” Bates added.
