HAYS — Humboldt’s Andrew Watts became the first Humboldt Cub to advance to the fifth-place match in school history at the KSHSAA 3A-2A-1A wrestling state tournament.
Watts earned a 14-5 decision win over Jacob Carver of Rossville in his first bout of the tournament in the 285-pound division. In his quarterfinal match, Watts was pinned by Sylvan Grove’s Tra Barrientes, moving Watts to the consolation side of the bracket.
Watts pinned both Wyatt Glassman of Oakley, and Rylan Hays of Phillipsburg in the blood round to cement a place in the consolation semifinals. There, Watts was defeated by Ellsworth’s Tyler Walford, meaning Watts would compete in the fifth-place match.
Nolan Parker of Eskridge-Mission Valley pinned Watts at the 3-minute 26-second mark to take fifth place, leaving Watts with sixth.
Gunner Elder was the only other Cub wrestler to qualify for state. Elder was defeated by Osage City’s Elijah Collins in the opening round, moving him to the consolation side of the bracket. Elder earned a win by fall in his opening bout in the consolation side. Elder lost a 10-6 decision to Beau Horn of Wathena-Riverside, which meant Elder would not be competing for a medal.
