Seven Eureka wrestlers made the long trip west last week, after they qualified for the 3-2-1A State Tournament at Gross Memorial Coliseum, in Hays.
The wrestlers battled hard, with three wrestlers going out during the “blood round” (the intense, high-stakes consolation quarterfinal match to secure a spot on the podium) and one Lady Tornado returning to the podium for the second consecutive year.
Eureka senior Harlie Owings claimed her second state medal as she claimed 5th place honors in the 170-pound weight class. She opened with a 3-0 win over Jaelene Vestal of Wichita County, then edged Lola O’Neil of Sabetha 1110 in a thriller quarterfinal.
In the semifinals, she met eventual state champion Lillian Garcia of Plainville, who won by technical fall. She then fell to Sophia Kane (Norton Community) in the consolation semifinal by fall (Fall 4:49). Kane went on to place fourth. Owings then faced Trynity Pope (Stafford) where she claimed a 7-1 decision to place 5th.
Tornado junior Maela Neill and freshmen Tate Scott and Emma Baumgartel went out during the “blood round,” thus finishing in the top 8 in their weight brackets.
Also representing Eureka were junior Mason Hughes, sophomore Killian Harrington and freshman Maddox Hughes.
Following are the individual match results for Eureka participants: 120: Maddox Hughes (1222) lost by fall to Xzephren Donner (Russell) (who later placed second) 42-2 (Fall 2:29); and lost by fall to Kegen Wheeler (Minneapolis Lions) 39-13 (Fall 3:39).
126: Mason Hughes (2614) lost by fall to Marshall Waters (Easton-Pleasant Ridge HS) (Waters went on to place 4th) 27-13 (Fall 2:26); won by fall over Charlie Klein (Minneapolis Lions) 8-8 (Fall 1:34); and lost by fall to Ryder Armstrong (Whitewater-Remington) 20-14 (Fall 2:53).
132: Tate Scott (29-11) won a 19-4 tech fall over Bentley Sutherland (Oberlin- Decatur Community) 24-20 (TF-1.5 4:52); lost a 3-8 decision to Rett Bohl (Ellsworth) 29-9 (who placed 4th); won by fall over 3rd ranked Luke Smith (Effingham-Atchison Co Community) 30-8 (Fall 0:59); and lost a 4-5 decision to Nate Seimears (Council Grove) 42-6 (who placed 5th).
285: Killian Harrington (16-15) won by fall over Nick Miller (Ellinwood HS) 31-7 (Fall 3:33); lost by fall to Carter Spreer (Silver Lake) (who placed 5th) 3510 (Fall 0:42); and lost by fall to Ryddik Bethel (Plainville) 34-9 (who placed 6th) (Fall 1:35).
110: Emma Baumgartel (31-18) won a 14-8 decision over Jillian Samson (Wa-Keeney-Trego Community) 28-19; lost a 4-7 decision to Ebony Hughes (Richmond- Central Heights) 3010 (who went on to place 4th); won a 4-2 decision over Kiya Schultz (Ellsworth) 21-19; and lost by fall to Kyra Sowers (Oberlin- Decatur Community) 26-11 (who placed 3rd) (Fall 2:23).
125: Maela Neill (35-18) won by fall over Raegan Seifried (Cimarron) 24-14 (Fall 1:53); lost to Kaison Miller (Norton Community) 44-0 (who later claimed the state title) (Fall 1:36); won by fall over Karlee Zurfluh (Gypsum-Southeast of Saline) 23-19 (Fall 1:38); and lost a 6-14 major decision to Riley Mohler (Silver Lake) 27-11 (who placed sixth).
