Luellen Gets OT Win Over Mullin

From the Capital-Journal:

      ROSSVILLE — Ever since losing to Clay Center’s Hunter Mullin in the 160-pound finals of the Clay Center Invitational in early December, Rossville’s Isaiah Luellen eagerly awaited another shot at the Tiger state champion.

      He got it Saturday in the finals of the Rossville Invitational. And just as Mullin held serve on his home mat, so did Luellen.

      Luellen got the only two takedowns of the match, the second one the biggest, coming 30 seconds into the overtime period to give the Bulldawg junior a huge 5-3 win to avenge his only loss of the season.      “I was confident going out there and I think I wrestled to my ability,” Luellen said. “I just wanted to win for my family, the home crowd. I worked really hard this week and hard work paid off.”

      Luellen’s wait for redemption barely lasted a month. Hunter Ostertag’s lasted two-plus years.

      In the 2014 106-pound Class 3-2-1A state championship match, the Atchison County Tiger fell 13-10 to Rossville’s Bryce Gfeller in a wild, back-and-forth match.

Ever since, he’s wanted another shot.

      “I think about it all the time,” Ostertag said of the title match between freshman standouts. “I think I was nervous being on the big stage like that for the first time.”

Ostertag and Gfeller spent the past two years at different weight classes, but finally met again Saturday in the 138-pound final. This time, Ostertag came out on top in a 3-2 match that saw a flurry of action late.

      Ostertag built a 3-0 lead through two periods, but gave up a penalty point and escape in the third as Gfeller cut it to 3-2. Ostertag nearly got a clinching takedown but was ruled out of bounds and then fought off a near takedown bid from Gfeller late for the win.

“It feels pretty good and I know I’m going to see him again, probably at regionals and maybe at state, too,” Ostertag said. “After not getting that takedown on the edge, I was a little hot, but it just came down to who wanted it the most.”

      Luellen dropped a 7-5 decision to Mullin in early December, falling behind 4-0 early before coming back late. In Saturday’s rematch of the No. 1-ranked wrestlers in 4A and 3A, Luellen trailed 1-0 entering the third period before tying it with an escape. He got a go-ahead takedown late in the third period, but couldn’t fight off Mullin’s reversal to force overtime.

      Luellen got in on Mullin’s legs in overtime and got the winning takedown halfway through the extra period.

      “I had to work my way back (in December) and took him down twice, so I knew I could do it,” Luellen said. “I trust my offense and if I stick to it, I’ll get to a leg and finish.”

It was quite a finish for the team title as Clay Center and Santa Fe Trail spent the finals going back and forth. The Tigers entered the finals with a 162.5-153 lead, but the Chargers got wins from Aaron Buterakos (106) and Christian Davis (113) to start the finals and take the lead.

      Buterakos’ win was particularly big as the freshman transfer from Burlingame trailed 3-1 late in his match with Clay Center’s Rhett Koppes before catching the Tiger in a headlock and getting the pin with one second left.

      After Davis followed with an easy 9-1 win over Pleasant Ridge’s Trevor Ragland for the 113 title, Clay Center reclaimed the lead with wins from Peyton Lane (152) and Ryan Tiers (182) with Lane pinning Charger Derrick Martinek.

      Trail had finalists in the last three weight classes and after Caleb Harmes was pinned at 195, Trail freshman Evan Dean scored a huge win with a pin of Clay Center’s Zeb Bloom for the 220 final. Needing a win from Jake Hastings at 285 to win the title, Hastings pinned Pleasant Ridge’s Nic Stiver to give the Chargers the title, 179-176.5 over the Tigers.

      “Those were big pins because both of those Clay Center guys are ranked,” Santa Fe Trail coach Regan Erickson said. “We’re taking steps in the right direction. I’m very pleased overall because we had some good performances today.”

      Riley County picked up a pair of champions in Luke Richard (126) and Mikey Waggoner (170). Richard fought off a tough challenge from Sabetha’s Seth Harrell for a 4-3 win, while Waggoner made quick work of Clay Center’s Jake Wynn with a second period pin.

      St. Marys got a title from Anthony King at 120. King was in full control of his title match with Perry-Lecompton’s Wyatt Pringle before escaping a late reversal to his back to win 12-4.

      Other champions were Republic County’s Trevor Lowell (132), Riverside’s Scott Resler (145) and Wellington’s Ian Groom (195).