The Kansas Expocentre’s Landon Arena has
provided some fond memories for Rossville star wrestler Isaiah Luellen
throughout his career.
Luellen added
one more highlight to help cap his high school career on Friday night, winning
his 160-pound match by pin to help the Blue edge the Red 21-19 in the Kansas
Wrestling Coaches Association’s Battle of the Best Dual.
“There’s lots
of great memories in here,″ said Luellen, who grew up wrestling at Landon in
the Kansas Kids Wrestling State Tournament. “There’s lots of bad memories, too,
but here is where I shaped who I am.″
A three-time
Kansas Kids state champ and two-time Class 3-2-1A state high school champ,
Luellen said it was fitting that he got one more chance to wrestle in the
familiar arena.
“It’s kind of
cool to wrestle one of my last high school matches in this arena,″ he said. “I
think it’s really cool because this is where, I guess you can say, I have grown
in the sport.″
Luellen, who
is headed to Fort Hays State, wrestled Shawnee Heights star Jake Patterson, the
2018 5A runner-up, in Friday’s dual.
After a
scoreless first period, Luellen gained the upper hand and recorded a pin late
in the match.
“He’s tough,″
Luellen said of Patterson. “He’s strong and he’s good, but I know that I can
push the pace on anyone.″
In addition
to Luellen’s win, the Blue also got a win from Manhattan 160-pounder Jalin
Harper, who took a 3-0 decision over Hoisington’s Chris Ball.
Friday’s
annual KWCA event leads into the Kansas Kids Wrestling Folkstyle State
Tournament on Friday and Saturday, an event that annually draws several thousand
competitors to Topeka.
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