From CJOnline.com
HAYS — Make no mistake, Rossville wasn’t about to turn up its nose at or give back the third-place trophy it claimed over the weekend at the Class 3-2-1A state wrestling championships.
The piece of hardware was just the third in the program’s history — all three coming since 2011 — and only has been surpassed by last year’s runner-up finish.
But after entering the state meet ranked No. 1 in 3-2-1A and putting itself in position to have a realistic shot of knocking off two-time defending champion Norton, the finish was somewhat bittersweet.
“We were definitely in the hunt, but we didn’t end up where we wanted to be or where we thought we could be,” Rossville coach Curt Brecheisen said. “We knew coming in, it was going to be tough. We knew we’d be in the top three, we were just hoping it would shake out a bit differently.”
Instead, the Bulldawgs walked away from Hays’ Gross Memorial Coliseum with a bit of a “What-if” feeling after finishing 15.5 points behind champion Norton and just 1.5 points behind runner-up Hoisington.
On a weekend where every point was going to be crucial, Rossville came up just a tad short.
In fact it could be argued that just three points was all that separated the Bulldawgs from a sure-fire runner-up finish and possible title. Three different Bulldawgs suffered one-point defeats at the tourney and victories in those matches instead of losses would have been huge swings.
Junior Alex Cavanaugh saw a third-period penalty point result in a 3-2 loss to Smith Center’s David Hileman in the championship semifinals. A win by Cavanaugh would have earned him another shot at Mid-East League rival Riley Tubbs of Wabaunsee in the finals — whom he had beaten earlier in the year — as well as crucial advancement points.
Senior 160-pounder Nick Reesor saw his bid for his first state title end with a 1-0 loss to Eureka’s Chuck Schmidt.
“I could never really find my ties and he did a good job of keeping me from getting in on him,” Reesor said. “I couldn’t get off bottom, which I’ve done all year. It wasn’t pressure. He was just better than me that match.”
Junior 152-pounder Derek Gentry went 0-2, but lost both matches by a total of three points — 8-6 to Fredonia’s Logan Sherman in the first round and 8-7 to Russell’s Kelton Suchy in the consolation first round.
Wins in any of those matches could have swung things Rossville’s way.
The good news for the Bulldawgs is they should be right in the title mix once again next year. Reesor was the only senior among Rossville’s eight state qualifiers and the Bulldawgs will be returning a pair of state champions in sophomore Bryce Gfeller, who won his second straight state title with an 8-5 win over Ellis’ Bryce Younger in the 113-pound finals, and junior Isaac Luellen, who dominated Cherryvale’s Kaden Housel 13-3 for the 182-pound crown.
Rossville also got a third from junior Cavanaugh at 126 and a fourth from freshman Isaiah Luellen at 138. Gentry, freshman Holden Hurla (120) and junior Kole Davoren (220) also return from the state squad.
“I hope next year we do break it down,” said Brecheisen, who was named 3-2-1A coach of the year by the Kansas Wrestling Officials Association. “We’ve got guys who can be up there again like they were this year. We’ve got some guys who qualified in their first attempt at qualifying who should come back even stronger next year. And we’ve got guys that work hard, and that’s the main thing.
“We’re going to be OK. I’ve got a good staff and that makes a world of difference when you’ve got Cody (Lambotte) and Courtney (Horgan) who put the time and effort in that they do. I’ve got two of the best assistant coaches in the state.”
Rossville led a strong showing by the Mid-East League which put three teams in the top seven and four in the top 14. All four should be strong again next year as well.
Silver Lake finished fourth, 17 points behind Rossville, and will return five of its six state placers. Sophomore Dalton Dultmeier led the Eagles with a runner-up finish at 120, dropping a 1-0 decision to Atchison County sophomore Hunter Ostertag.
St. Marys was seventh as a team led by state champions Corey Tyler (145) and Greg Tooley (152). Tooley graduates as a two-time undefeated state champion, but Tyler returns after tying the state record for wins in a season with 51, matching St. James Academy’s Matt Pratt (2014).
Wabaunsee finished 14th with a program-best three state placers and will return two, including freshman Riley Tubbs, who finished second at 126 pounds after getting caught late and pinned by Smith Center’s David Hileman.
