By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

HAYS — Hoisington’s High Brandon Ball is a three-time Class 3-1A state wrestling champion who is ranked second in his 138-pound weight division.
Ball lost 8-2 to No. 1 ranked Tribune Greeley County’s Caleb Austin (40-0) in the Panther Classic at Phillipsburg.
Brandon Ball will join Wichita Heights wrestler Sean DeShazer as three-time champions seeking their fourth state championship this weekend. A total of 31 Kansas wrestlers have captured four consecutive titles. Brandon Ball won state titles in 2012 (120); 2013 (126); and 2014 (132).
Brandon Ball (39-1) will meet Riley County’s Wes March (24-16) in his first match Friday at Fort Hays State University.  He would not meet another state-ranked wrestler until Friday’s semifinals.
Hoisington’s other state-ranked wrestlers are No. 3 Jonathan Ball (40-1, 145); No. 3 Landen Urban (34-6, 285); No. 6 Christopher Ball (36-6, 152) and No. 6 Chance Boor (28-8, 195). Capturing regional titles last week at Russell were Brandon Ball, Jonathan Ball, Christopher Ball, Hunter Hanzlick (170) and Landen Urban (285).
Hoisignton’s other state qualifiers are Tanner Cassity (113), Sean Urban (160), Austin McHenry (182) and Justin Bradleuy (220). Sean Urban and Hanzlick meet state-ranked wrestlers in their first match. Jonathan Ball, Hanzlick, McHenry, Boor, Bradley would likely face state-ranked wrestlers in the quarterfinals. Jonathan Ball would meet returning state champion Haegan Schaefer of Silver Lake in the quarterfinals.
HOISNGTON MATCHES
113—Tanner Cassity (24-12) vs. Sublette’s Alex Depperschmidt (23-9)
138—No. 2 Brandon Ball (39-1) vs. Riley County’s Wes March (24-16)
145—No. 3 Jonathan Ball (40-1) vs. Cherryvale’s Alesx Van Rooy (28-10)
152—No. 6 Christopher Ball (36-6) vs. Plainville’s Trevor Houser (32-6)
160—Sean Urban (19-13) vs. No. 3 Eureka’s Chuck Schmidt (17-3)
170—Hunter Hanzlick, (31-13) vs. No. 6 Effingham’s Joey landwehr (18-7)
182—Austin McHenry, (35-9) vs. Onaga’s Kyle Amos (40-4)
195—No. 6 Chance Boor (28-8) vs. Caney Valley’s Wyatt Anderson (23-11)
220—Justin Bradley (6-3) vs. Effingham’s Bratten Forbes (27-10)
285—No. 3 Landen Urban (34-6) vs. Eureka’s Grayson Pryce (31-12)
FOUR-TIME STATE CHAMPIONS
Doug Duell, Goodland, 1972-75; Roy Oeser, Kapaun-Mt. Carmel, 1974-77; Matt Treaster, Beloit, 1981-84; Todd Layton, Independence, 1984-87; Todd Drake, Andover, 1985-88; Justin Ware, Arkansas City, 1989-92; Devin Bahm, Arkansas City, 1993-96; Bill Gabel, St. Francis, 1993-96; Bo Maynes, Salina South, (130-0), 1995-98; Zach Roberson, BV Northwest, (153-0), 1996-99
Jeremy Long, Santa Fe Trail, 1997-2000; Dusty Spaulding, Emporia, 1997-2000; Travis Stites, McPherson, 1997-2000; Dustin May, Derby 1998-2001; Doug Hoover, Kapaun-Mt. Carmel, 1999-2002; Jake Kriegbaum, Abilene, 2001-04; Mat Gilliland, Hoxie, 2001-04; Josh Baldridge, Campus, 2002-05; Clay Madden, Norton, 2003-06; Tristen Deshazer, Wichita West, 2003-06
Romero Cotton, Hutchinson, 2005-08; Trison Graham, Arkansas City, 2005-08; Boaz Beard, Goddard, 2006-09; Tyler Caldwell, Goddard, 2006-09; Colt Rogers, Smith Center, 2007-10; Ryne Cokeley, St. James Academy, 2008-11; Dylan Schumaker, Hays-Thomas More Prep, 2009-12; Bo Pursel, Lansing, 2009-12; Zac Gentzler, Andover Central, 2010-13; Brogan Humphrey, Fredonia, 2011-14; Ross Lambotte, Rossville, 2011-14