The Western Athletic Conference wrestling showdown between Great Bend High School and Hays played out as expected.
The Panthers dominated the lower weights and the Indians dominated the upper weights, just like GBHS head coach Norbert Muth predicted.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, Hays was able to nail down the conference championship in a regular-season-ending dual between undefeated WAC teams on Thursday evening at the Panther Athletic Center.
Great Bend led 27-3 at the midpoint of the dual, but the Indians, the sixth-ranked team in Class 5A by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, took control thereafter in winning 38-27.
“It was the first WAC dual that we have lost this season,” Muth said. “We’re good down below, and they’re good up top and we just couldn’t hold on. There were a couple of them in the middle that I thought we might possibly get, 145 or 152, somewhere in there, but we didn’t.
“That’s just the way it is and I can’t fault our kids. I thought our kids wrestled hard.”
Ryan DesLauriers (106), Arturo Sanchez (113), Chris Burley (120), Greg Burley (132) and Cody Lytle (138) captured wins for Great Bend. DesLauriers, the Burleys and Lytle pinned their opponents, while Sanchez won by decision, 6-1.
“It does set the tone,” Muth said. “Ryan came out and got a pin and then Arturo came out and wrestled really well. It would have been nice getting some bonus points in his match, but really, he did everything we’ve asked him to do.
“Cody Lytle, he’s filling in right now for Brodie Bretz (ranked No. 6 at 138 in Class 5A), whose shoulder was dinged up a little bit from the Garden City tournament, nothing serious, and we’ll get him back on Monday. Cody has wrestled for us at 132 and 138 this year and has done a heckuva job. We couldn’t ask for any more from him.”
Chris Burley, the defending 5A state champion at 112, is ranked No. 2 at 126. He improved to 31-3 on the season after beating Kevin Arnhold.
“The match was a surprise to me with Chris because every time we’ve ever wrestled that kid, it’s been a tight match,” Muth said. “What Chris did, he did for the team, knowing that we needed points.”
Greg Burley, who has missed substantial action this season because of concussions, improved to 16-2 with his win. He is ranked No. 6 at 132.
“Greg’s one of those kids, in all honesty, he’s just a natural and really born to do this,” Muth said. “He’s fluid and he just kind of flows.”
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Western Athletic Conference
Showdown
At Great Bend
Panther Athletic Center
Thursday
VARSITY
Hays 38, Great Bend 27
106 — Ryan DesLauriers, Great Bend, won by fall over Russ Kohl, Hays, 1:11 left, first period
113 — Arturo Sanchez, Great Bend, won by decision over Caleb Hecker, Hays, 6-1
120 — Chris Burley, Great Bend, won by fall over Kevin Arnhold, Hays, 10.7 seconds, first period.
126 — Derek Stiles, Hays, won by major decision over Brett Roberts, Great Bend, 15-3
132 — Greg Burley, Great Bend, won by fall over Tathan Burkhart, Hays, 38.7, first period
138 — Cody Lytle, Great Bend, won by fall over Cade Albert, Hays, 1:01, third period
145 — LeRoy Franco, Hays, won by decision over Joe Lindenberger, Great Bend, 6-5
152 — Ethan Deterding, Hays, won by decision over Emerson Campbell, Great Bend, 2-0
160 — Kyler Myers, Hays, won by decision over Darian Yager, Great Bend, 9-2
170 — Preston Weigel, Hays, won by technical fall, over Bryce Hofmeister, Great Bend, 15-0
182 — Brandon Weigel, Hays, won by Justin Henry, Great Bend, 0:19.3, first period
195 — Chandler Rule, Hays, won by decision over Ramon Garcia, Great Bend, 4-2
220 — Cash Drylie, Hays, won by fall over Ivan Prieto, Great Bend, 0:31, first period
285 — Luke Madden, Hays, won by fall over Jacob Crane, Great Bend, 1:05, first period
JUNIOR VARSITY
126 — Zach Schridde, Great Bend, won by fall over Dylan McKinney, Hays, 0:58.4, third period
132 — Austin Heier, Great Bend, won by fall over Austin Petz, Hays, 0:15.9, first period
138 — Konner Buxton, Hays, won by decision over Blake Scarmeas, Great Bend, 5-4
138 — John Staab, Hays, won by major decision over Austin Weihl, Great Bend, 9-1
160 — Cody Huddleston, Great Bend, won by fall over Kaelon Dietze, Hays, 1:10, second period
182 — Jacob McHenry, Great Bend, won by fall over Tanner Sims, Hays, 1:20 left in first period
182 — Clay Drylie, Hays, won by fall over Ryan Clark, Great Bend, 15 seconds left in first period
195 — Jordan Dietze, Hays, won by decision over Gunar Brewer, Great Bend, 4-3
