Wrestlers Cress, Yoder, Johnson headed to state
Cress takes first at regionals; Yoder third, Johnson fourth
Staff writer
Before heading to regionals, head coach Scott O'Hare said he felt that three to five of his wrestlers had a legitimate shot at going to state. Well, three is the magic number. Eric Cress, Daniel Yoder, and Ricky Johnson all are headed to Hays after advancing from the wrestling Class 3-2-1A regionals held Friday and Saturday in Hesston.
The KHSAA 3-2-1A state wrestling meet will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, and conclude on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Fort Hays State University in Hays.
The Hillsboro wrestling team scored 50.5 total team points and was 11th out of a pool of 20 schools competing at regionals.
Eureka took first place with 135.5 total team points, followed by Garden Plain with 106, and Chase County with 95 to round out the top three.
Cress, a sophomore at Goessel High School, won first place in the 125-pound weight class division defeating Jordan Daerr of Garden Plains, 14-5. Cress went undefeated and had a 3-0 record for the day.
In the first round of the championship quarter finals, Cress pinned Chris Austin of Eureka 3:14 in the second period. He advanced to the semi-finals and pinned Paul Wikoff of Wamego 1:54 in the first period and then went on to win the championship.
Cress has been wrestling with the Trojans this season, along with Goessel teammate Alex Goossen. Cress' season record is 21-11.
Cress was not able to wrestle with the Hillsboro team because of the ruling that does not allow players of combined teams to wrestle together as a unit at regionals and state. The players must represent their home school at regionals and at state.
Hillsboro had that same scenario a couple of years ago when they had a Hillsboro-Marion wrestling combination.
"Eric wrestled his best tournament of the season at regionals," O'Hare said. "He is technically and mentally where he needs to be going into the state tournament on Friday."
Four-time state qualifier and senior, Yoder (145) placed third by defeating Mark Madison of West Elk 12-3. Yoder won his first match of the day by pinning Casey Nelson of Marion :57 in the first period. But lost to Buster Adkins of Halstead in the championship semi-finals round 4-0. His season record is 26-10.
"It is great to see Danny back for the fourth straight time," O'Hare said. "We will work on a few things and hopefully bring back a medal."
"He is right there with anybody in the state right now — he just has to put it all together."
Sophomore Ricky Johnson (112) placed fourth at regionals to advance to state also. Johnson won his first match against Jose Andrade of Halstead 10-7, but in the championship finals lost to David King of Hesston 6-1. In the consolation finals, Johnson pinned J. Peterson of Leon-Bluestem 1:50 of the second period, but lost to Chelsea Arnhold of Marion 5-2 in the consolation finals. Johnson's season record is 19-16.
"Ricky had a pretty good tournament," O'Hare said. "We need to work on a few things to get ready for state."
"It has been great to get to see Eric and Ricky be here going to state for the first time," O'Hare said. "It will be a great experience for both of them."
The state-bound wrestlers are optimistic and excited about making the trip to Hays.
"It feels good to make it back to state," Yoder said. "I'm looking forward to winning the first two matches and making it to the semi's. And, hopefully, come back with a medal."
This will be both Cress' and Johnson's first appearance at state.
"I'm really happy going to state with Hillsboro. And I'm happy to be a part of this team," Cress said. "I just hope to do my best."
Johnson said, "I'm really excited to be going to state. I've been to Hays as a spectator, and wrestling there will give me some good experience for future years."
O'Hare took eight other wrestlers to regionals, but the other members of the young team did not fare as well.
Senior Ryan Janzen, a two-time state qualifier, was out for the season due to a rotator cuff injury, and senior Tim Glahn, a one-time state qualifier, who just returned after knee surgery, was 0-2 for the day.
The injuries to Janzen and Glahn were a disappointment for this season. Overall, O'Hare was pleased with his team's performance at regionals.
"Our young kids got some victories last Saturday, at least everyone won a match," he said. "I also saw improvements we've made through the year come out during the regionals."
3-2-1A Regionals at Hesston
Team scores — 1. Eureka 135.5, 2. West Elk 124, 3. Garden Plain 106, 4. Chase County 95, 5. Sedgwick 90, 6. Marion 83.5, 7. Bluestem 82.5, 8. Cherryvale 81, 9. Hesston 58.5, 10. Wichita Independent 52.5, 11. Hillsboro 50.5, 12. Halstead 48, 13. Remington 46, 14. Flinthills 34, 15. Fredonia 27, 16. Goessel 23, 17. Baxter Springs 22, 18. Cheney 22, 19. Frontenac 19, 20. Neodesha 15.
103 — Daniel Bookless (HIL), 1-2; pinned by Jones (CHEN), 1:10; defeated Eidman (CC), 15-0; defeated by Vancil (WE), 13-4.
112 — 4. Ricky Johnson (HIL), 2-2; defeated Andrade 10-7; defeated by King (HES), 6-1; pinned Peterson (LB), 1:50 second period; defeated by Arnhold (MAR), 5-2.
119 — Jesse Boucher (HIL), 1-2; pinned by Thibault (HAL), 1:37 first period; pinned Williams (LB), 4:02, third period; pinned by Booe (CHV), 1:54 second period.
125 — 1. Eric Cress (HIL), 3-0; pinned Austin (EUR), 3:14 second period; pinned Wikoff (WE), 1:54 first period; defeated Daerr (GP), 14-5.
125 — Darcy Unrau (HIL), 1-2; pinned by Barr (MAR), 1:55 first period; pinned Kientz (HESS), 2:14 second period; pinned by Wikoff (WE), :40 first period.
140 — Andrew Bina (HIL), 1-2; defeated by Powell (LB), 15-8; pinned Jones (EUR), 3:35 third period; pinned by Mason (HESS), 1:46 second period.
145 — 3. Daniel Yoder (HIL), 3-1; pinned Nelson (MAR), :57; defeated by Adkins (HAL), 4-0; defeated Gannon (LB), 15-8; defeated Madison (WE), 12-3.
152 — Ryan Kaiser (HIL), 1-2; pinned by McCormick, 5:24 third period; pinned Sheets (WI), 3:09 second period; pinned by Mefford (EUR), :53 first period.
160 — Adam Dirks (HIL). 0-2; pinned Jones (CHEN), 1:10 first period; pinned by Murmy (EUR), 2:27 second period; defeate4d by Lane (WE), 9-4.
171 — Tim Glahn (HIL), 0-2; pinned by Mosley (WI), 1:55 first period; pinned by Miller (HESS), 4:59 third period.
275 — Kurtis Shaw (HIL), 2-2; pinned Staton (CHV), :38 first period; pinned by Looper (MAR), 5:32 third period; pinned Mull (WE), 2:39 second period; defeated by Claus (NEO), 5-0.
