Wrestlers third in the league
Santa Fe Trail High School
The Kaw Valley League tournament came down to the last match. When Brad Brogen of Santa Fe Trail pinned Tony Miller in the first period of the 275-pound championship match, the results were final.
Santa Fe Trail won the team competition, edging Basehor-Linwood by a narrow margin, 184-180. As expected, Tonganoxie finished third with 138.5 points well ahead of Lansing which scored 93 points.
Bill DeWitt, Tonganoxie wrestling coach, looked pleased as his wrestlers prepared to leave. Five Tonganoxie wrestlers were in the finals. Nine of the 14 wrestlers competing placed.
Seniors Chris Calovich, 215 pounds, and Zach Subelka, 189 pounds, finished as league champions.
Subelka started the second period of his championship match with a 2-0 lead. He worked Joe Johnson of Basehor-Linwood until he pinned him with 56.4 seconds remaining.
Calovich wasted even less time. By the end of the first period, his lead was 10-1. The referee stopped the match briefly with 1:51 to go in the second period as the BL wrestler grabbed his arm in pain. Calovich pinned him 30 seconds later.
Willie Altman, who lost the 140 pound championship 9-3, and Chad Bradley, who was pinned in the second period of the 171-pound championship, joined Miller in placing second.
Josh Ferris placed third. He led 2-0 after the first period on a takedown. He led 6-2 after the second period and won 10-2.
Bruce Walker, 105 pounds, Curtis Newman, 130 pounds and Steve Adcox, 145 pounds all placed fourth.
Walker’s final match was close. He allowed his opponent to escape with 15 seconds remaining in the third period, looking for a takedown and two points. He lost 5-3.
Newman lost 12-9. He attacked for much of the match, shooting for the legs, but he was unable to finish his attack.
Adcox lost 5-1. Both Adcox and his opponent were warned about stalling after the second period. Adcox led 1-0 going into the third period but couldn’t hold on.
The Chieftains wrestle at the regional tournament Friday and Saturday at Piper High School. The top four wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the state wrestling tournament.
DeWitt plans no changes in the lineup except at 135 pounds. Pat Weyer hurt his knee at the league tournament and will be unable to wrestle.