New teams to compete at Randy Starcher Invitational
Tonganoxie on Saturday for the Randy Starcher Memorial Wrestling Invitational.
From Class 3A programs Central Heights, Oskaloosa and Horton, to 6A team Blue Valley West and 5A squad Topeka West, a diverse field again will compete at the annual Tonganoxie tournament.
“I think it will be a competitive one,” Tonganoxie High coach Jeremy Goebel said. “As a team, we should do well. I think if our kids wrestle like they have been, the wrestling will kind of take care of itself in terms of team points.”
At this year’s tournament, 16 state participants from last season are expected to compete.
The team lineup will change slightly from last season. Baldwin and Anderson County won’t return, but St. James Academy from Lenexa, as well as De Soto, will make debuts Saturday.
The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. in the THS gymnasium.
Chieftains place third at Louisburg
Tonganoxie went 1-2 in a dual tournament Saturday in Louisburg.
THS lost to Gardner-Edgerton, 54-19, and Lansing, 59-24. The Chieftains defeated Louisburg, 42-31, in the four-team tournament.
“The two teams we lost to were 5A and both are top 10 teams,” Goebel said. “I thought we wrestled tough against those opponents considering the caliber they are.
” I think in a month hopefully we’ll fare better against Lansing because we’ll duel again.”
Travis Adcox almost pinned Gardner-Edgerton’s Aldon Eisenberg, who is ranked No. 1 in 5A. He went 2-1 Saturday and improved to 19-3. Matt Brock finished 3-0 and now is 20-2.
Chieftains rout Bobcats
Last Thursday, THS met Basehor-Linwood at Basehor for a Kaw Valley League dual match.
Tonganoxie won that contest in dominating fashion, 63-18. BLHS pinned just one THS wrestler. The Bobcats other 12 points came through two open classes.
“It was a good day for our wrestlers,” Goebel said. “Everyone was clicking on all cylinders. Hopefully it will give our kids the confidence to head down the last stretch of the season.”
Junior varsity competes
Tonganoxie had four wrestlers finish with winning records at Saturday’s junior varsity tournament at Piper.
Jeremie Maus finished 2-0, Jon Harris 3-1, Jake Rains 3-1 and Zach Langston 2-1. Justin Crotty finished 2-2, Zach Kaigan 1-1, Jeremy Elliot 1-2, Tabitha Carroll 1-4 and Tyler Heckman 0-4.