Tonganoxie High seniors have shot at putting final stamps of success on legacy
Photo by Jo Phillips
Braeden Moore gets a victory Friday, Feb. 22, 2024, at Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina.SALINA — Moments after Tonganoxie High won the Class 4A regional title at Chieftain Arena, THS coach Brett Delich talked about the need for laser focus for three days at the state wrestling tournament.
The Chieftains have stayed the course through two days, as the THS boys sit in second place in the team standings and have six wrestlers who will medal later Saturday: Tyler Chrisp, Braeden Moore, Noah Bailey, Brady Martin, Colton Brusven and Tyler Pankey.
Of those remaining wrestlers, four — Moore, Bailey, Brusven and Pankey — are seniors and have a golden opportunity to cap off an unprecedented run in the program Saturday at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina.
Delich noted after regionals how historic the class’ contributions have been to the program. During the four years in Tonganoxie, the Class of 2024’s legacy has included:
*Multiple regional and league titles
*The program’s first team state title in 2022
*Eight individual state medals, with a guaranteed four more coming Saturday
*Eight occasions when wrestlers in the class have had 30 or more victories in a season
Moore has enjoyed the most decorated career with two third-place finishes, a state title last year and another shot at a championship this season.
Bailey could nab his first individual crown after second- and third-place finishes in previous years, while Brusven could finish with a bronze medal for the second time.
Pankey, who transferred from Bishop Miege after his freshman year, placed second as a sophomore and was in line to build on that finish his junior year, but a torn ACL early in the football season sidelined him and kept Pankey off the mat a year ago. If the stars align, Pankey, Moore and Bailey all could finish with individual titles.
BRAEDEN MOORE
2023-24 First place at 144 (35-5)
2022-23 First place at 132 (36-1)
2021-22 Third place at 126 (36-5)
2020-21 Third place at 113 (17-3)
NOAH BAILEY
2023-24 First at 150 (39-3)
2022-23 Third at 150 (38-6)
2021-22 Second at 132 (33-10)
2020-21 DNP (24-8)
COLTON BRUSVEN
2023-24 Fifth at 190 (26-8)
2022-23 Fifth at 165 (30-11)
2021-22 Third at 160 (36-10)
2020-21 DNQ
TYLER PANKEY
2023-24 First at 215 (28-8)
2022-23 DNC (knee injury in football)
2021-22 Second at 170 (27-5)
2020-21 DNP at 170 with Bishop Miege (24-7)