Consider that the boys wrestling tourney draws teams from six states — including as far away as Louisiana — alongside several Kansas schools and it’s hard not to lobby that the invitational among the hardest.

Tonganoxie High again competed in Gardner. The Chieftains took 13th place out of 16 teams with 52.5 points against the loaded field. Broken Arrow (Oklahoma) won the title with 220.5 points, while Allen (Texas) took second with 184. Southeast Polk (Iowa) and 176 for third. The top Kansas school was Goddard, which placed 10th with 84.5. In addition to Oklahoma, Iowa, Texas and Louisiana, Nebraska and Missouri also were represented.

Tonganoxie’s Brady Martin had the best finish at GEHS. He placed fifth in the 165-pound division. Clayton Crookham (157) and Silas McCloy (132) placed seventh in their divisions, while Rowdey Starcher placed eighth at 106 and Casen McAllister ninth at 126 as THS wrestlers finishing in the Top 10.

The team competes again in dual action today at St. Pius X in Kansas City, Missouri, and then is home Thursday against Blue Valley.

Tonganoxie then will finish out the 2025 portion of the schedule with the Randy Starcher Memorial Invitational at Chieftain Arena.

TEAM SCORES

1. Broken Arrow (Oklahoma), 220.5; 2. Allen (Texas), 184; 3. SE Polk (Iowa), 176; 4. Mustang (Oklahoma), 168.5; 5. Omaha Skutt Catholic (Nebraska), 151; 6. Liberty (Missouri), 143.5; 7. St. Pius X (Missouri), 120.5; 8. Christian Brothers College (Missouri), 102.5; 9. Lincoln East (Nebraska), 91; 10. Goddard, 84.5; 11. Abilene, 67; 12. Manhattan, 63; 13. Tonganoxie, 52.5; 14. North De Soto (Louisiana), 44; 15. Gardner-Edgerton, 38; 16. Salina Central, 32.5.

INDIVIDUAL THS FINISHES

5. Brady Martin, 165; 7. Clayton Crookham, 157; 7. Silas McCloy, 132; 8. Rowdey Starcher, 106; 9. Casen McCalister, 126; 11. Mason Benedict, 144; 14. Blake Riedel, 150; 15. Beau Underwood, 138; 16. Sebastian Perry, 175.