SALINA — A lot of times, we look for leaders in sports based on what position they play or which sport they choose.
For example, Iola seniors Ben Cooper and Sydney Wade are about as stereotypical as leaders can be. Cooper is a quarterback, point guard and shortstop. It is pretty hard to argue that those three spots aren’t among the most important throughout the year. Wade is also a point guard and shortstop, as well as never coming off the court during the volleyball season.
Cooper and Wade are certainly terrific leaders for the Iola program and are recognized as such in nearly every game they play in an Iola uniform, largely because it is hard to talk about any game played without starting with their positions.
Colton Toney doesn’t get that kind of ‘pub’ and, to be fair, he doesn’t want it.
The senior, who was a starter for the Mustangs on the offensive line this season and just finished up his wrestling career on Saturday as a two-time state qualifier, has always flown under the radar based on the positions and sports he plays, but make no mistake, Toney stacks right up there with Cooper and Wade as a leader among this Iola senior class.
“The is such a good leader-by-example type,” Iola football coach Doug Kerr said. “He just did things the right way, even when it wasn’t popular.”
Kerr saw the Toney effect in full bloom during football season when the senior read a letter aloud in a players-only team meeting after the Mustangs were off to a 1-4 start to the season.
After Toney read that letter, the Mustangs were able to rattle off three-straight wins and qualify for the playoffs – a feat that has been rare throughout Iola history.
“Those seniors, and Colton was one of them, weren’t happy with where their journey was leading,” Kerr said. “They really kicked it up a notch and we caught lightning in a bottle there and made a nice three-week run to change the ending of our story into a successful one.”
In the Iola wrestling room, Toney is counted on to provide even more leadership. One of only two seniors in a sport that struggles to draw as much interest as certainly football, but also as its chief competitor for fans’ attention in the winter time: basketball.
“Colton is great at building relationships with his teammates,” Iola wrestling coach Jason Bates said. “He like to joke around and have fun. He just makes everyone on the team feel comfortable.”
But despite a lack of recognition or sometimes fan support, Toney has just continued to do his thing and it has earned him two state tournament appearances — with wins in the tournament each year — and he wouldn’t trade that for anything.
“I hope that everyone gets to experience this when they wrestle,” Toney said. “It is a fun tournament to go to.”
Colton Toney’s athletic career as a Mustang has now come to an end — as he doesn’t play a sport in the spring -—but he was able to go out on the biggest stage his sport has to offer.
“You can’t beat it,” Toney said. “It is a big, old coliseum and getting your hand raised in front of all these people feels good.”
A fitting finish for a great Mustang.
RESULTS
After a first round loss on Friday afternoon, Friday night became about making it to the wrestling season’s final day in the state of Kansas and Colton Toney did not disappoint.
“Colton really came out to wrestle,” Iola coach Jason Bates said. “He had that look in his eye and he came out focused and aggressive. He knew what he needed to do.”
The Iola senior completely dominated Baldwin’s Harley Stewart in a match that was far more lopsided that the final 7-4 score indicated.
Toney was able to take Stewart down three times, compared to none the other way around.
A second-period takedown gave Toney a 2-2 score going into the third period with Toney having the advantage of choice and getting to choose down, so an escape could win it.
The Iola wrestler had been in a similar spot in his first match — down one, needing an escape to tie it — but couldn’t get out and wound up being pinned.
Toney didn’t let that happen this time and was able to secure a quick escape and then used his opponent’s desperation to his advantage.
“Having that extra point is a huge confidence boaster,” Toney said. “ He knew he needed to try and come back to get a takedown.”
Toney countered two Stewart shots for third period takedowns and was able to pick up the 7-4 decision.
“Getting that win at state is always a big deal,” Bates said. “It is special getting to that second day, because there are a lot of good kids that come to this tournament who don’t make it to that second day.”
On the second day, Toney drew a tough assignment against Wamego senior Tylar Patrick who had defeated Toney’s longtime nemesis Seth Stroble of Independence on Friday.
Toney and Patrick wrestled a scoreless first period as each tried to feel each other out.
In the second period, Patrick chose down and was able to get an escape to head into the third period with a slim 1-0 lead.
Toney chose down to begin the third period, but the powerful Patrick was able to ride the Iola senior for the first minute of the period and with 53 seconds left, he turned Toney and picked up the pin.
“He wrestled hard,” Bates said. “Colton gave it everything he had.”
Toney finishes his senior season with a 19-13 record.
4A CHAMPIONS
The Pioneer League saw two wrestlers win state titles.
Burlington’s Colby Johnson competed a 41-0 senior season with a state championship at 145 pounds.
Santa Fe Trail’s Jake Hastings won the title at heavyweight.
All the 4A champions were:
106 — Preston Martin, Paola
113 — Jayson West, Maize-South
120 — Dylan Pelland, Pratt
126 — Tanner Hitchcock, Bonner Springs
132 — Corbin Nirschl, Basehor-Linwood
138 — Austin Eldredge, McPherson
145 — Colby Johnson, Burlington
152 — Anthony Scantlin, Mulvane
160 — Hunter Mullin, Clay Center
170 — Dacota Motter, El Dorado
182 — Trey Hoerner, Abilene
195 — Anthony Capul, Andale
220 — Caleb Willis, Bonner Springs
285 — Jake Hastings, Santa Fe Trail
