OLATHE — Andrew Garber of Allen County Kids Wrestling Club earned a berth in the 2011 USA Kids Wrestling State Tournament. Garber placed third in his weight division at Saturday’s Kansas Kids District 1 tournament.
The Allen County Mat Warriors took three to the district tournament at Olathe East High School. A fourth qualified, but Seth Sanford had to bow out because of an injury.
Garber got a first-round bye, then was beaten 10-3 by Mitchell Thurber of Topeka Thunderbird. Garber pinned William Bowersock of Blue Valley.
In the third-place match at 12-and-under 150 pounds, Garber defeated Mason Koechner of Louisburg 6-4 in overtime.
Garber qualified for the state tournament for the first time. The state tournament is Saturday and Sunday at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka.
Stephen McDonald finished fifth in the high school division’s 189-pound weight bracket. Mc-Donald lost to top-seeded Darien Willis 7-3.
McDonald worked through the consolation side of the bracket. He defeated Marcus Bones of Lawrence Elite 14-13, then was pinned at the 4 minute, 36-mark by Alex Stockton of Gardner-Edgerton.
McDonald finished his kids’ season with a 3-2 decision over Jacob Roberson of Leavenworth County for fifth place.
Jeremy Ridge lost his first two matches in the 8-and-under 67-pound division.
He lost 5-1 to Konnor Tannahill of Ogden’s Outlaws. He dropped a 7-6 decision to Luke Pringle of Mill Valley.
Garber qualifies for Kansas Kids state
