HAYS — Humboldt High’s Dagen Goodner opened his Class 3-2-1A state wrestling competition in dramatic fashion Friday.
Goodner’s takedown of Herington’s Richard Hagerman with 2 seconds left in the third and final round of their first round match gave the Humboldt sophomore a stunning 11-10 victory in the 160-pound division.
Unfortunately, Goodner could not replicate the feat later in the day. He fell, 4-3, in quarterfinal action to Atwood High’s Maveric Green.
The defeat sends Goodner (27-7) to the consolation side of the bracket to face either Jacob Helms or Alex Van Rooy.
Elsewhere for Humboldt, freshman Gunner Elder (19-8) secured a 10-5 victory at 113 points in his opener against Charles King of St. Marys. Elder fell in quarterfinals action by a second-round pin to Trego Community High School’s John Kuhn.
Elder awaited his next foe, either Caleb Farmer or Brian Escobar. Both wrestlers must win at least twice more to have a shot at a state medal.
Humboldt junior Noah Johnson (16-10), wrestling at 220 pounds, was pinned by Norton High senior Jacob Green in their first round match. Green entered the state competition with a 28-1 record.
Results from consolation matches were unavailable by press time.
The tournament concludes today at Fort Hays State University.
Humboldt wrestlers stayin’ alive
