IHS wrestlers end regular season on high note

WELLSVILLE — Brad Carson will learn soon enough whether Iola High’s wrestlers have “kicked it up a notch” as the postseason nears.
Wednesday’s last-minute dual against host Wellsville has the IHS head coach encouraged.
“This was an excellent night of wrestling,” Carson said after the Mustangs won six of the seven contested matches against the host Eagles.
While Wellsville came out on top of the team scoring, 33-30, because of forfeits (Iola has no wrestlers below 138 pounds), Carson said the Mustangs came out of Wednesday’s matches feeling confident as the Class 4A regional tournament looms.
Iola heads to Burlington Feb. 20 and 21 for the regionals, and a shot at the state tournament the following weekend in Salina.
“This is what we needed,” Carson said. “It’s time to take another step forward, and not any steps backward.”
Two matches in particular drew Carson’s notice.
At 138 pounds, Mike Armstrong downed Wellsville’s Drake Williams, 8-2, after losing to the same wrestler, 3-2, at a Burlington tournament in mid-January.
Meanwhile, Cody Conner dominated Daegan Asebedo before getting the pin with 26 seconds left in the first period.
The same two wrestlers also met up in Burlington, where Conner earned a second-period pin, but had no points before then.
Iola had several other highlights.
Tavon Blazek took a 2-0 lead 30 seconds into his match against Garrett Cunningham at 170 pounds and never looked back. He steadily increased his lead to a 13-0 romp.
Andre Garber also shut out his 182-pound opponent, Jeff Adee, with a 15-0 technical fall victory. His decisive points came 30 seconds into the third period.
Bryce Misenhelter, at 195 pounds, led Wellsville’s Bryce Smith, 14-0, before earning a pin with 48 seconds left in the third period.
“You could tell the kid Bryce was wrestling was strong and physical,” Carson said. “He did a good job.”
Colton Toney got into the victory column as well.
He led the Eagles’ Tim Williams, 4-0, after one period of his 285-pound match, then got credit for an escape and takedown early in the second period. He pinned Williams with 24 seconds left in the second period.
Even Iola’s only loss, Travis Rieske’s 10-3 defeat at the hands of J.T. Ellis, left Carson encouraged.
Ellis twice had Rieske mere inches from a pin, but Rieske was able to wriggle free just enough to stay alive.
“This was a good night for us,” Carson said. “We were able to ruin a couple of senior nights.”
Iola’s Seth Sanford did not wrestle Wednesday for disciplinary reasons, Carson said.
Wednesday’s matches were scheduled earlier in the day because both teams were looking to make up for weather-related cancellations earlier this month.