PITTSBURG — He’s hardly the vengeful type, but Iola High’s Stephen McDonald may get to account for a rare loss on the wrestling mat this weekend. IN OTHER regional action, sophomore Trey Colborn will look for his second straight trip to state in the 285-pound division. Colborn (15-8) has a first-round bye and will face the winner of Fort Scott’s Brendon Blackburn and Columbus’ Alex Caventeno. The top seed in the 285-pound bracket is Joe Ponatto of Paola. Matt Kellerman of Prairie View is the second seed. THE TOP FOUR finishers in each weight division will advance to the Class 4A State Tournament Feb. 22-23 in Salina.
McDonald, senior, enters the Kansas Class 4A Regional Wrestling Tournament Friday and Saturday as the second seed at 220 pounds. The top seed in McDonald’s bracket is Pittsburg’s Gershom Avalos.
It was against Avalos that McDonald injured his shoulder in early January, leading to a pin shortly thereafter and a month-long layoff for McDonald.
But first things first. After a first-round bye Friday, McDonald (19-2) will face Columbus’ Bradley VanHoose.
The regional tournament runs Friday and Saturday at the Pittsburg High School gymnasium. Action begins at 2 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.
“I really think we got some good draws,” Mustang coach Brad Carson said. “I think all of our wrestlers have a good chance of winning their first matches.”
Winning in the opening round is key because it creates an easier path to a potential top-four finish, a berth in the state tournament next weekend.
At 182 pounds, Iola junior Bryce Misenhelter (28-10) will take on Louisburg’s Brenton Wrigley in the opening round of his bracket, with the winner facing third-seeded Josh Smeed of Chanute. The top seed at 182 pounds is Jake Bradley of Prairie View. Lee Cook of Anderson County is the second seed.
Cody Conner also has a tough draw at 145 pounds. Conner (25-12) will take on Rand Hurley of Parsons in the first round, with the winner getting a potential quarterfinal matchup with Chanute’s Jared Fiscus (32-5), the second seed. Jacob Durosette of Fort Scott is the top seed in the bracket.
Of Iola’s wrestlers, Conner has perhaps the toughest draw.
“He had a bit of bad luck with his seed,” Carson said, noting his name was drawn as the seventh seed because of a three-way with two other wrestlers.”
AT 160 POUNDS, Iola freshman Brice Aiello (13-10) has a first-round bye. He will face either Logan Taylor of Independence or Ethin VanAnne of Chanute in quarterfinal action. The top seed in Aiello’s bracket is Devon Dozier of Osawatomie. Zane Roark of Columbus is seeded second.
Mustang senior Zeph Larney (11-9) will take on Curtland Edwards-Jackson of Parsons in the first round, with the winner facing top-seeded Taylor Watkins of Columbus. Derek Frost of Coffeyville-Field Kindley is the second seed.
Iola senior Chase Roettgen (15-14) has a first-round bye at 195 pounds. He will face either Keenan Dodd of Parsons or Ivan Carrell-Beasly of Pittsburg in quarterfinal action. The top seed at 195 pounds of Columbus’ Davin Houser. John Metcalf of Fort Scott is the second seed.
Mustang freshman Andrew Garber (12-16) will face Labette County’s Ty Gatton in the first round of the 170-pound bracket, with the winner facing either Cory Turner of Field Kindley or Will Mengarelli of Pittsburg. Undefeated Alex Son of Chanute is the top seed. Jace McDown of Columbus is the second seed.
IHS wrestlers gear up for regional action
