SILVER LAKE — Humboldt High School will have three Lady Cubs competing for state Feb. 27 and 28 in Hays following Saturday’s KSHSAA 3-1A East Regional.
Senior Victoria Melendez, 100 lbs., senior Savannah Koch, 190 lbs., and sophomore regional champion Willow LaCrone will each compete for state titles.
LaCrone (26-6), who came into the tournament unranked, will be a name on the tips of area coaches’ minds for the next few weeks after sweeping the tournament in less than 5 minutes. She opened with a first-period pin 18 seconds into the second period over Cherryvale junior Katie Hester (18-18), then pinned Council Grove senior Savannah Johnson (29-8) with 52 seconds left in the first period. LaCrone was 10 seconds away from replicating her semifinal performance in the title match with another first-period pin, then time at the expense of 30-6 Silver Lake senior MaKayla Connor.
Koch (22-15) took third after opening with a loss to Royal Valley junior Mariah Schneider by first-period pin. She rebounded with a run up the consolation bracket with a second period pin of Neodesha freshman Annalee Winters (15-12), then a first-period pin of Sabetha sophomore Paityn Daily (21-14) for third place.
Melendez (22-14) punched her ticket to state after opening with a second-period pin of Royal Valley sophomore Asia Montague (15-19), but fell to eventual tournament runner-up Kamiryn Clark, a Silver Lake junior, by first-period pin. In the consolation bracket, Melendez rebounded with an 8-1 win over Horton sophomore Addyson Kagle (11-16).
In the consolation quarterfinals, Melendez fell to Rossville freshman Joanie Pottorf (29-16) by third-period pin. She ended the day with a seventh-place finish after a first-period pin of Neodesha junior Maely Pipkin (24-10).
Freshman Brylee Napier was the only Lady Cub who did not qualify for state. She opened with a loss to Silver Lake freshman Ally Burgos by first-period pin, then a second period pin by Neodesha freshman Kaylie Novotny (5-6) eliminated her from the tournament.
Melendez, LaCrone and Koch will next compete at the KSHSAA 3-1A State Championship Feb. 27 and 28 at the Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays
