WELLSVILLE — Multiple Iola Mustangs mounted the medal podium at the Aaron Patton Memorial Wrestling Tournament, drawing talent from across the region for the one-night, double elimination affair.
Honoring 2009 Wellsville state champion Aaron Patton, who passed away in 2020, many of the region’s elite competitors took part, which magnifies the efforts of Iola wrestlers junior Evan LaCrone, junior Kale Pratt and sophomore Kevon Loving for earning medals.
Loving (19-6) earned his first gold medal of 2026 while tearing through the 144 lb. bracket. He opened with a 17-2 technical fall of Olathe North sophomore Oliver Zupon (6-9), then advanced to the finals with a 22-12 decision over Shawnee Mission east junior Quinn Higgins (5-6). He medaled with a third-period pin of Central Heights junior Royce Ulrich (18-4), avenging last week’s loss in the title match at the Burlington Invitational.
Iola junior Beau Erickson, 150 lbs., finished fourth after breaking into the semifinals with a second-period pin of Santa Fe Trails junior Kaleb Baum (6-7), then Onaga freshman Preston French (5-13) before losing to Gardner-Edgerton junior Makaii Moodaley (5-2) in the semifinals by 3-1 decision. He then quickly defeated Paola freshman Jerrit Still (3-3) by first period pin but fell to Jefferson West freshman Giddeon Willett (13-1) in the
consolation finals.
Pratt (12-3) finished fourth after opening with an 8-7 decision over Jefferson West sophomore James Davis (5-9). Pratt fell to undefeated Central Heights junior Gage Peine (15-0) in the semifinals by second-period pin. Pratt worked his way up the consolation bracket with a win over Olathe South junior Aaron Ewens (9-10), then fell to Burlington senior Kyzer Lehmann (17-4) by first-period pin.
At 175 lbs., junior Evan LaCrone had the longest journey to fourth place. He opened with a second-period pin of Ottawa freshman Michael Posey, then fell to Anderson County sophomore Brody Kohlmeier by 7-6 decision in the quarterfinals. He reached the consolation finals with a trio of wins by pinfall of Turner sophomore Chael Wooten (1-9) in the first period, Nemaha Central senior Cameron Strathman (9-12) in the second and Prairie View freshman Broden Huges (9-20) in the third. He fell to Uniontown sophomore Beowulf Carpenter by 4-2 decision.
Other results: Senior Trapper Boren, 126 lbs., (17-8) fell in the consolation semifinals. Boren opened with a third-period pin of CHHS sophomore Josiah Meyer (4-9), but fell to Louisburg senior Keegan Rogers (14-10), who took third, by first-period pin. Boren rebounded in the consolation quarterfinals with a first-period pin of Wellsville freshman Tyson Benjamin (9-8), then fell in the semifinals to OSSH sophomore Carter Johnson.
Junior Ruger Boren, 132 lbs., (10-8) fell in the consolation quarterfinals with losses to Prairie View junior Lincoln Schaffer by first-period pin, then NCHS junior Gus Rusche (14-11) by second-period pin.
Junior Tripp Mathes, 157 lbs., opened with a 9-0 decision over SMEHS sophomore Mason Hunter (8-9), then fell to GEHS junior Clayton Griffin (9015) by first-period pin. Mathes rebounded with a third-period pin of Onaga freshman Darious Mosher (3-10), then fell to Osawatomie sophomore Emmitt Chapman (5-5) by first-period pin.
Junior Rohan Springer, 190 lbs., (4-3) fell in the consolation quarterfinals after opening with a first-period pin of BHS freshman Jace Allen (4-9), then fell to LHS senior Vance Hahn by first-period pin. He rebounded with a first-period pin of ONHS freshman Landon Walsh (1-7), then fell to Onaga freshman Wade Deters (17-6) by first-period pin.
Junior Franklin Kerr, 215 lbs., reached the semifinals and the consolation semifinals. He opened with a first-period pin of Ottawa freshman Kellan Vogler (0-2), then fell to eventual runner-up, Paola sophomore Dakarai Melcher (16-2) by first-period pin. Kerr then fell to eventual tournament bronze medalist, NCHS junior Kyler Ganstrom (10-8), by first period pin in the consolation semifinals.
