CHANUTE — He waited all day to get on the mat. He was going up against an opponent who was from a fellow Southeast Kansas League school, but whom he had not faced in 2010-2011.
Iola High senior Marcus Sullivan took control quickly in the 160-pound championship match Saturday at the 2011 Kansas Class 4A Regional Wrestling Tournament. Sullivan captured Iola High’s first ever individual regional championship at Chanute Saturday.
“It’s amazing,” Sullivan said just after being awarded his gold medal at the regional tournament. “All the hard work and the help my coaches gave me paid off. I feel blessed and give it all to God.”
Sullivan defeated Fort Scott High sophomore John Metcalf, 14-6, in the title match. He admitted it turned into a takedown drill for him as he scored his points on six takedowns and one reversal.
“I couldn’t turn him. I had to prepare for him and we just kept it simple since I hadn’t wrestled him before this year,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan is joined by two teammates in qualifying for the 2011 Kansas Class 4A State Wrestling Tournament at the end of this week. Sophomore Stephen McDonald and freshman Mike Armstrong earned their first trips to the state tournament Saturday by placing fourth in their respective weight classes.
Iola sent two wrestlers to the state tournament in 2010.
“These three kids have worked hard all season and deserve to go because of that hard work. They wrestled well in the regional tournament,” said Ron Schomaker, Mustang head coach.
Sullivan has been hampered with illness throughout the season. He said he was coming off a bout of bronchitis as he headed into the regional tournament. He said in Friday’s semifinal match with Chanute’s Tyler Kidwell, he was physically down but “had enough to get through it,” winning 5-3.
Sullivan, who was seeded No. 1 at the regional, takes a 28-2 record into state.
“Marcus did what we expected him to do. He was focused and had a good tournament,” Schomaker said.
McDonald took the long road to qualifying after losing in Friday’s championship quarterfinals. Iola’s 189-pound wrestler had to win three straight matches Saturday to qualify.
“After Stephen lost Friday, I took him out and we looked at his bracket. I told him that all the kids he would face are ones he had beaten this year. He could do it,” Schomaker said.
McDonald started with a pin of Anderson County High senior Cameron Hutchcroft in 1 minute, 6 seconds. Then came a pin of Coffeyville senior Raul Pascual in 2:58.
One match stood between McDonald and the state tournament. He had to take on Columbus High senior Brandon Alberty, an SEK opponent he pinned a week ago.
McDonald scored first with a takedown in the first period and never let up. He went in front 4-0 when he reversed positions on Alberty at the start of the second period.
Alberty got an escape to make it 4-1 then McDonald came up with another takedown. Up 6-1 and the wrestlers starting the third period standing up, McDonald scored his third takedown of the match and won 8-1.
“Qualifying for state is exciting. I’m tired but happy. Alberty was a worthy opponent to wrestle for that and I was able to beat him,” McDonald said.
But McDonald had one more match — the third-place match and he would be taking on Coby Morris, a junior from Spring Hill High. Morris defeated McDonald in Friday’s quarterfinals.
“Stephen really had a great tournament. He wasn’t just happy to qualify. He went out and wrestled the Spring Hill kid better than the first match,” Schomaker said. “He really showed how tough he was in the match with the Columbus kid.”
McDonald lost 6-2 to Morris and finished fourth.
“Tonight’s match was better than the first match with Morris. I listened to my coaches and tried to do what they wanted me to do,” McDonald said. “I thought I had him when I got the ‘Peterson’ hold on him but just couldn’t quite get it done.”
McDonald is 32-14 heading into the state tournament. He is the first sophomore from Iola High to qualify for the state wrestling tournament.
In order to become the first freshman from Iola High to qualify for the state tournament, Armstrong had to win one match Saturday. But he had to wait around through two rounds before he wrestled.
“It was tough to wait and there was a little pressure going out there knowing I had to win it to go,” Armstrong said. “Once I got out on the mat and got the takedown I was fine.”
Armstrong pushed past Hunter Peoples, Ottawa High sophomore, for an 11-2 win in the consolation semifinals of the 119-pound division. In the third-place match, Armstrong faced Spring Hill senior Michael Nemer, who was ranked No. 4.
Nemer pinned Armstrong in 4:06. Armstrong, 24-17, took the fourth-place medal.
“It feels pretty good to qualify. I really don’t know how to explain it,” Armstrong said.
“I thought Mike handled the pressure of being a freshman and wrestled well in the regional,” Schomaker said.
Iola High’s junior Devin Culler went after a state berth also Saturday, but came up short. Culler, at 152 pounds, began the day with a pin of junior Askar Herrara of Ottawa in 2:17.
Culler took on Paola junior Kurt Weaver in the next round. Weaver defeated Culler 13-5. Culler finished the season at 20-16.
Sophomore Chase Roettgen also was still in the hunt Saturday morning in the 171-pound class. Roettgen lost to Coffeyville junior C.J. Bolden 8-2 to end his day.
“I’m really proud of Chase. He stepped in and competed in his three matches at the regional after wrestling junior varsity all season,” Schomaker said. “He has come a long way this season. He won a match Friday to stay in the tournament and that was great.
“Devin continues to improve and works hard. We’re expecting a lot from him next year.”
Iola finished 11th as a team with 54 points. Prairie View won the regional team title with 177 points.
Sullivan, McDonald and Armstrong head to the Kansas Class 4A State Wrestling Tournament this Friday and Saturday at the Bicentennial Center in Salina. The opening round is at 10 a.m.
Sullivan claims 4A regional title – Mustangs sending three to 2011 4A state wrestling tournament
