PITTSBURG — Six Allen County Wrestling Club members will advance to a potential state tournament berth on the heels of their performances Saturday at a sub-district tournament. SANFORD ADDED to his honors Sunday at the Middle School Championships in Lindsborg. Sanford brought home the gold medal as the middle school state champion at 189 pounds. He will compete as a member of Team Kansas for a state dual team event in April.
Led by Trenton Jones’ first-place finish in the 8-and-under, 110-pound division, the Allen County youth will advance to the District I championships this weekend in Holton. Top finishers there qualify for state.
“Trenton celebrated a significant win over his opponent from Ottawa,” coach John Taylor said. “He had been working all year to face this kid, and when he stepped on the mat, he was more focused than I had seen him all year.”
Andrew Garber took second place in the 14-and-under, 165-pound bracket, while Seth Sanford was third in the 14-and-under 235-pound division. Jeremy Ridge also was third in the 10-and-under, 76-pound group. All qualified for district, as did William Jay and Curt Shannon, who finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 8-and-under, 40-pound division.
Others competing for Allen County were Adam Atwell, who took fifth in the 8-and-under, 67-pound group, and T.J. Taylor, who was sixth in the 8-and-under, 52-pound division.
“This weekend was filled with ups and downs for our boys,” Taylor said. “Even through the losses, we held strong as a team and are taking more kids on to district than we ever have. These kids make me proud to be their coach. I have coached several of them in other sports, and they know how much I expect. I work them hard. The dedication they have shown during the year is really paying off. We are ready to make Allen County wrestling a force in the state.”
Taylor noted this is only Sanford’s third year of wrestling. “His determination will take him far, on and off the mat.”
Wrestlers advance to district
