TOPEKA — Two members of the Allen County Wrestling Club brought home seventh-place finishes in their respective divisions Saturday at the Kansas State Wrestling Championships.
Curt Shannon competed in the 8-and-under, 43-pound division, while TJ Taylor wrestled in the 10-and-under, 55-pound group.
“As this season comes to a close, I can’t help but smile,” said their coach, John Taylor. “To reach the state tournament is an accomplishment all in itself. The entire year we work these kids like no other sport. We challenge them to push beyond their comfort zone. We ask them to run one more lap, to give 10 more pushups, to battle every week on the map against other kids doing the same, all for a chance to stand on the podium.”
The top six wrestlers in each division earned state medals.
That Shannon and Taylor fell one place shy of their goal should fuel them to do even better in 2015, Coach Taylor said.
“Each match they wrestled came down to the final seconds in the third period,” he said. “As the final whistle blew, I knew the season was over for them. I hurt a little inside for both of the boys, but I know both of them have many more years of competing. If they keep working, they will stand on the podium. They will one day be champions.”
The state tournament was in Topeka’s Expo Center.
Youngsters take seventh at state
