ABILENE — After competing in the Kansas 4A Regional wrestling meet in Abilene last Saturday alongside 14 other schools, the Concordia High School boys’ wrestling team is sending five participants to state, with four members placing either second or first in the meet.
Jacksen Whitley, 106 pounds, went 1-2 on the day. Whitley finishes his freshman season with a 7-11 record.
Quinn Kymer, 113 pounds, went 0-2 on the day. Kymer finishes his sophomore season with a 12-21 record.
Rush LeDuc, 120 pounds, went 1-2 on the day. LeDuc ends his junior season with a 24-15 record.
Bryson Sorensen, 126 pounds, went 0-2 on the day. Sorensen ends his freshman season with a 10-21 record.
Carter Eakins, 138 pounds, went 1-2 on the day. Eakins finishes his senior campaign with a 35-11 record.
Drew Sterrett, 144 pounds, went 3-1 and earned a second-place finish. Winning his first two matches by fall in 26 and 24 seconds, Sterrett won by decision in the semifinal match, before falling in the championship match to Cruz Hershberger, Buhler, ranked number five in the state.
Deekon Holbert, 150 pounds, went 2-2 on the day. Winning his first two matches by fall, Holbert fell in the semifinal match to number two-ranked (4A) Knox Karnowiski of Wamego, before falling in the consolation semifinals. Holbert finishes his sophomore season with a 29-14 record.
Drake Blochlinger, 157 pounds, went 3-1 and earned a second-place finish. Winning his first two matches by fall and his third match by major decision, Blochlinger matched up with a familiar face in the championship match: Joseph Walsh, of Abilene, who is ranked number six in the state. With a versus record of 1-1, Walsh won by sudden victory to take the season matchup 2-1 and handed Blochlinger second place.
Braytin Hake, 165 pounds, went 0-2 on the day. Hake ends his sophomore season with a record of 12-22.
Tre Hamiel, 175 pounds, went 3-1 and earned a second-place finish. Hamiel won his first match by technical fall, his second match by decision 7-2, and third match by major decision 12-4. In the championship match Hamiel ran into number six-ranked (4A) Cael Casteel of Abilene, who handed Hamiel second place.
Clayton Viereck, 190 pounds, went 0-2 on the day. Viereck ends his sophomore season with an 8-15 record.
Max Johnson, 215 pounds, went 3-2 on the day and earned a fourth-place finish. After a first-round bye, Johnson fell in the quarterfinal match. In the consolation bracket, Johnson picked up three wins, the first two by fall and the third by decision, 9-7. In the third-place match, Johnson fell by decision.
Tracer Murdock, 285 pounds, went 4-0 and earned a first-place finish. Winning his first three matches by fall, Murdock matched up with Josh Flanigan of Wamego in the championship match, where Murdock earned the win by decision 5-2 to earn first place.
Sterrett, Blochlinger, Hamiel, Johnson, and Murdock will join fellow Panthers Airiana Wogomon, Gabi Lange, and Harley Weathersbee in the trip to Salina Friday and Saturday for the state championship meet. Start times are 9 a.m. at the Tony’s Pizza Event Center.
