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The 2009 edition of this event started with all the fanfare, hoopla,
and anticipation it deserved. Always one of my favorite events of the
season, this 17th chapter was truly, a “Battle at the Border!”
First,
the presentation of the Wincina Wrestling Trophy and a scholarship in
the amount of $1,500.00 was awarded to Jerome Newman of Washington HS in
Kansas City, Kansas.
This event which has garnered quite the following,
also made donations to the University of Central Missouri and to Fort
Hays University (Kansas).
On with the show …
In the 103-pound match-up,
Gardner-Edgerton (Kansas) Tyler Stokes was pitted against Park Hill
South (Missouri) Trevor Brown. Stokes, a former 2-time State Champ,
dominated Brown. Stokes used a couple of slick takedowns and a series
of 3-point near falls to win, 16-1.
At 112-pounds the Showme’s would
return the favor as Cody Tyler of Oak Park (Missouri) dominated Alan
Callahan of Baldwin (Kansas). I have seen Tyler wrestle a few times as
he is an accomplished summer wrestler, having been a Fargo National
Champ and an All-American a few times. Callahan who garnered 171 wins
in his high school campaign would battle hard. A couple of times Alan
was in on some good shots. But the always cool Tyler either fought off
the attempts or on one occasion, paralayed the try into his own takedown
with back-points. Callahan is defeated, 6-21.
After the first two bouts
in this contest, the team score was knotted at 5.
Washington HS (Kansas)
offered James Wauer to battle Clinton High’s (Missouri) Andy Skaggs, a
State champ this season. Both are National Honor Society members! On
paper, this looked to be a tough match for Wauer. However, the contest
was held on a wrestling mat in the 119-pound division. Wauer used a
sweet duck-under and later, a sweeter switch (with back-points) as he
won the match, 8-5.
Once again on paper, the 125-pound bout looked to be
one of the highlights of the night. The Sunflower’s had their 46-1
State champ from Olathe South, Chaz Lawrence. The Showme’s had their
47-4 State champ from Blue Springs, Luke Greco. Lawrence is a “takedown
artist” having scored a remarkable, 329 this season and finishes his
career with 569. But Greco is a rock-solid wrestler that comes from the
same type of program. The score, at the end of one, 0-0. In the
second, Greco opted down and was awarded the escape and the lead, 0-1.
In the third, Lawrence made a courageous decision and opted to keep the
match on their feet. I was anticipating offensive fireworks but instead
I got a pitcher’s dual. The match ended with Lawrence losing, 0-1.
After
the first four bouts, the team score is locked up at 8’s.
The action
moved to the 130-pounders. Blue Valley Northwest (Kansas) presented
Linwood Peoples, Oak Park (Missouri) answered with Zach Bintliff.
Bintliff is the two-time and defending Missouri State champ. Peoples is
an explosive and quick athlete and from early in the bout, I was hoping
his conditioning held up! Linwood scored the first takedown, countering
with a quick spin to a shot and finish. Bintliff gained his feet and
the first frame ended. The Showme opted down and once again gained his
feet and tied the score, 2-2. In the third frame, Linwood opted down.
Bintliff was riding tough but at 1.03 left, Peoples scored an escape.
The last minute, Bintliff was on the attack but Peoples was staying just
busy enough … Peoples wins … 3-2.
Tonganoxie HS (Kansas) would pit Matt
Brock against Tyler Thompson from Blue Springs (Missouri) at
135-pounds. At the end of the first-period, Brock trailed 2-4. In the
second, an escape by Brock but another takedown by Thompson. An escape
in the third for Thompson led to the loss by Brock, 3-7.
Same song,
third verse … the team-score at the end of six bouts … 11-11!
Throughout
the night, Kansas had never trailed but that was about to change.
Dustin Zahorsky of Silver Lake (Kansas) was matched against Ben Hunter
from Harrisonville (Missouri). Hunter was 47-0 this campaign and
finished his career with 172 wins. Hunter has also accepted an
appointement to the United States Naval Academy in 2010. Zahorsky would
find himself in an early hole. Hunter manipulated a takedown but also
captured a turk for a 3-point nearfall. The early hole would be a bit
much for Zahorsky to dig out of … he lost the bout … 3-9. The team
score, Kansas trails, 11-14.
Nathan Sommer is the first State champ from
Prairie View HS (Kansas). At 145-pounds he was matched against Ryan
Wood from Harrisonville (Missouri). I’ve watched Nathan wrestle for
years (he is also a Bronze certified coach) and was pleased to see him
performing well! Nathan was never threatened and wrapped up a major
decision, 11-2. Kansas takes the lead, 15-14.
The 152-pound match, once
again, had the looks of being a tough matchup and in the end, would be a
pivotal bout. It pitted David Lalo of Olathe East (Kansas) and Collin
Wittmeyer of Platte County (Missouri). Lalo, an academic star, was a
bronze medalist this year. Wittmeyer, was a four-time State placer, and
twice was a State champ. Perhaps Wittmeyer, who garnered 185 wins in
his career, wasn’t quite ready but Lalo was setting on go! Lalo was
trying to circle behind for an early takedown but Wittmeyer was
countering. Until, Lalo changed directions, picked an ankle and trapped
Wittmeyer on his back. For over a minute, Lalo was working for the fall
but Wittmeyer earned an escape late in the period. Team Kansas had
recently had to try to battle back from a 5-1 defecit, now, it was
Missouri’s turn. In the second stanza, Wittmeyer selected down and
earned the 1-point escape. Leading 5-2, Lalo selected neutral at the
start of the third. Wittmeyer scored the takedown and Lalo scored the
escape, the score was now, 6-4. At 1.06 left, Wittmeyer again scored
with the takedown, evening the score. Wittmeyer was trying for the turn
but couldn’t secure it so he allowed Lalo to escape. There were 28
seconds left and Lalo was in trouble but … not so fast my friend … Lalo
scored the takedown … the Kansas fans lept to their feet with a roar …
and Lalo wins, 9-6! Wow … team score now … 18-14.
Whew … catch your
breath quicky Kansas … because you’re going to need it!
At 160-pounds
the contestants were Grant Hinckley from Lansing (Kansas) and Joe Green
from Oak Park (Missouri). At the end of the 2nd period, both wrestlers
had scored an escape and the match was tied, 1-1. With 24 seconds
remaining, Green was in deep on a shot. He was spinning and about to
score but Hinckley had secured Green’s chin. Suddenly Hinckley, scored
2-points on the neck wrench and another 2, for the near fall! Hinckely
wins … 5-1 … Kansas leads … 21-14.
Joe Newberry from Shawnee Heights
(Kansas) versus Joe Pace from Platte County (Missouri). This 171-pound
matchup would find Newberry trailing at the end of one, 2-4. In the
second period, Pace scored an escape, Newberry scored a takedown, and
Pace scored another escape. The tally, at the end of the second frame,
4-6. In the third, Newberry scored an escape but could not muster
another score. Newberry loses a close one, 5-6. Team score, 21-17.
In
the second 171-pound bout of the evening, Kansas offered Josh Van
Holland from Mill Valley and Missouri presented Dylan Meisenheimer from
Oak Grove. Another close one … the Showme scored the late takedown to
win the match. Van Holland wrestles strong but loses 3-4. Team score,
21-20.
We moved to 189-pounds for the next action. Shawnee Mission West
(Kansas) called on Jarad Sanchez and Oak Grove (Missouri) offered a
coach’s son, Riley Glasgow. In the first, Sanchez was going for a
takedown when Glasgow expertly countered it for a takedown and a 2-point
nearfall. Again, the early defecit would be too much to overcome.
Sanchez loses 1-4. The team score is now … 21-23.
I could audibly hear the collective Kansas brains whirling as they were
trying to figure the possible scenarios to lead to a Kansas victory. A
win by Jacob Nowak from Saint Thomas Aquinas HS (Kansas) would help! At
215-pounds he was matched with Austin Baska of Park Hill South High
School who had a 42-9 record and placed third in 215 4A for Missouri
this year. Baska has signed a football letter of intent to play next
year for Missouri Western. In the opening frame it was Nowak, dragging his toes,
and securing the takedown. Baska selected bottom and was trying to
work the Peterson. But it was Nowak with the mousetrap to earn a
3-point nearfall. Nowak opted for neutral and scored a takedown. Nowak
was working for the major and allowed Baska to escape. While Jacob
didn’t earn the major, that did not tarnish the win by Nowak, 7-1. Team
score was now 24-23.
In 2006, Levi Bowen of Ottawa (Kansas) had to
secure the win. In 2007, Joe Payne of Paola (Kansas) had to prevent
losing by pin. In 2009, the burden of the fate of Kansas would be on
Jake Woten of Olathe East (Kansas), who was giving up about 50-pounds.
Woten would have to win to secure the victory for Team Kansas! After
the first two-minutes the combatants were scoreless. It was the choice
of Aaron Sinclair of Excelsior Springs (Missouri) and he opted down.
Sinclair earned the escape and the Kansas fans saw the first signs of
fatigue in their warrior. But suddenly, Woten shot a low level single
on Sinclair. Woten was trying to circle but Sinclair defended it
expertly. The period was winding down and again it was Woten on the low
single and Sinclair defending. The period ended, Woten trailing, 0-1.
The choice was Jake’s … and the choice was critical. Woten confidently
signaled down … a few on the Kansas bench … and many in the Kansas
stands … worried! For the first part of the third frame, Sinclair was
grinding the life out of Jake. Sinclair tried to jam Woten down but
Woten got his butt up … Sinclair fell off the top … and Woten scrambled
to his feet. The score was knotted at 1 but it appeared Sinclair might
have worn Jake a bit much. Sinclair was pushing and Jake dropped to the
low single … this time, earning 2-points! At 46 seconds remaining,
Sinclair earned the escape and Woten held on to a 3-2 lead. Sinclair’s
offense was working well … if it was a Sumo match … but wasn’t gaining
him anything is this venue. There were 26 seconds left and Woten was
struggling to stay in the circle. The Showme fans were screaming for a
stalling call … at 10 seconds left in the bout … Woten decided to shot a
double leg. Those in the know were screaming on the Missouri side …
likewise they were screaming on the Kansas side … what would happen?
Sinclair was trying to circle … Woten was trying to stay square … Woten
did … the clock expired … Woten wins!!
Wow … what a match and what a
dual! Going in the pundits saw the match as being fairly competitive
but the Vegas odds would probably fall to the Showme’s! In a match so
close, every point earned and every point saved were huge. But the wins
by Wauer, Peoples, Lalo and Woten were probably the highlights of the
night!
I can’t help but notice … Missouri’s team was made up by multiple
entrants from the power houses that are Oak Park, Platte County, Blue
Springs, Oak Grove and Harrisonville. Of the fifteen bouts contested,
Team Kansas was represented by fourteen different schools! It wasn't until
Jake Woten at 285-pounds before one Kansas school had their second
contestant!
A great TEAM win by the collective talents of Kansas!
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