Tongie wrestlers eye history at 4A state meet

By Brent Maycock
THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

There’s been one phrase that’s stuck with the Tonganoxie wrestling program the entire 2012-13 season.

“Continue to finish.”

So even though the Chieftains have logged some pretty big team victories in the past couple of weeks, they aren’t about to be satisfied just yet. There’s still work to be done this weekend at the Class 4A state meet in Salina.

“Our kids all year have consistently turned that corner each meet,” Tonganoxie coach Jeremy Goebel said. “We’ve talked about goals and achievements that we’ve set each week, and all of them had the focus that they want to go down to state and perform and go do something that Tonganoxie teams in the past have not consistently done. And that’s go and finish.”

Indeed, success at the state level has been something that’s eluded the Chieftains in large part. The most state placers Tonganoxie has had in a single season is three when Matt Brock and Travis Adcox each took fourth and Cameron Adcox was sixth in 2008.

That year also marked the Chieftains’ highest state finish as a team, 15th.

Tonganoxie has only had one wrestler reach the state finals — Ross Starcher, who finished runner-up at 171 pounds in 2005. In all, the Tonganoxie program has produced only 12 state placers, eight of those coming in the last decade.

While history hasn’t exactly been on the Chieftains’ side, they are hoping to make some history this weekend. The eight wrestlers Tonganoxie will send to state match a single-season high for the program and half of them go as regional champions.

Momentum is on Tonganoxie’s side as well.

Two weeks ago at the Kaw Valley League meet, the Chieftains claimed the league crown, finishing ahead of Class 4A No. 1 Bonner Springs. The two met up again last week at regionals and Tonganoxie again came out on top.

“Each time we’ve competed against them, it brings out the best in both teams,” Goebel said. “For our kids to be able to finish, like every coach preaches, has been a good stepping stone.”

At regionals, Dalton Tavis and Clayton Himpel each knocked off the regional’s top seed at their respective weight class to win titles at 120 and 126, respectively. Julius Coats (195) and Zeke Kissinger (285) also added regional titles, while Asher Huseman (152), Luke Carey (182) and Thomas Miller (220) each took second and Gus Dent (170) was third.

Tavis, Himpel, Huseman, Coats and Miller all were part of Tonganoxie’s eight-man state contingent last year. Only Huseman and Miller won matches at state, however, with Huseman reaching the 138 semifinals before losing his final three matches to finish sixth. Miller was one win from placing after getting beat in the first round at 195.

As a team, the Chieftains went just 5-15 at state a year ago.

The prospects look better this year. Coats is ranked No. 2 at 195 behind only Goodland’s Tyler Gastineau. Earlier this season, he won a title at the prestigious Basehor-Linwood Bobcat Classic and he’s 32-4 overall.

Himpel (37-4), Huseman (35-8) and Miller (35-8) also have more than 30 wins with Miller ranked No. 3 at 220.

“Our kids have been put in that mix since they were freshmen and they’ve consistently raised the bar and expectations for themselves and the team,” Goebel said. “By battling in the practice room and not staying in the same mindset, they want more and they’ve put in the work to get more.”

Thanks for a good and insightful read ! Go Luke and your fellow Chieftains!!

Actually they were runner up at League.. scoring defaults were set up wrong before tournament started.. Mill Valley was actual champs. State is what will be remembered... best quote about state once said was, you dont have to wrestle better then ever at state you just have to wrestle as close to normal. To many emotions and feelings of trying to step up to far and it goes the other direction... easier said then done though