Three city wrestlers win titles

By Rick Peterson
The Capital-Journal
WICHITA -- Larry Perez used something old, something borrowed and something black and gold to get something new -- his first state championship -- Saturday night at the Kansas Coliseum.

The Topeka High star 103-pound sophomore wrestler, wearing the singlet and warmup that his coach, Beau Vest, wore to win two state championships for the Trojans in the early 1990s, capped a 36-0 record with a 10-7 victory over Blue Valley Northwest's Nick Shumate in Saturday night's Class 6A championship match.

Perez was one of three city wrestlers to win a state championship, with Washburn Rural senior David Ehret claiming the 189-pound crown in 6A and Shawnee Heights junior Tyler Gonzales claiming the 189-pound title in 5A.

Perez, who had finished sixth in the state as a freshman, took control of the match early, opening up a commanding 9-4 lead and holding off Shumate (32-6) the rest of the way.
It was Perez's second win of the year over Shumate, who he had beaten 4-2 in overtime in the finals of the Topeka High Invitational in January.

"I wanted it so bad," Perez said. "Plus, this is Coach Vest's stuff when he won his (titles) and that kind of pushed me a little harder to make it happen."

Vest actually had packed his old Topeka High uniform for state last season in case Perez made the finals, but it stayed tucked away until after Perez's semifinal victory.

"It would have fit him a little bit better last year, but when he got to the finals I was going to let him see it," Vest said. "We have these nice new tops that are real slick-looking, but I just told him that this is what I wore and asked him if he'd be interested in wearing it.

"He thought it was great and he really wanted it. Now it's his; he's made it his. I'm really proud of him."

With two high school seasons remaining, Perez now has a chance to do something that no other High wrestler has ever done -- win three state titles.
"He has some long-term goals, which I think is going to help," Vest said. "He wants to get that third title. Topeka High's never had a three-time state champion and he sees this as one part to his goal. I think that's a great way to look at it."

The championship match was the only match of Perez's four at state that went the distance. Perez's three matches on Friday ended with two pins and a technical fall. Only four Perez matches all season went the distance, two against Shumate.

Ehret (37-3) won the 6A 189 title with a 3-2 win over Junction City senior Jason Butler, who suffered his first loss after 23 straight wins.

Ehret had lost to Butler twice earlier this season, including a 7-3 defeat last week at regionals.


"It helps you wrestle a person more often because then you have a feel for what they're going to do," Ehret said. "I had to win neutral. If I win neutral, I'm pretty tough to beat."

Gonzales (30-8) captured the 5A 189 title with a 10-5 victory over Gardner-Edgerton senior Willy Cochran (19-3), with his state crown coming in his first year as a full-time varsity wrestler.

The win also provided a huge present for Gonzales' father, Bob, the longtime Heights head coach.

"I'm just happy I can give him something back," Tyler said. "Ever since I was born I've been coming to the state tournament, watching all these guys win state, and finally it's my chance."

Seaman junior Cody Wasson suffered only his second loss of the year in the 5A 112-pound final, with Wasson being pinned by Wichita West sophomore Tristen Deshazer with 1:32 remaining in the second period.

Deshazer won his second state title in as many tries, having won the 103-pound crown as a freshman. Wasson finished the year 29-2, while DeShazer improved to 35-2.

Rick Peterson can be reached at (785) 295-1129 or rick.peterson@cjonline.com.