Kromer Leads Buffaloes Kromer leads Buffs to second
By BRAD HALLIER
hallier@gctelegram.com
Posted on Monday, January 12, 2004 1:15:53 PM
Martin Segovia couldn't have been too disappointed with the way the Garden City High School wrestling team performed in its first action since Christmas break.
Even without a full lineup - Garden City didn't have anyone in the 130-pound division - the Buffaloes scored 175 points and finished second Saturday at the Liberal Invitational to Goodland, which scored 186 points.
"Not too shabby. We have some things to work on still," said Segovia, the GCHS coach. "We weren't at our best, but we still finished second. It was a good way to start the second semester."
Nine Buffaloes medaled, including 160-pound Ryan Kromer keeping up his undefeated season by winning their only championship. He won three matches by pin, and beat last year's 152-pound 5A state champion - Wichita-Kapaun Mt. Carmel's Gavin Jonas - in the finals.
"They know about his injury, so they try to get on him fast," Segovia said, referring to Kromer's hip, which he dislocated in August in a car accident. "They haven't had much success on him yet."
Two other Buffs - 125-pound Dusty Briggs and 140-pound Andy Hawkins - wrestled for a championship but lost. In fifth place were 135-pound Ryker Carter, 145-pound Brett Mesa, 189-pound Dustin Caine, and 215-pound Rafe Schaefer. In sixth place were 103-pound Kyle Blackburn and 275-pound Marcos Romo.
"We had nine guys medal, and everyone was still alive on the second day," Segovia said. "It wasn't a bad performance with it being our first time out after the break. You never want to finish second, but it's not a bad place to start."
