It caught both Osiris Unruh and Jude Krentz a bit off guard when it was announced during last Saturday’s Baldwin Invitational that the two were the only undefeated wrestlers in the field.
 
“We were sitting together and when they announced that, it kind of shocked us,” Unruh said. “But it was pretty cool, too.”
 
Despite being from different schools – Unruh is a junior at Jefferson West while Krentz is a junior at Hayden – their bond goes well beyond the unblemished records they shared and maintained after capturing titles at their respective weights at Baldwin. In fact, their bond is a deep one that goes back several years.
 
“We’ve known each other forever it seems,” Krentz said. “He and I go way back.”
 
Krentz and Unruh first met playing football with each other, first for the Topeka Saints and then for a traveling club team out of Nebraska, the Patriots. For the latter team, they carpooled together two to three times a week to Omaha for practices, joined by current Mill Valley standout MJ Wash as well, with some of those trips being multiple-night stays.
 
During all that driving time, they couldn’t help but become close friends and the trips were more than worth it as they helped the Patriots capture a national championship in Tennessee as eighth graders.
 
“We spent a lot of time with each other in the car,” Unruh said.
 

 
Not only did the three have their football connection, but all three were wrestlers as well. That only strengthened their bond, one that has lasted even as each parted ways for their respective high schools. Both Krentz and Unruh said they are constantly hitting each other up on social media or texting and actively keep track of the other’s performances.
 
This year, they’ve had plenty of good news to share with each other.
 
After taking the 175-pound title at Baldwin, Krentz is now 33-0 on the season. Unruh, meanwhile, improved to 25-0 with his championship at 285 pounds. Both are currently ranked No. 3 in Class 4A at their respective weights.
 
“We love to see each other chase that success,” Krentz said.
 
Prior to this season’s undefeated showing, both Unruh and Krentz had enjoyed plenty of success on the mat.
 

Krentz qualified for state as a freshman at 157 pounds and as a sophomore at 165 pounds. He posted seasons of 27-11 as a freshman and 28-5 as a sophomore.
 
But both of his state trips ended with 1-2 showings and that was all the motivation he needed to elevate his skills as a junior.
 
“It just leaves a bad taste in your mouth and puts that chip on your shoulder,” Krentz said. “It just really pushed me thinking about that, and even football where we’ve been (Class 3A state) runner-up two years in a row now. All offseason and in the spring and summer I’m in the gym and working my butt off.”
 
Krentz attended an Oklahoma State wrestling camp this past offseason to hone his technique. He ended up winning the end-of-camp tournament at his weight and returned to the mats this winter a different wrestler.
 
“The biggest difference I see in Jude is his mindset,” Hayden coach Jacob Torrez said. “He’s been determined and focused and is set on achieving his goals. He’s also working himself and the team in the wrestling room from being pushed and pushing his practice partners to instructing and mentoring the newcomers to the room.
 
“I believe he’s capable of anything he sets himself to. Jude is unstoppable when he’s set on doing something.”
 
Krentz’s season had largely flown under the radar this year. He didn’t crack the rankings until this week’s update, jumping in at No. 3 in Class 4A at 175 pounds behind two-time state champion Taye Wilson of Pratt and Columbus’ Mason Obanion.
 
Of his 33 wins, 27 are via pins after recording 21 pins a year ago.
 
“In my mind, I believe in myself that I can beat whoever steps onto the mat across from me,” said Krentz, who also credited his practice partner, Caleb Menke, for this year’s improvement. “It’s just your will-power vs. theirs. Between this year and last year, the biggest thing is having that chip on my shoulder. I’ve just been amped up for every match just trying to be the best I can be.”
 
“I’m confident in myself and my goal is to make it to the finals match and win state.”
 

 
Unruh, meanwhile, went 28-11 during his freshman season, qualifying for state. A tough showing at regionals forced him to take on top-ranked Kainen White of Coffeyville in the first round and after dropping to the consolation bracket he won two matches before falling in the blood round to Rose Hill’s Milan Colvin, who is now at Derby and ranked No. 1 in 6A.
 
Coming that close to a state medal was a motivator for Unruh, but he was unable to build off that season a year ago. A lingering issue with his left knee – ostesochondral lesion in which an inch and a half of his femur had disintegrated -- finally required surgery and he missed his sophomore football and wrestling seasons.
 
Needless to say when he was cleared to return this year, he was ready to go.
 
“At the start of the season, I was still working out trusting my knee,” Unruh said. “I have very high goals for this season and I want to win it all. Now that I have this streak going, I just want to keep it going.”
 
Like Krentz, Unruh spent the early part of the season unranked. But as he racked up wins, he cracked the 285 rankings in Class 4A in early January and now also is ranked No. 3 at his weight, behind Augusta’s Wily Jon Morales and Concordia’s Tracer Murdock.
 
“At my first couple tournaments, I wasn’t seeded at all and definitely under what I should have been,” Unruh said. “I think that helped because I maybe flew under the radar. But now that the season is running, there’s no more hiding. But I enjoy it. I definitely enjoy being up there at the top.”
 
Unruh said now that he’s healthy and trusts his knee, he’s “quicker, stronger and faster than I’ve ever been.” He’s recorded 21 pins in his 25 victories and has picked up key wins over the likes of Halstead’s Connor Herman (No. 5 in 4A) and Brody Chambers (No. 2 in 3-2-1) as well as two tight wins over Krentz’s teammate Hunter Diederich.
 
“Osiris has a very high wrestling IQ and uses that along with his physical skills to wrestle strategically,” Jefferson West coach Shawn Dolezilek said. “He had big goals for the end of the year and as coaches we are working hard to help him reach them. We preach in the program that while it’s an honor to be ranked, the only one that matters is the podium at the end of the season.”
 
Both Krentz and Unruh would love nothing more than to see this dream season continue and share the podium as undefeated state champions next month. Their other carpool buddy, Wash, is also a title contender, ranked No. 1 in Class 6A at 215 pounds.
 
“It’s amazing where we’re at right now,” Unruh said. “We definitely deserve it. He’s a great wrestler and a great person and I’m really excited we’re both doing great this season. I’d love it for both of us. That’s the goal and I’m cheering him on all the way and I know he’s doing the same for me.”
 

 
OSAGE CITY MAKES HISTORY WITH GEORGE WORLEY INVITATIONAL TITLE
 
After spending the infancy of its program in a co-op with Burlingame, Osage City finally broke off on its own two years ago.
 
Step by step, the Indians have built the program and that led to a historic day at Saturday’s George Worley Invitational in Atchison. Putting six wrestlers in the finals and getting a program-best four champions at the meet, Osage City brought home the first-ever team championship in program history.
 
The Indians finished with 131.5 points to top Flint Hills League rival West Franklin by 25.5 points for the crown.
 
“I have to give Doug (Bingham, Burlingame’s coach) for setting the cornerstone for today’s success,” Osage City coach Dallas Holloway said. “Many of the seniors on the team started with Doug. I have just been building on what he started. Building a program, and especially a culture, is always rocky at first. 
 
“I told the team before the season that I felt this year would be special. I try to reinforce that every chance I get. Every day, every match is a chance to get better, win or lose. It gives us something to believe in and build upon for the seasons to come. I am proud of how the team has responded, but we are not done. We’ve checked one box but have others yet to fill in.”
 
Daityn Meek had claimed the lone title for Osage City at last year’s tourney as the Indians finished runner-up as a team. He led the way for the Indians again this year, taking his second straight title at 126 pounds with a dominant 12-0 major decision over Rossville’s Kelton Lacock in the finals.
 
But this time he had company. 
 
Drystan Long pulled out a wild 12-11 win over Calvin Riley in the 165 finals for a title and Noah Martinez took a 17-2 technical fall win over Rossville’s Charlie Chance for the 190 title. Camdon Jackson added a fourth title at 285, going 4-0 in the five-man round-robin with four pins including an 8-second fall against Onaga’s Brayden Poell.
 
Colton Collins (138) and Landon Petitjean (150) finished runner-up at their weights.
 
 
OTHER BOYS WRESTLING STANDOUTS

• Holton’s Lucas Batz knocked off Class 4A No. 1 Tyler Chrisp of Tonganoxie in the 120-pound finals at the Baldwin Invitational. Batz, who  came in unranked, pulled out a 2-0 win over Chrisp for the title, improving to 25-4 on the season. Teammate Kyler Jackson won the 190 title with a pin of Hayden’s Broderick Desch in the finals, improving to 32-3.
• Santa Fe Trail had a pair of champions at Baldwin with Drake Kirby taking the 126 title and Bryson Crotinger winning at 150.
• West Franklin brothers Logan and Chase Courtois each kept their undefeated seasons going at the George Worley Invitational at Atchison. Chase improved to 24-0 with a title at 113 and Logan moved to 30-0 with his crown at 144. The Falcons finished runner-up as a team.
• Maur Hill and Atchison County also had a pair of champions at Atchison with Jaxson Vice winning at 120 and Jack Moore winning at 150 for the Ravens and Houston Schletzbaum winning at 175 and Easton Schletzbaum winning at 157 for the Tigers. Other champions at Atchison included Pleasant Ridge’s Marshall Waters (106), Oskaloosa’s Stone Newell (132) and Doniphan West’s Gabriel Johnson (215).
• Southeast of Saline picked up a trio of champions at the Junction City Invitational. Brody Chambers won the title at 285 while Killian Vaughan was the 165 champion and Roman Tuttle won at 120.
• Shawnee Heights had a pair of champion at Junction City with Brody Brown winning at 138 and Evan Johnson winning at 157. Other champions at Junction included Silver Lake’s Garrett Holmes (132), who helped the Eagles to a runner-up team finish, Herington’s Reid Griffiths (144) and Junction City’s Chris Coy (215).
• Ellsworth took the team title at the Hoisington Cardinal Classic, scoring 167.5 points to beat Beloit by 31.5 points for the crown. The Bearcats were led by a trio of champions. Will Donley won the title at 138 with a 2-1 win over Minneapolis’ Jasper Johns in the finals, and Bo Kyler also had a one-point win, 5-4, over Minneapolis’ Ethan Bohl for the 150 title. Keegan Urbanek pinned his finals foe, Cimarron’s Logan Seifried, for the 190 title. Beloit got champions in Colby Albert (285) and Wyatt McMillan (113).
• Council Grove dominated at the Fredonia Invitational, winning the team title by moe than 125 points over Nemaha Central and putting eight in the finals, getting titles from six of those – Tyler Hutchinson (285), Ace Monihen (215), Caden Honer (165), Logan Schlimme (157), Mason Wilkens (144) and Bradley Doornbos (126) with Doornbos improving to 31-0 on the season.
• Nemaha Central got titles from Harry Langill (113) and Abram Keim (175) in its runner-up team finish at Fredonia. Burlingame had a champion in Scotty Leandro, who won at 120.
• Washburn Rural’s boys won the team title at the Shawnee Mission North Invitational, topping Lansing by 52.5 points for the crown. The Junior Blues finished with four individual champions with Landen Kocher-Munoz and Easton Broxterman going back to back with titles at 138 and 144 and joined by Kristjan Marshall at 157 and Jadyn Baum at 190.
• Lansing’s runner-up finish included four individual champions as well. Noah Mathis stayed unbeaten at 215 pounds, moving to 34-0 on the season with four pins. He was joined by Xavier Harmon (175), Sawyer Jorgenson (132) and Jeremy Welch (126) as champions while Elijah Mathis suffered just his third loss of the season in the 190 finals in an overtime loss. Jorgenson moved to 33-2.
• De Soto’s Emerson Tjaden won the 150 title at SM North, improving to 31-2 on the season.