BOYS STATE WRESTLING STORYLINES

CLASS 6A

At AdventHealth Sports Park, Overland Park
 

SM NORTHWEST'S BROWN POSITIONS FOR RECORD-SETTING FINISH TO BREAKTHROUGH SEAON

As Steven Brown prepares for the Class 6A state wrestling tournament this weekend in Overland Park, the Shawnee Mission Northwest senior heavyweight stands on the brink of history — for his school and possibly for the state. 

Brown enters the tournament with a 49-3 record, one win shy of tying the school record for most victories in a single season. The mark was set just last year by Adam Hageman, who capped a perfect 50-0 campaign with a state championship at 175 pounds. 

While matching Hageman would be significant, Brown’s ambitions stretch further. With a deep run this weekend, he could climb near the top of the state’s all-time single-season wins list. He has a chance to tie Olathe North’s Cael Alderman for second all-time in season wins when he recorded 53 victories in 2023. Keegan Slyter — also of Olathe North — holds the state record with 56 wins set in 2020. 

For Brown, the numbers are validation of a dramatic rise. 

A year ago, he finished fourth at state after transferring to Northwest midseason and compiling just 28 wins. The leap from 28 to 49 hasn’t happened by accident. 

“Steven came to us in January last season and only had a handful of matches when he transferred, so that is the main reason for the difference in win totals,” Northwest head coach Zach Davies said. “Steven has put in a lot of time and effort to wrestling. He trains year round and takes his craft seriously. He also just loves to train and has fun each day, which helps lead to his successes.” 

Brown’s senior season took off in early January during a grueling stretch. In a span of seven days, he reeled off 13 straight wins and captured a pair of tournament titles. One of those came in Texas, where he knocked off the state’s top heavyweight in his class. He followed that with another championship performance at Bonner Springs, earning a victory over a Kansas state-ranked opponent. 

By the time the calendar flipped deeper into January, Brown had already piled up 30 wins. 

He had hoped to hit the 50-win mark before state, but those plans were briefly derailed in the regional finals when he dropped a hard-fought overtime match to Olathe West junior Brayden Shin. 

Rather than dwell on the loss, Brown has used it as fuel. 

“Steven is thankful for the opportunity to have had that tough match at regionals so he can adjust and improve,” Davies said. “That’s the great thing about wrestling, is that there is always an opportunity to get better.” 

Davies believes Brown’s steady ascent to one of the top 285-pounders in Class 6A has been years in the making. A multi-sport athlete who has also competed in rugby and football, Brown has embraced year-round training and a relentless work ethic. 

“Steven has put a lot of time and effort into becoming the best he can be,” Davies said. “He’s trained year-round now for several years as well as playing other sports like rugby and football. He just loves wrestling and loves to train for it. He’s a great kid that deserves every bit of success that comes his way.” 

The milestones within reach are meaningful. Fifty wins was one of Brown’s stated goals entering the season. While the state record may be out of reach, tying the school record — and potentially finishing second all-time in Kansas for single-season wins — would cement his place among the state’s elite heavyweights. 

“He sets goals and I believe 50 wins was on his list this year, so he’s real close,” Davies said. “He won’t break the state record, but he can break our school record and end up second best all time in the state.” 

Still, the numbers are secondary to the ultimate prize. Brown’s focus is squarely on standing atop the podium after coming up just short of a title a year ago. 

“I just expect him to be a man on a mission when he steps in that circle,” Davies said. “He’s worked really hard for a long time and it’s time to cash in on those deposits. I expect him to compete, have fun and be thankful for everything in the process.” 

CLASS 5A

At Heartland Credit Union Arena, Park City
 

BASEHOR-LINWOOD EYES FIRST STATE WRESTLING TITLE

The final whistle of football season had barely faded when another championship pursuit quietly began in the wrestling room at Basehor-Linwood High School.

Now, months later, the Bobcats find themselves on the brink of history.

Ranked No. 1 in the latest Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association Class 5A poll, Basehor-Linwood enters this weekend’s state tournament in Park City as one of the favorites to capture the program’s first state wrestling championship. Standing in the way is a familiar powerhouse — Goddard, winner of 11 of the past 12 5A state titles and once again loaded for a run at the crown.

For Bobcats head coach Jason Puderbaugh, the opportunity is special — but the journey has meant even more.

“It’s been a blessing and a lot of fun, but not without adversity,” Puderbaugh said. “In my several years of coaching experience, there is always adversity and some years more than others. This year there was a lot more sickness that swept through our room, our football team made a state championship appearance so most of our upper weights didn’t start the season until December, and then we’ve had to overcome some injuries.”

Despite the obstacles, Basehor-Linwood has surged. The Bobcats claimed titles at the Douglass Goodwill Invitational and the UKC and 5A regional championships, and finished third at the prestigious Bobcat Classic as the top Kansas team. Along the way, junior Trevor Christenson knocked off a top-30 nationally ranked opponent at the KC Stampede.

“We have enjoyed some solid successes throughout the season,” Puderbaugh said. “Our team has competed at a high level all season long pushing each other every day to keep getting better.”

The Bobcats’ title hopes begin in the lower weights, where they boast three No. 1-ranked wrestlers: senior Eric Vielhauer (126 pounds), junior Trevor Christenson (132) and junior Cael Puderbaugh (138). Christenson and Puderbaugh are defending state champions.
 

Christenson carries a 36-2 record into state, though one of those losses came via medical forfeit in last week’s regional final. After battling a 102-degree fever and strep throat just days earlier, he gutted his way to the championship match before coaches shut him down as a precaution.

“He was far from 100 percent but was able to still go out and bonus point his way to the finals,” Puderbaugh said. “It made more sense at that point to not push his body any further and just focus on resting and being healthy for state. The antibiotics did their job and he is back feeling good and training.”

At 138, Cael Puderbaugh enters with a 34-3 record and a regional title, though a potential showdown looms with Goddard’s second-ranked Nick Miller — one of several pivotal matchups that could determine the team race.

At 126, Vielhauer is ranked No. 1 and could see Goddard’s third-ranked Harrison Glover in the semifinals, another swing bout in what is expected to be a tight battle between the two programs.

Basehor-Linwood’s depth extends beyond its trio of top-ranked standouts. Freshman Peyton Kirkpatrick (No. 5 at 106), junior Jett Millison (No. 3 at 144), senior Tucker Hutchison (No. 5 at 175) and sophomore Gavin Mitchell (No. 6 at 215) are all state-ranked and capable of piling up critical team points.

Goddard counters with two No. 1-ranked wrestlers and five ranked competitors overall, particularly strong in the lower-to-middle weights — the same area where the Bobcats thrive.
 

“It would be pretty special — not just for our team, but for our Bobcat Wrestling Club, our wrestlers’ families, and the entire Basehor-Linwood community — to bring home a 5A state championship,” Puderbaugh said. “We believe we have a very talented, hard-working, and incredible group of young men heading to Wichita this weekend.”

While the rankings suggest Basehor-Linwood has the pieces, Puderbaugh insists the formula hasn’t changed.

“The key for our guys to be successful is the same as it is every weekend: go be the best version of themselves — to bring the heat, to compete with heart and relentless effort, focus on scoring points, be grateful for the opportunity, battle for each other, and remember it’s a sport, so go have fun.”

Beyond wins and losses, Puderbaugh points to the leadership of Vielhauer, Christenson and Cael Puderbaugh as the foundation of the program’s rise.

“My words don’t do it justice,” he said. “They are incredible young men of character in addition to being some of the best wrestlers to ever walk the hallways of Basehor-Linwood High School.”

The trio has helped build what the program calls a “championship culture” centered on love, integrity, faith and excellence. Christenson and Puderbaugh co-lead a weekly Bible study open to students, and all three are active mentors to younger wrestlers in the Bobcat Wrestling Club.

“They are like another set of coaches in the room,” Puderbaugh said. “They are proof that our program can produce not just successful wrestlers at the highest levels, but young men of character who will go on to be champions in life.”

That culture is summed up in the team’s mantra for the 2025-26 season: “One Chain” — strength, unity and brotherhood.

“Our program has strength because of the unity in our wrestling community and the brotherhood of our team and coaching staff,” Puderbaugh said. “When our wrestlers step onto the mat, they are competing for something bigger than themselves.”

 
CLASS 4A
 
At Tony’s Pizza Events Center, Salina
 

 
WHO'LL BE NO. 1? ROSE HILL FACES BEVY OF CHALLENGERS IN BID FOR FIRST 4A THREE-PEAT
 
In capturing the Class 4A team state championship each of the past two seasons, Rose Hill never really had to do much sweating. The Rockets won their 2024 state title by 30.5 points over Tonganoxie and then cruised to a whopping 73 points over Paola in last year’s title defense.
 
Lost eight seniors and seven state placers off last year’s runaway championship team, Rose Hill entered the season looking a bit vulnerable.
 
“This year has been a year where we have been figuring out who we are every week,” Rose Hill coach Chris Saferite said. “Losing (what we did) from last year’s team is always hard to replace. However, our new faces have bought in and have gotten better every single week. They know they belong and now we just have to perform one more weekend.”
 
A new-look Rose Hill roster looked very much like its previous versions at last weekend’s regional at Winfield. In the same regional with No. 1 Andale, Rose Hill qualified 10 of its 14 wrestlers for this weekend’s state meet – tied with Tonganoxie for the most in 4A – and had six of its qualifiers earn regional championships, scoring 229 points to beat Andale by 41 points for the regional title.
 
But even in making a big-time statement at regionals, Saferite knows the path to becoming the first-ever 4A program to three-peat as team champion is as tough as it could be.
 
“It is definitely going to be a fun tournament and a tight race until the end,” Saferite said. “Every team has some definite favorites coming in and those kids need to perform and then it will come down to some of the kids who are still a little unknown or who are ready to go beat somebody that maybe they haven’t beat yet.
 
“Every match is a big match and I think the quarterfinal round could separate a few teams but then the semifinal round will tighten things back up, or could separate teams even more. We’ll need to put ourselves in good position on Friday an then be ready to battle one more day on Saturday. Whichever team is able to win the close matches will be the team who wins it at the end of the day on Saturday.”
 
Tonganoxie, which went into regionals ranked No. 3 in Class 4A behind Andale and Rose Hill, had just as impressive of a performance as the Rockets did in cruising to their regional championship. In getting 10 qualifiers, the Chieftains placed nine of those qualifiers in the finals with seven of those winning regional titles.
 
Not too far behind was Paola, which was ranked No. 4 going into regionals. The Panthers also cruised to their regional championship, picking up nine qualifiers with seven of those capturing regional championships.
 
Andale finished with eight qualifiers in taking runner-up to Rose Hill, getting five regional champions. At the western regional Colby edged No. 5 Abilene by a half point with each getting six qualifiers overall and Colby having three regional champions and Abilene with four.
 
“To be honest with you, it’s going to be a five, six-team race,” Tonganoxie coach Brett Delich said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and we’re going to have a blast. We just told those boys it’s all about embracing it, getting ready and then going out and taking care of business. We’ll see where the chips will fall.”
 
Those six schools combine to have eight of the 14 No. 1 wrestlers in Class 4A. Andale and Paola have two each with Luke Martin (113) and Ethan Eck (175) Andale’s top-ranked wrestlers and Bryson Rockers (132) and Brock Johnson (144) Paola’s No. 1s.
 
Eck, Rockers and Johnson all are defending state champions with Johnson looking to become a four-time state champion this year. Andale also has a returning state champion in Judd Eck at 132 pounds.
 
Abilene, Tonganoxie, Rose Hill and Colby each have one No. 1 – Ryder Dempewolf (120) for Colby, Murphy Randolph (150) for Abilene, Thunder Page (157) for Rose Hill and Brady Martin (165) for Tonganoxie. Dempewolf is a two-time returning state champion and Page was a state champion last year. Abilene also has a returning state champion in sophomore Noah Wuthnow (138), who was a regional runner-up to Beloit’s Brogan Monty, who joins Paola’s Johnson in seeking his fourth state title this weekend with his previous three coming in Class 3-2-1A.
 
Whereas Saturday’s back-side performances have often been major factors in deciding a team state champion, Delich shares Saferite’s opinion that Friday’s front-side action will go a long ways toward determining this year’s champion in 4A.
 
“I think it’s a front-side race where a lot of times it’s a back-side race,” he said. “Who can run out the front side the furthest.”
 
Some of the brackets that will have a huge impact on the race for the title:

• 113: Andale’s Luke Martin and Paola’s Lane Allen loom as a potential semifinal showdown while on the other side of the bracket, Colby’s Julian Salcido and Tonganoxie’s Brodie Starcher also are on a collision course. They hold the top four spots in the rankings with Martin No. 1.
• 120: Rose Hill’s James Bilby (No. 2) and Tonganoxie’s Hunter Pankey (No. 4) are on the same side of bracket and could meet in the semifinals with Colby’s Dempewolf on the other side of the bracket with Paola’s Sawyer Blue, a regional champ.
• 126: Andale’s Luke Seiler, Colby’s Ethan Reinert and Tonganoxie’s Casen McAlister are in the same four-man pod with Martin and Reinert meeting to start the tourney. Rose Hill’s Tucker Saferite is also on that side of the bracket. Saferite is ranked No. 2 while Seiler is No. 3 and McAlister No. 4.
• 132: Defending state champion Rockers of Paola has Rose Hill’s Sebastian Bentley – a two-time state runner-up, including a year ago to Rockers – and Tonganoxie’s Tyler Chrisp on the same side of the bracket while Andale’s Eck and Colby’s Talon Wark are on the other side.
• 144: While Paola’s Johnson is the clear favorite, other spot in the finals could come down to Rose Hill’s Cash McVay and Tonganoxie’s Dax Duffett, who are ranked 2-3.
• 157: Page’s path to a repeat at 157 could include a semifinal showdown with Abilene’s Dayven Cuba and a finals showdown with Tonganoxie’s Clayton Crookham.
• 165: Tongnaoxie’s Martin and Paola’s Bodhi Shay are ranked 1-2 in the state and could have a decisive title bout.

 
With numerous other key matchups likely to occur, trying to map out a path to a team championship can be challenging.
 
“I’m not sure where our team sits going into state,” Paola coach Darvin Willard said. “There are a lot of good wrestlers in 4A. The competition will be tough and we are just preparing that every match is going to be hard.”
 
“I’m excited,” Delich said. “It’s going to be a good week and I can’t wait to see how it goes.”
 
“I feel our kids are ready and we have been battle-tested all year and look forward to the challenge ahead of us,” Saferite said. “There has never been a 4A team win three state titles in a row and that is something our kids would like to do.”
 

STRENGTHENED SCHEDULE HELPS BOOST HAYDEN’S KRENTZ, MENKE
 
As results go, the Bobcat Classic was the worst showing of the year for both Caleb Menke and Jude Krentz.
 
Each of the Hayden standouts have only three losses on their ledger this season with Menke holding a 38-3 record and Krentz a 37-3 mark. Menke suffered all three of his losses at Basehor-Linwood, placing sixth at 175 pounds, while Krentz suffered two of his three losses and placed seventh at 190.
 
Yet each will attest that in terms of reaching their long-term goals, competing at the tournament was the best thing that could have happened to them. 
 
“That’s exactly why we did Basehor-Linwood,” said Krentz, who went 4-2 at the tourney with his losses to eventual meet champion Beau Waldron of Columbia (Mo.) Hickman in the quarterfinals and Zane Shaw of Free State in the consolation quarterfinals. “I learned so much, so much about my pace, my style and my character.”
 
Menke agreed.
 
“It was definitely good,” said Menke, who also lost in the quarterfinals to Class 3-1A No. 1 Max Bottorff of Atchison County and then in the consolation semifinals to Abilene’s Cael Casteel and in the fifth-place match to Kaleb Nelson of Underwood (Iowa). “It showed us there were bigger fish in the water and there’s always someone better than you. It drove us in the second half of the season.”
 

 
For Krentz, the regular-season defeats were something a bit new for him. Last year, he enjoyed a breakout season at 175 pounds, going from a pair of 1-2 state showings at state as a freshman and sophomore to taking an undefeated 38-0 record into last year’s state tournament.
 
He wasn’t able to finish off the season as an undefeated state champion, falling in the semifinals to Columbus’ Mason Obanion and eventually settling for a fourth-place finish to end the season 41-2. But he said the perfect record never was a burden in his pursuit for the state title. 
 
“I definitely added a little more pressure,” he said, “but it didn’t really bother me too much.”
 
His bid for another undefeated regular season ended at Basehor after an 11-0 start and the losses there plus a 3-2 loss to Wamego’s Haidan Simon in the quarterfinals of the Baldwin Invitational dropped him from No. 2 to No. 5 in the 190 rankings. After briefly moving up to No. 4, Krentz dropped back to No. 5 going into regionals.
 
Perhaps a bit under the radar after being squarely on it a year ago, Krentz proved he’s a title contender with a commanding 12-5 decision over No. 2 Wade Rottinghaus of Rock Creek in the regional championship match.
 
“I don’t even look at radars or rankings, I don’t think anything of it,” he said. “I think the rankings are opinion-based. It really comes down to how you wrestle, how he wrestles. It’s you vs. you out there. I just tell myself before my matches that I’m confident in myself and confident in what I can do.”
 
The case could be made that this season is Menke’s breakout one. A state qualifier each of the past two seasons, he’s fallen just short of earning his first state medal, losing in the blood round each season.
 
Those matches still serve as motivation.
 
““I felt like I let people down and it really lights a fire under me,” Menke said. “Every week before I go wrestle I re-watch all my blood round matches. It just gets me angry and lets me know I’ve got to work harder.”
 
After wrestling at 157 last year, Menke jumped up to 175 this season. He says he’s made the adjustment to facing bigger opponent and in doing so his practice workouts with Krentz have become even more productive.
 
“It’s definitely made us both a lot better,” Menke said. “Last year, he was 20 pounds heavier than me. This year, were basically the same weight. It gives us both a better look and gets us ready for the bigger matches and better opponents. 
 
“I really look up to him. He’s been my partner for three years now and I really love him like a brother. Watching him get that success last year really drove me. I’m just excited to get here with Jude and hopefully to win it this year with him.”
 
Krentz agreed.
 
“It’s awesome,” he said. “We go on runs together, lift together and practice together. We just push each other constantly and it’s always a competition. We’re always trying to one-up each other.”
 
Both have big challenges standing in their way for a shared spot atop the podium this weekend in Salina.
 
At 175, Andale’s Ethan Eck is ranked No. 1 and was the 165-pound state champion a year ago. At No. 2 is Casteel of Abilene, who dominated Menke (No. 3) with a technical fall win in their meeting at Basehor.
 
At 190, Krentz is now ranked No. 3 and sits behind Columbus’ Obanion, who beat him in the state semifinals last year, and Concordia's Tre Hamiel.
 
But both are optimistic about their chances.
 
“I’m excited to go up against the best guys in Kansas,” Menke said. “I can’t wait to see what we both can do next weekend.”
 
“I’m just chasing the gold for sure,” Krentz added.

 
CLASS 3-2-1A
 
At Fort Hays State, Hays
 

 
ATCHISON COUNTY'S BOTTORFF GETS DAILY REMINDER TO FINISH SENIOR YEAR ON TOP
 
The video is there any time Max Bottorff wants to watch it.
 
But he won’t.
 
“I haven’t watched that match since,” Bottorff said of last year’s Class 3-2-1A 165-pound state championship match. “Can’t do it. It was a heartbreaker.”
 
Indeed, it was. Leading Hoxie’s Duncan Bell 4-3 as the clocked dipped under 10 seconds to go in the third period of their championship showdown, the Atchison County standout was in prime position to end a decade-long individual champion drought for proud Tiger program. The title was there.
 
And then it wasn’t. Bell made a last-ditch attempt and got in on Bottorff’s legs, securing the match-winning takedown with a second to go, pulling off a miraculous 6-4 victory.
 
While Bottorff can’t bring himself to re-watch the match, that doesn’t mean the match is a distant memory. In fact, it’s something he’s reminded about virtually every day.
 
“I’ve got the second-place medal hanging on my bedroom door,” Bottorff said. “Every time I go in and out of my room and close my door, I hear it clink and it reminds me to keep working hard and clean things up to not let that happen again.”
 
Bottorff has wrestled like a man on a mission this year as a senior. Wrestling at 175 pounds this season, the Tiger senior is ranked No. 1 and takes a 38-1 mark into this weekend’s state tournament in Hays after cruising to a regional title at Rossville on Saturday with two first-period pins and a technical fall win. He has 22 pins and 5 technical fall victories among his 38 wins this season.
 
“I think it’s just been staying more mentally strong,” said Bottorff, who is now 133-24 in his career. “All season, I know what the goal is and I’m work toward it. I’ve got a lot left in the tank.”
 
Bottorff suffered his only loss of the season in the finals of the Bobcat Classic at Basehor-Linwood in mid-January, getting pinned by Luke Hayden of Columbia (Mo.) Hickman – a Purdue commit. That ended his 28-win streak to start the season and though disappointed by the defeat, Bottorff wasn’t discouraged.
 
“It was good for me,” he said. “I thought I was getting pretty good and got humbled there. I saw that there’s another level I need to jump. It was good to find that out.”
 
It’s been nearly a decade since Atchison County could celebrate a state champion with Hunter Ostertag’s title at 138 pounds in 2017 the last for the program. In addition to Bottorff’s near-miss last year, former Tiger standout Easton Schletzbaum was a state runner-up each of the past three seasons, falling in last year’s 157-pound finals to Phillipsburg’s Blake Buresh after losing in the 2024 157 title match to Bottorff’s nemesis, Bell of Hoxie.
 
Teammates with Schletzbaum the past three seasons, Bottorff credited him for his rise from a fifth-place state placer as a sophomore to a title favorite this year.
 
“Practicing with Easton every day since my sophomore year, me and him doing that really helped me jump levels,” Bottorff said. “I don’t have him this year, but we’ve got a strong team and I bounce around between guys and change it up every day.”
 
The strength around Bottorff has Atchison County chasing its first top-three state finish and team trophy since 2003 when the Tigers finished third and first state title since going back-to-back in Class 3-2-1A in 2001 and 2001. Bottorff was joined as a regional champion by Luke Smith (132), Colton Lowe (150) and Houston Schletzbaum (215) and the Tigers qualified 11 wrestlers for state.
 
“I’ve liked this team all year,” Atchison County coach Cody Kramer said. “They are battle-tested after wrestling one of the toughest schedules in 3-2-1A. We need everyone to be a point scorer and win matches at the state tournament, but I like our chances to finish strong and be in the mix.”
 
Atchison County placed fourth last year, 15 points away from third place. The Tigers are ranked No. 2 going into the state tournament behind four-time reigning champion Hoxie.
 
“It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten a team trophy so we’re really pushing for it,” Bottorff said. “We try not to talk about it too much, and just focus on doing our job and not worrying about that. If you win, that will take care of itself. So just focus on what we each can do to make it happen.”
 

ALASKA TRANSPLANT RHOTON HANDLES TRANSITION TO KANSAS WRESTLING WITH EASE
 
Tanner Rhoton had mixed feelings when he found out he and his family were moving from Alaska to Kansas this past summer.
 
“I was sad of course to leave Alaska because it’s been my home for my entire life,” said Rhoton, who lived in Fairbanks. “But I was really excited for a change and to move on and see what Kansas was like.”
 
In particular, he was eager to see what the wrestling landscape in Kansas was like. Though relatively new to the sport, not taking it up until the seventh grade, he had quickly ascended the ranks in his native state.
 
After finishing third at the Division I state tournament as a freshman for Lathrop High School, Rhoton finished last year as the 103-pound state champion, compiling a 34-4 overall record.
 
Making the move to Kansas, a hotbed for high school wrestling, Rhoton had no idea what was in store in joining the program at Riley County.
 
“In Alaska, there just wasn’t a lot of people and there wasn’t a ton of depth,” Rhoton said. “Kansas is really interesting. In Alaska, there are some good wrestlers and the top two are probably just as good. But the thing about Kansas to me is the depth. In Alaska I would wrestle the same people over and over and over. In Kansas, I’ve wrestled so many different kids. The diversity and depth really set Kansas apart.
 
“My only expectation was for me to work hard. I was prepared to get my butt whooped. I wasn’t scared and I just knew I needed to work hard. And once I got here, I started to gain some confidence and was like, “I know I can wrestle with these people.’”
 
Not only has Rhoton held his own, he’s been a dominant force in his first year on the Kansas scene. Wrestling at 113 pounds, Rhoton carries a perfect 39-0 mark into this weekend’s Class 3-2-1A state tournament in Hays. He’s ranked No. 1 in the weight class and quite frankly is in a position he never expected to be in.
 
“I never would have thought I’d ever have an undefeated season in my life, so I’m fairly surprised and fairly excited,” Rhoton said.
 
Not only is the Falcon junior undefeated, he’s only had one real close call this season with 38 of his 39 wins coming via either pin or technical fall. At his first tournament of the season, Rhoton got a quick indoctrination into what Kansas wrestling is all about, making his way to the finals at the Clay Center Invitational.
 
In the title match, he ran into Bradyn Wilson of Hoxie, the dominant program in Class 3-2-1A currently riding a streak of five straight state team championships. Wilson had taken fourth at state at 113 last year and began this season ranked No. 3 while Rhoton – the unknown – unranked to start the year.
 
And it looked like Wilson might just give Rhoton a baptism. The Indian scored a first-period takedown and with just under 30 seconds left in the first period maneuvered Rhoton to his back for a four-point near fall and 7-0 lead.
 
But Rhoton fought back. He not only fought off the pin, but got an escape in the final eight seconds and then got an escape and takedown in the second period to trail 7-5 going to the third. After giving up an escape to Wilson to start the third period, Rhoton secured a takedown with 26 seconds left and a near fall 14 seconds later to pull out a 12-8 win.
 
“I told myself I just needed to find a way to work back from it, keep the pressure on,” Rhoton said of the comeback victory. “That really proved to myself that I can get down to someone and can wrestle back. I proved to myself that I was able to stay calm and wrestle an entire six minutes and peck away.”
 
Rhoton and Wilson just so happen to be on the same side of the bracket at the state tournament with a potential semifinal rematch looming. While Rhoton cruised to the title at his regional, Wilson finished runner-up at his, losing to Norton’s Kaleb Keiswetter.
 
Keiswetter began the season ranked No. 1 after moving up from 106 pounds, where he was the Class 3-2-1A state champion the past two seasons. Rhoton overtook the Bluejay standout for the top spot in the rankings in late December after Keiswetter lost to Wilson at the Goodland Holiday Classic.
 
If that’s the path that leads to Rhoton following up his Alaska state title with a Kansas one, he’s eager for it.
 
“I’m excited to see how my hard work has pushed me and see if I have jumped levels,” he said. “I’m excited to wrestle someone of that high caliber. I would love to wrestle (Keiswetter) and honestly, I’d love to train with him.
 
“I don’t want it to come easy. I want to have some hard matches at state.”
 

MONTGOMERY FOLLOWS UP LAST YEAR’S TITLE MATCH HEARTBREAK WITH BID FOR UNDEFEATED SEASON 

Smith Center’s Kharson Montgomery was on the wrong end of a grueling, down-to-the-wire heavyweight state title match with Southeast of Saline’s Brody Chambers last year. 

Locked at 1-1 in the ultimate tiebreaker, Chambers won the coin toss and chose the down position. Montgomery nearly got the ride-out but Chambers broke through from his grasp for an escape just before time expired, securing a 2-1 win. 

“I didn't get a takedown and can't leave it up to a flip of a coin,” Montgomery said. “Just have to get a takedown.”

Montgomery hasn’t tasted defeat since the heartbreaking title match a year ago. The senior will take a 46-0 record into this weekend’s 3-1A state tournament at Hays. 

“I think it really helps me a lot, just remembering how I felt that night after that match,” Montgomery said.  “All that hard work, it kind of feels like it goes to waste when you don't end the season how you want to. I felt it for a few days, but it motivated me more to work harder in the offseason and get ready to get back to it.”

Montgomery is a two-time state runner-up who took second to former Norton standout Corbin Puga as a sophomore. 

“I know what it takes to get there,” Montgomery said. “Hopefully I can come out on top this year.

Montgomery continued his dominant season at the regional meet last week in Norton. He pinned Plainville’s Ryddik Bethel in the final. 

“Just really working hard in practice, doing good in our conditioning and having all the guys help me get better,” Montgomery said. “Working on quick feet and just getting faster.”

Montgomery said he would welcome another showdown in the finals against Chambers, who is 20-4 on the season. 

Chambers and Montgomery are ranked 1-2 at 285 in 3-1A. The two also met in the regional final last year but haven’t wrestled this year. Both are also standout linemen on the football field.

“We don’t see each other very much because he’s from the east side, but (the challenge of a potential finals matchup) really excites me because I haven’t seen him for a full year,” Montgomery said. “We’ll see who has improved more.”

Montgomery said pushing the pace will be key in making another run at a title. 

“Most heavyweights can't keep that fast pace, and they lose their breath quick, so you just have to keep that conditioning up,” he said. 

Montgomery is one of six undefeated wrestlers in the 3-1A along with Tanner Rhoton (39-0) at 106, Southeast of Saline’s Roman Tuttle (27-0) at 120, Hoxie’s Ian Giancola (32-0) at 132, Lyons’ Jace Grizzle (40-0) at 150 and Phillipsburg’s Blake Buresh (41-0) at 157. 

Five-time defending champion Hoxie is the favorite for another team championship. The Indians are ranked No. 1 and will send 11 to state.