Silver Lake Invitational

Knox finishes 6th at Silver Lake

February 2, 2013

In a field of tough competition, including several top-ranked schools from 4A and 5A, the Wildcats had a lot of obstacles in the way of having a successful weekend. In round 1, after the first ten weights had been wrestled, LHS was actually in first place as a team, but the other teams quickly caught up and passed us. Louisburg finished the tournament in 15th place out of 18 teams. St. James won the tournament, followed by Seaman and Salina South.

Sophomore Zach Knox (126 lbs.) went 2-3 on the day, knocking off two state qualifiers before falling to 6th place. In the first round, Knox won by tech fall over a state qualifier from Doniphan West, and he won by fall against another state qualifier in the quarterfinals. Junior Ben Powers had a strong day, nearly sneaking in to the top-6 at 138 lbs. Powers won a 5-3 decision and then score a tech fall before losing 7-10 in the consolation quarterfinals. Sophomore Sean Dennis (152 lbs.) filled in on varsity and ended up nearly placing. Dennis won two matches by fall.

Freshman Parker Cates (113 lbs.), senior Austen Scott (132 lbs.), and senior Curtis Lemke (145 lbs.) all went 1-2 on the weekend. Cates and Scott each won a match by fall. LHS was also represented by sophomores Austin Huber (120 lbs.), Shea Cox (160 lbs.), and Brenton Wrigley (182 lbs.), as well as by freshmen Bradley Trageser (220 lbs.) and Anders Vance (285 lbs.). These guys all went 0-2, but they had some good matches and were able to compete strongly.

Next Friday and Saturday, the Wildcats travel to Ottawa for the Frontier League Duals. Participating schools include Baldwin, DeSoto, Eudora, Paola, Ottawa, and Spring Hill. Last year, fielding a team of 8 wrestlers, LHS finished 6th with a dual record of 1-5. This year, with more experience and numbers, we plan to bring home a higher finish.

Individual Results:
106 lbs. – open
113 lbs. – Parker Cates (fr.) 1-2, 1 fall
120 lbs. – Austin Huber (so.) 0-2
126 lbs. – Zach Knox (so.) 2-3, 1 fall, 1 tech fall, 6th place
132 lbs. – Austen Scott (sr.) 1-2, 1 fall
138 lbs. – Ben Powers (jr.) 2-2, 1 tech fall
145 lbs. – Curtis Lemke (sr.) 1-2
152 lbs. – Sean Dennis (so.) 2-2, 2 falls
160 lbs. – Shea Cox (so.) 0-2
170 lbs. – open
182 lbs. – Brenton Wrigley (so.) 0-2
195 lbs. – open
220 lbs. – Bradley Trageser (fr.) 0-2
285 lbs. – Anders Vance (fr.) 0-2

Team Placing: 15th out of 18 teams

Next Competition:
Frontier League Duals (February 8-9, 2013)

Knox sixth at Silver Lake

SILVER LAKE — Chalk it up as another learning experience for a young Louisburg wrestling team. The Wildcats, with a roster of mainly freshmen and sophomores, ventured to its second tough tournament in a row Saturday — the Silver Lake Invitational. Click here to read the rest: “Knox sixth at Silver Lake” (Andy Brown, Louisburg Herald, 2/6/13)

Topeka Invitational

Lemke wins first title of the season

January 12, 2013

A battered crew of Wildcats traveled to Topeka for the Topeka Invitational. The Louisburg wrestlers earned five medals en route to a 5th place team finish. Winning the tournament was Topeka High, followed by Gardner- Edgerton, Frontenac, and Council Grove.

Two Wildcats brought home championships: seniors Cullen Hood (126 lbs.) and Curtis Lemke (145 lbs.). Hood won his first match by disqualification after his opponent bit him and then won his second match by fall. In the finals, he won a 3-0 decision against a solid opponent from Topeka High. Lemke earned his first gold medal of the season by pinning his way through the bracket. Only his first match went into the second period. Sophomore Shea Cox (160 lbs.) beat teammate Blaise Staver in the semifinals but lost by fall to a Topeka High opponent in the finals. Sophomore Zach Knox went 3-1 at 120 lbs., bouncing back from a first-round loss to win three straight matches and take third place. Senior Blaise Staver (160 lbs.) was able to enter the tournament as an unattached wrestler and came out with a third place finish. After losing to Cox in the semis, Staver won his next matches by fall and disqualification.

Despite being down two starters due to illness, the Wildcats had some good team points being scored on the back side of the brackets. Senior Austen Scott (132 lbs.) went 1-2, losing two very close matches. Sophomore Cooper Skeem filled in at 170 lbs., and freshmen Jacob Bolton (152 lbs.) and Bradley Trageser (220 lbs.) also competed for
the Wildcats.

The varsity squad will enjoy a weekend off before heading to Baldwin for the 12th Annual Baldwin Invitational Tournament. The 16-team BIT is a great opportunity for the Louisburg wrestlers to match up against some key 4A regional and state opponents.

Individual Results:
106 lbs. – open
113 lbs. – open
120 lbs. – Zach Knox (so.) 3-1, 2 falls, 3rd place
126 lbs. – Cullen Hood (sr.) 3-0, 1 fall, 1st place
132 lbs. – Austen Scott (sr.) 1-2, 1 fall
138 lbs. – open
145 lbs. – Curtis Lemke (sr.) 3-0, 3 falls, 1st place
152 lbs. – Jacob Bolton (fr.) 0-2
160 lbs. – Shea Cox (so.) 1-1, 1 fall, 2nd place
160 lbs. – Blaise Staver (sr.) 2-1, 1 fall, 3rd place
170 lbs. – Cooper Skeem (so.) 0-2
182 lbs. – open
195 lbs. – open
220 lbs. – Bradley Trageser (fr.) 0-2
285 lbs. – open

Team Placing: 5th out of 11 teams

Next Competition: Baldwin Invitational (January 26, 2013)

Tonganoxie Invitational

Knox and Lemke finalists at Tongie

December 15, 2012

With a more complete line-up and some huge strides forward, the Wildcats brought out a stronger performance at the Tonganoxie Invitational. We had six wrestlers finish in the top-four, leading the team to a fourth place finish. Tonganoxie took the team title, followed by Shawnee Heights and Atchison. Last season, the Wildcats finished in seventh at this tournament.

Sophomore Zach Knox (120 lbs.) and senior Curtis Lemke (145 lbs.) both reached the finals in their respective weight classes. Knox earned two falls before losing a major decision in the finals, while Lemke notched three falls (including one against the #2 seed) before losing by fall in the finals. It was the first finals appearance for both wrestlers this season. Junior Ben Powers (138 lbs.) earned two falls before taking fourth place. His overall record on the weekend was 3-2. Senior Austen Scott finished fourth at 132 lbs., as did freshman Parker Cates (113 lbs.) and senior Dylan York (160 lbs.). York earned his first pin of the season this weekend.

Freshman Bradley Trageser, who normally wrestles at 220 lbs., bumped up to fill our open heavyweight spot. Trageser went 2-2 with two wins by fall to take fifth place. Freshman Jacob Bolton (152 lbs.) and sophomore Nephi Rodriguez (220 lbs.) also filled in for the Wildcats, but did not place.

The Wildcats will enjoy some much needed time off for the Christmas Break. Practice resumes after Christmas and we will be gearing up for our home tournament, the Wildcat Wrestling Classic!

Individual Results:
106 lbs. – open
113 lbs. – Parker Cates (fr.) 0-4, 4th place
120 lbs. – Zach Knox (so.) 2-1, 2 falls, 2nd place
126 lbs. – open
132 lbs. – Austen Scott (sr.) 1-2, 4th place
138 lbs. – Ben Powers (jr.) 3-2, 2 falls, 4th place
145 lbs. – Curtis Lemke (sr.) 3-1, 3 falls, 2nd place
152 lbs. – Jacob Bolton (fr.) 0-3
160 lbs. – Dylan York (sr.) 1-4, 1 fall, 4th place
170 lbs. – open
182 lbs. – open
195 lbs. – open
220 lbs. – Nephi Rodriguez (so.) 0-4
285 lbs. – Bradley Trageser (fr.) 2-2, 2 falls, 5th place

Team Placing: 4th out of 11 teams

Next Competition: Wildcat Classic @ LHS (Jan. 5, 2013)

Knox leads ‘Cats in opener

FORT SCOTT — Zach Knox may only be a sophomore, but he provided the Louisburg wrestling team with a bright spot on a day that found the Wildcats on the wrong end of a lot of duals. Louisburg finished with a 1-4 record at the Fort Scott Dual Tournament to open its season Saturday, but Knox took care of business in all five of his matches. Click here to read the rest: “Knox leads ‘Cats in opener” (Andy Brown, Louisburg Herald, 12/05/12)

Fort Scott Duals

Knox goes undefeated, leads Wildcats at Fort Scott

December 1, 2012

Sophomore Zach Knox recorded 3 pins to lead the Wildcats in our first competition of the season at the 2012 Fort Scott Duals. The Wildcats faced off against five other opponents in a round-robin competition in which all teams go head-to-head in dual format. Louisburg faced three regional opponents and two other larger schools, going 1-4 in duals and taking 5th place as a team.

The weekend was filled with positives and negatives, and this sport is truly a roller-coaster ride throughout the season. Fielding a team with only four wrestlers with varsity experience, the Wildcats were able to fill 13 of the 14 weight classes. Not only were most of the team first-time varsity wrestlers, but eight of them were either freshmen or sophomores. Every LHS wrestler represented the team with pride and determination. Inexperience was our biggest disadvantage, as we lost to Fort Scott 49-30, Blue Valley Southwest 51-21, Anderson County 41-31, and Paola 36-30. Our sole dual victory came against Shawnee Mission West by a score of 42-33.

Three Wildcats ended the day with a .500 record or better: Knox was 3-0 at 120 / 126 lbs., sophomore Sean Dennis was 2-1 at 145 lbs., and freshman Jacob Bolton was 2-2 at 152 lbs. Knox recorded three pins, while Dennis and Bolton each earned two pins. Also recording pins were freshman Anders Vance (1-4 at 220 lbs.) and senior Kade Larson (2-3 at 285 lbs.). Sophomore Austin Huber (120 / 126 lbs.) won by major decision against his Anderson County opponent, senior Austen Scott (132 lbs.) won a high-scoring decision against his Anderson County opponent, and junior Ben Powers (138 lbs.) earned a decision against his Blue Valley Southwest opponent. Five other Wildcats, all of them either freshmen or first-year wrestlers, hit the mats for LHS on Saturday: freshman Adam Harris (0-4 at 106 lbs.), freshman Parker Cates (0-2 at 113 lbs.), senior Dylan York (0-5 at 160 lbs.), sophomore Brenton Wrigley (0-3 at 170 lbs.), and junior TJ McKiearnan (0-3 at 182 lbs.).

This upcoming weekend, the Wildcats will take on a hefty challenge at the 34th annual Eudora Tournament of Champions. Over twenty teams from 4A, 5A, and 6A will be competing at this tough two-day tournament. LHS will have the chance to square off against many state-ranked wrestlers.

Individual Results: (not including forfeits)
106 lbs. – Adam Harris (fr.) 0-4
113 lbs. – Parker Cates (fr.) 0-2
120 / 126 lbs. – Zach Knox (so.) 3-0, 3 falls
120 / 126 lbs. – Austin Huber (so.) 1-3
132 lbs. – Austen Scott (sr.) 1-2
138 lbs. – Ben Powers (jr.) 1-4
145 lbs. – Sean Dennis (so.) 2-1, 2 falls
152 lbs. – Jacob Bolton (fr.) 2-2, 2 falls
160 lbs. – Dylan York (sr.) 0-5
170 lbs. – Brenton Wrigley (so.) 0-3
182 lbs. – TJ McKiearnan (jr.) 0-3
195 lbs. – open
220 lbs. – Anders Vance (fr.) 1-4, 1 fall
285 lbs. – Kade Larson (sr.) 2-3, 2 falls

Dual Record: 1-4

Team Placing: 5th out of 6 teams

Next Competition:
Eudora Tournament of Champions (December 7-8, 2012)