Dodge City wrestlers sit in 5th at regional tourney after Day 1
The Dodge City High School wrestling team fared well in the first day of the regional tournament in Hutchinson on Friday.
Five Red Demon wrestlers have already punched their ticket to the 6A state tournament while seven others remain in the hunt for a berth. As a whole, Dodge City currently sits in fifth place in the 16 team field with 102.5 team points, 24 points higher than Lawrence-Free State who is in sixth.
“As the day went on we got better and better,” Dodge City head coach Lars Lueders said. “That’s what I’m pleased with. Our kids settled in and started wrestling better and better. Some kids wrestled great and some maybe not so much but the big part is if they can keep it going tomorrow.”
Of the five Red Demons who advanced to the semifinals, three will compete in the championship round on Saturday afternoon. Seniors Tylor Garcia and Dylan Servis, along with sophomore Marcos Fisher will all wrestler for a regional title.
Fisher had one of the most impressive performances for the Red Demons on the day as he advanced to the championship round with a win over Haysville-Campus senior Matt Kimber, who is the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the 220-pound weight class in 6A according to the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association rankings
The sophomore pinned all three of his opponents in the first period on Friday.
“(Fisher) was very loose and aggressive,” Lueders said. “That showed by pinning everyone in the first period, including a state finalist. He is wrestling well and if he can keep it up, he’ll make some noise.”
Servis advanced to the finals with an injury decision after Garden City’s Jesse Nunez could not return to the mat after an injury.
In the championship round, Garcia will face Manhattan’s Mason Wallace for the third time this season. Wallace has edged out the Dodge City senior in two close decisions this season. Wallace and Garcia are the top two ranked wrestlers in the 6A 145 pound class.
Day 2
Demons finish 6th at regionals
By: John Zetmeir
Eight members of the Dodge City High School wrestling team earned spots in the 6A state wrestling tournament over the weekend by finishing in the top eight of the regional tournament in Hutchinson.
The Red Demons finished sixth as a team amongst the 16-team field with a team score of 135.5.
Dodge City had five wrestlers make it to the regional semifinals and three go on to wrestle in the final round. Seniors Tylor Garcia and Dylan Servis, along with sophomore Marcos Fisher came up short on Saturday in the championship round.
Sophomore Couy Weil bounced back from a semifinal loss to win his final two matches to earn third place. Seniors Kenedy Escobedo and DevonGriego also earned trips to the state tournament for the first time.
Junior Ansony Quezada and sophomore Evan Darville round out the Dodge City state qualifiers.
Those eight wrestlers from Dodge City will travel to Wichita later this week for the 6A state tournament that begins Friday morning at Hartman Arena.
TEAM SCORES
1. Garden City 1912. Manhattan 189.5 3. Derby 177 4. Haysville-Campus 166.5 5. Topeka-Washburn Rural 137 6. Dodge City 135.5 7. Lawrence Free State 111 8. Wichita South 106 9. Wichita Northwest 105.5 10. Hutchinson 96.5 11. Junction City 95 12. Wichita West 65.5 13. Wichita Southeast 49 14. Wichita East 35 15. Topeka 29 16. Wichita North 3
106 – Chad Nichols (7-9) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points
113 – Couy Weil (31-7) placed 3rd and scored 20.00 team points
120 – Kenedy Escobedo (25-13) placed 7th and scored 8.00 team points
126 – Devon Griego (19-16) placed 8th and scored 4.00 team points
132 – Josue Castillo (9-12) place is unknown and scored 2.50 team points
138 – Juan Chavez (6-3) place is unknown and scored 3.00 team points
145 – Tylor Garcia (36-5) placed 2nd and scored 23.50 team points
152 – Preston Moon (17-23) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points
160 – Weston Moon (16-17) place is unknown and scored 3.00 team points.
170 – Tyler Pipenger (12-13) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
182 – Dylan Servis (35-8) placed 2nd and scored 23.50 team points
195 – Ansony Quezada (31-9) placed 3rd and scored 16.00 team points.
220 – Marcos Fisher (26-8) placed 2nd and scored 24.00 team points
285 – Evan Darville (10-9) placed 6th and scored 8.00 team points
