Indians Wrestle In Wichita County Tourney
The high school wrestling team competed in the Wichita County Round Robin Wrestling Tournament in Leoti, Kansas, on Friday, February 3. The Indians won several matches at the tournament and competed well. No team scores were kept during the tournament.
Individual finishes for the Indians were: Cody Baxter 1st at 160, Tiernan Poling 2nd at 126, Luin Norris 2nd at 195, Aaron White 3rd at 106, and Seth Hilt 4th at 182.
Individual results for the St. Francis wrestlers are listed below.
106 - Aaron White (6-18) placed 3rd.
Click here to view Aaron's bracket.
Round 1 - James Ricke (Wichita County) 9-6 won by fall over Aaron White (St. Francis) 6-18 (Fall 3:31)
Round 2 - Aaron White (St. Francis) 6-18 won by fall over Nicholas Becker (Cimarron) 1-8 (Fall 0:41)
Round 3 - Aaron White (St. Francis) 6-18 won by fall over Nevaeh McKissick (Lakin) 0-14 (Fall 0:42)
Round 4 - Braiden Lynn (Cimarron) 21-4 won by fall over Aaron White (St. Francis) 6-18 (Fall 0:38)
Round 5 - Aaron White (St. Francis) 6-18 won by fall over Taye Payne (Goodland) 12-18 (Fall 5:12)
126 - Tiernan Poling (15-12) placed 2nd.
Click here to view Tiernan's bracket.
Round 1 - Tiernan Poling (St. Francis) 15-12 won by decision over Bradon Menzie (Sublette) 13-8 (Dec 18-11)
Round 2 - Kayden Christiansen (Lakin) 16-4 won by decision over Tiernan Poling (St. Francis) 15-12 (Dec 8-6)
Round 3 - Tiernan Poling (St. Francis) 15-12 won by fall over Manten Crow (Goodland) 4-14 (Fall 0:30)
160 - Cody Baxter (17-9) placed 1st.
Click here to view Cody"s bracket.
Round 1 - Cody Baxter (St. Francis) 17-9 won by major decision over Blake Spencer (Trego Community) 6-15 (MD 10-0)
Round 2 - Cody Baxter (St. Francis) 17-9 won by fall over Reese Garetson (Sublette) 4-13 (Fall 1:08)
Round 3 - Cody Baxter (St. Francis) 17-9 won by fall over Elian Valeta-Rios (Lakin) 5-13 (Fall 1:00)
Round 4 - Cody Baxter (St. Francis) 17-9 won by decision over Alec Smith (Cimarron) 12-14 (Dec 5-1)
Round 5 - Cody Baxter (St. Francis) 17-9 won by fall over Colby Burkhart (Trego Community) 5-7 (Fall 3:41)
182 - Seth Hilt (1-15) placed 4th.
Click here to view Seth's bracket.
Round 1 - Josh Seabolt (Cimarron) 26-1 won by fall over Seth Hilt (St. Francis) 1-15 (Fall 0:47)
Round 2 - Jamel Roberson (Sublette) 12-7 won by fall over Seth Hilt (St. Francis) 1-15 (Fall 1:18)
Round 3 - Hunter Folsom (Trego Community) 18-12 won by fall over Seth Hilt (St. Francis) 1-15 (Fall 2:37)
195 - Luin Norris (7-8) placed 2nd.
Click here to view Luin"s bracket.
Round 1 - Luin Norris (St. Francis) 7-8 won by fall over Javier Hernandez (Wichita County) 5-9 (Fall 2:50)
Round 2 - Luin Norris (St. Francis) 7-8 won by fall over Camerson Blankenship (Sublette) 4-14 (Fall 0:41)
Round 3 - Tanner Lowry (Trego Community) 22-7 won by fall over Luin Norris (St. Francis) 7-8 (Fall 1:35)
Coach Dylan Loyd submitted the following information.
Most Outstanding Wrestler:
The St. Francis wrestling coaching staff has selected Cody Baxter as the wrestler of the week. Cody continues to improve each week and dominated his way to claim the championship at the Leoti Invitational.
Coach’s Comments:
"This past Friday we traveled to Leoti to compete in the Leoti Invitational. This was our second year attending this tournament and one that we enjoy competing in. This is a good tournament to start winding down the season on and to help prepare us for the regional tournament. We like to be able to see and compete against some of the Southwest schools that will be at our regional. This was a good test to see where we stand against that competition. I like how us coaches put together this schedule, the past two weeks we have competed on Fridays. I like being able to give these guys a couple of weekends before regionals to kind of unwind a little bit and refresh and rebuild. This upcoming week we will push them pretty hard in the practice room and get them mentally and physically prepared for whats to come. These guys are starting to figure some things out, this is a very young group and to those who have followed them throughout the season I think you can see the improvements that they have made and that’s a testament to them as competitors. Right now, we are preaching to them just to flat out want it more. As the postseason rears its head that guys who haven’t cut corners throughout the season and the guys who flat out want it more and will do whatever it takes set themselves a part. This is where it gets fun and as a coach I love this part of the season. Still have work to do but, I am looking forward to it.
Individually, Aaron White had himself a tremendous weekend. His biggest thing has been his confidence. He hasn’t had a lot of wrestling experience but, he really has come a long way. He went 3-2 this weekend and wrestled with that confidence we have been waiting to see. He got after it this weekend and I’m really proud of him for how far he has come and for the work he has put in this season. Tiernan Poling had a pretty good weekend. He let his finals match slip through his fingers a little bit, but he came back from a pretty big hole in that match to send it to overtime. He has some things that he needs to clean up; he's gotta get better or more comfortable on his feet before next weekend. He is another one who just does things right; he doesn’t say a whole lot but, his actions speak volumes. Cody Baxter wrestled really well. I’ve said it a lot throughout the course of this season but, this kid has some physical tools that I really have never seen before. He has the ability to do some pretty special things and this weekend he showcased that. Cody’s biggest weakness is his confidence; when he knows, he can beat someone he can light up a scoreboard. I truly believe right now at this moment he can already go with anyone. Seth Hilt really has come along very well. I think the thing I am most proud of is his approach to this season. He may not be having the success that he wants to have but, this kid has competed against the best kids in the state. He has wrestled multiple returning state champions from last season in all classifications and still mentally has never broke. To me that says a lot about him. After this season, he can truly say he competed against the best and for him moving forward competing against that tough of competition is only going to make him better. You have to be able to handle and learn from defeat. I believe that is the most important thing when it comes to growth in this sport. We believe in this kid. Luin Norris started off really hot and wrestled about as well as I have ever seen him. His first two matches he was hitting moves that I haven’t seen him hit in a match in his wrestling career. To me that shows that he was wrestling with confidence, and that’s what he needs to wrestle with every time he steps out on the mat. In his finals match I think he gave the kid a little too much respect. I truly believe Chuck could of went the distance with that kid and truly push him to the brink. He has just got to get to that point where he is confident in himself even in the matches on paper he isn’t “suppose” to win. This kid has come a long way since his freshman season. He has put in the time and now it’s time for him to take that next step."
The Indians will wrestle in the Regional Tournament on February 17 and 18.