Great Bend Post Sports
The Wichita area is tough when it comes to wrestling. At Saturday's 72nd Douglass Goodwill Invitational, the Panther wrestlers ran into some of those Wichita-area teams. Top-ranked Rose Hill (4A) scored 202.5 points for the win, followed by fourth-ranked Abilene (4A) with 157.5 points. Bishop Carroll, Basehor-Linwood, and Newton, all ranked in the 5A top 10, finished next with Great Bend scoring 97 points for sixth place.
The 165-pound bracket featured a potential state title showcase as Panther senior Jace Schartz, ranked No. 2, advanced to the finals against fourth-ranked Eli Means from Bishop Carroll. Schartz tech-falled his first opponent, then won a 14-8 decision over the third-place finisher from Rose Hill. Means reached the finals via a pin and tech-fall win. Means was able to defeat Schartz 10-6 for the championship.
Cal Schartz advanced to the finals at 113 pounds. After a bye, he needed just over two minutes total to pin his next two opponents. Rose Hill senior Trenton Richwine, ranked No. 1 in 4A, also reached the finals with a pair of quick pins. Schartz was able to take Richwine the distance in a 7-0 loss to finish second.
Sophomore Josue Bustamonte worked his way to a third-place finish at 285 pounds. After a bye, he was pinned by 4A state runner-up and top-ranked Willy Jon Morales of Augusta. Bustamonte had a pair of byes on the back side before winning a 7-3 decision against Winfield. He advanced to the consolation finals via injury default, then pinned his Bishop Carroll opponent to secure third place.
Sophomore Hayden Liles overcame a tough draw to finish fourth at 120 pounds. Liles pinned his Pratt opponent in the first period before getting pinned by third-ranked Trevor Christianson of Basehor-Linwood, who went on to win the bracket. Liles dominated the back side with a major against Winfield, a tech fall against Augusta, and a pin against Bishop Carroll.
Sixth-ranked Triston Tomlinson advanced to the semifinals at 138 pounds before finishing fourth. He pinned his first opponent and won a 5-3 decision over Basehor-Linwood before losing an 11-4 decision against reigning 4A runner-up Owen Suttles of Winfield. Tomlinson pinned his next opponent from Buhler before forfeiting his match in the consolation finals.
Sophomore Caleb Mulligan posted a 2-2 record at 126 pounds, as did senior Michael Montoya at 175 pounds. Sophomore Blake Stein had a tough draw at 157 pounds, opening with a loss to fourth-ranked Blake Winsor of Pratt. He pinned his next opponent from Douglass before bowing out with a loss against Winfield.
Junior Trevin Maciel finished at 0-2 in contested matches at 132 pounds, including an opening loss to sixth-ranked Cael Puderbaugh of Basehor. Sophomore Kayden Dietrich also posted an 0-2 record at 144 pounds. Freshman Brady Mendez finished 0-2 at 190 pounds.