By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
A trip to the state baseball championship game last spring. A starring role in Great Bend High School’s 11-0 start last fall. Three state wrestling medals. And yet, a state championship had eluded Trenton Kern. Saturday in Park City, the GBHS senior defeated Basehor-Linwood sophomore Gavin Mitchell 9-3 to claim the Class 5A state wrestling championship at 215 pounds.
“My mindset for wrestling is kind of different from my other sports,” Kern said. “I just go out there go where it takes me. I look for my shots, and if they shoot on me, I look for offenses out of that shot. You just do what you have to do to win.”
The door opened for Kern when Salina Central’s two-time defending champion Cooper Reves went down with an injury the week of regionals. Kern entered the state bracket ranked No. 1 at 215 pounds in Class 5A, and ranked No. 5 in all-classes.
“Personally, I know (Cooper) okay,” said Kern. “I was excited to wrestle him, but when I heard he was injured, I was shocked. He’s a damn-good wrestler, and it sucks that someone like that gets hurt like that.”
So Kern made the most of his open door, pinning his first three opponents at state to reach the finals. In the other half of the bracket, Mitchell, ranked No. 6 in 5A, had to work a little harder. He reached the finals with a pin, a major decision, and a 4-0 shutout against second-ranked Jaxson Chartier in the semifinals.
After a scoreless first period in Saturday’s finale, Kern picked up an escape point early in the second period. The lead held after a successful takedown from Mitchell later in the period was ruled out of bounds. The crowd at Heartland Credit Union Arena erupted with a cacophony of boos.
“Before he threw me, I knew both of our feet were out of bounds, so we’re out of bounds, clearly,” Kern said. “When I landed, my foot hit the cement, and that means it’s automatically over.”
Mitchell did get an escape point early in the third period to level the score, then Kern took the lead with a takedown in the final 45 seconds. With the score still at 4-2 into the final seconds, Mitchell went for broke with another takedown attempt. Kern managed to stay on top, picking up the three takedown points and two nearfall points as time expired.
“I felt it pretty early on, especially when he threw me out of bounds the first time,” said Kern. “I knew it was coming either way. I knew I had to keep my weight back, because if I pushed in any more, I was going to my back again.”
More boos echoed around the arena as Kern raised his arms in celebration. Those were offset by a healthy contingent of Great Bend supporters, including Kern’s shirtless classmates and teammates, who had their support for Kern painted on their chests.
“There’s nothing like some 5A, little-town kids,” said Kern. “We all love each other like brothers and we always will. That’s cool that they came and supported us. We go to all the basketball games and support them. It’s a little brotherhood.”
Kern finishes his final prep season at 22-1. His blemish of the season came earlier in February against Nixa, Okla.’s Weston Weldon. Kern has committed to play football at Garden City Community College next fall.
