PAOLA — Iola High School sophomore Kevon Loving emerged from Saturday’s KSHSAA 4A Regional Wrestling Tournament as the Mustangs’ only state qualifier following a fourth-place finish.
Loving survived a brutal consolation bracket as he witnessed multiple teammates fall one by one in the consolation quarterfinals.
“I wish I could have some of my teammates, my brothers there,” Loving said. “I feel sorry because I saw their matches, and some of them should have gone to state. They had a chance. I feel fortunate.”
Coming into the tournament unranked, Loving had a Cinderella run to his first state qualification.
He opened with a 17-13 victory over Anderson County freshman Westin Wright (23-11), but fell by a 16-0 technical fall to reigning state champion and No. 1 ranked Paola senior Brock Johnson, who went on to win the regional title.
In the consolation semifinals, Loving punched his ticket to state with a 10-2 victory over Louisburg junior Spencer Mattison. He ended the day with a 12-3 loss to Columbus junior Shade Schuberger (35-11). Loving said he was thankful for his coaches and teammates for preparing him to take his talents as far as qualifying for state.
“It felt good. I expected Mattison to not be as good as he was, but it felt great,” Loving said. “I’m not going to lie, it’s kind of scary. There are other wrestlers who are really good, even though the best guy was here, there are a lot of people who are good. It’s scary but I have to move on and work as hard as I can.”
Loving hoped to see teammates Trapper Boren and Kale Pratt competing alongside him Friday. Boren (27-16) fell one match short of qualifying for state. He opened with a loss to Parsons sophomore Kane Leon (22-8) by first-period pin. 
Boren worked his way up the consolation bracket with a pair of first-period pins of Paola freshman Trejen Jackson (5-15), then Labette junior Dawson Wiley (20-19). His season came to an end by third-period pin by Prairie View freshman Bentlee Diediker (27-13).
Sophomore B.J. Seance (12-9) came one match short from qualifying in the 175 lbs. weight class. After falling by first-period pin to Anderson County sophomore Brody Kohlmeier, Seance rebounded with an 8-4 victory over Louisburg sophomore James Langner (6-23). A first-period pin by eventual third-place finisher Alec Douglas (26-12), a Frontenac sophomore, eliminated Seance.
Alston “Ollie” Nelson fell in the 215 lbs. consolation quarterfinals. After opening the tournament with a 17-1 technical fall of Frontenac freshman Leilan Duran (1-8), Nelson fell to Louisburg junior Braxton Koechner (13-14) by third-period pin in the semifinals. He rebounded with a third-period pin of Prairie View junior Cooper Oliphant (16-24) but fell in the quarterfinals to Girard freshman Austin Call (5-by first-period pin.
“We’re one of the three smallest schools here, but that’s not an excuse, it is what it is,” Iola coach John Taylor said. “We had some guys come up short. As a coach, I’m having a hard time because I’m down. I wanted to take more kids to state. More kids deserved it, and we couldn’t get it done today. They were not at their best, and I take responsibility for that.”
As a fourth-place finisher, Loving faces an uphill battle as one of the lower seeds at Friday’s tournament. However, he will not be alone in that fight.
IHS teammates Zoie Hesse, Addilyn Wacker and Kaelin Rodriguez each qualified for the girls tournament earlier this month.
For Taylor, the coming week is what he believes defines the Mustangs as a team. While having a come-what-may attitude about the state tournament, Iola’s preparation will mean more than this coming Saturday’s results.
“It will be special because the guys and girls in the room are truly there to help,” Coach Taylor said. “I don’t make them come in this last week of the season. Next week, it’s going to show what a true family we really are. They’re going to show up when they don’t have to, to make sure a member of their family is ready for next week.”
