All three Iola High Mustang wrestlers were back at work Monday afternoon. They know the celebrations of Saturday’s Kansas Class 4A Regional tournament and qualifying for state won’t get them where they really want to be:
The 2011 Kansas Class 4A State Wrestling Tournament medal stand this Saturday.
Senior Marcus Sullivan, Iola’s first ever regional champion, heads to his second straight state tournament at 160 pounds. He takes a 28-2 record to state.
“But I have to look at it as 0-0 because everyone has a good record at state,” Sullivan said.
“I wanted a better seed at state than I had last year and I got it but that just makes it tougher. I have to have the right mental focus all week in practice and when I get to Salina.”
The 4A state tournament is at the Bicentennial Center in Salina. The first round of matches begins at 10 a.m. Friday.
Stephen McDonald, a sophomore, and Mike Armstrong, a freshman, qualified for their first state trips. McDonald is 32-14 at 189 pounds and Armstrong has a 24-17 record at 119 pounds.
“I’m working to do what my coaches tell me to do throughout this week of practice,” McDonald said. “I plan to go all out in my matches and work the techniques and moves I know. I know I have to be more aggressive in both the top and bottom positions on the mat.”
“I’m going out to try and place and get a medal. I want to make my dad proud,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong opens against Pratt senior Ludwig Verbena (28-10) Friday in the 119-pound class. Sullivan drew Concordia senior Blaine Tholstrup (33-7) at 160.
McDonald takes on second-ranked Clay Center senior Zach Anderson (39-1) in the 189-pound class. The two met with Anderson winning at this year’s Silver Lake tournament.
On Friday, championship quarterfinals are at 2 p.m. followed by first round of consolation brackets. Championship semifinals follow that round.
Consolation wrestling starts at 9 a.m. Saturday. Fifth-place matches are at 2 p.m. followed by third-place matches at 3 p.m. The parade of champions starts 45 minutes after the conclusion of the consolation finals. Then come the championship matches.
Gates open at 8 a.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday. Admission prices are $6 for students kindergarten to 12th grade and $10 for adults. Prices are for individual all-day passes.
Mustangs have state mind set
