HAYS — Humboldt wrestler Andrew Watts picked up some state hardware Saturday.
Watts brought home fourth place in the 285-pound division of the Class 3-2-1A State Tournament, hosted by Fort Hays State University.
He did so by going 3-2 on the day, including knocking off previously unbeaten and defending state champion Tra Barrientes of Russell in the first round.
The two were evenly matched through the early going.
Watts secured an early takedown, only for Barrientes to get the reversal seconds later, and Watts managed to escape.
Then it was Barrientes’s turn to get two points for a takedown, only for Watts to escape with under 30 seconds left.
But the action came at a cost for Barrientes, who injured his shoulder and had to end the match with 3 seconds left in the period.
The victory put Watts in the championship semifinals, where he squared off with Mission Valley’s Nolan Parker.
Parker was credited for takedowns in each of the first two periods to take a 4-1 lead, en route to a 7-2 victory.
That sent Watts to the consolation side of the bracket, where Watts pinned Than Walt of Hill City at the 1:36 mark.
It wasn’t easy. Watts secured a takedown with 30 seconds left in the first period, only for Walt to get a reversal and near pin as time expired.
Walt then secured a takedown in the second period before Watts secured the reversal and pin.
Watts ended the day with a familiar foil — Wellsville’s Colby Stephens — who defeated Watts the previous three weekends, at the district, regional and substate tournaments, respectively.
This pattern followed once again, although Watts managed an early escape, but not the second as Stephens earned the pin late in the second period.
