Iola senior Wyatt Westervelt and Humboldt sophomore Cole Mathes competed at their respective wrestling state tournaments in Salina and Hays this past weekend.
Westervelt was taken down in a couple of matches in the 4A championship in the 190-pound weight class in Salina. It was the senior’s second straight showing at the state championship in Salina after also going out on the first day of last year’s tournament.
“I think this taught him the rewards of sticking with your goals and putting in the hard work to reach them,” said Iola head coach Jason Bates. “Every time you do that, you gain a little more confidence in yourself and gain self-reliance.”
The Mustang lost to Ulysses’ Justin Degollado in a 1:07 fall in the championship round one. Westervelt was then moved to a consolation round matchup in which he fell in a 7-1 major decision to Jefferson West’s Keaton Shelman.
“Wyatt only missed one practice this year (due to illness) and that shows a lot of dedication to the sport and the team,” Bates said. “He shows up in the morning. There’s been three times this year where we didn’t have school and he gets out of bed, shows up and works out.”
“He’s willing to put in the extra work,” Bates continued.
Even though it was a short stay at the state tournament the senior has an abundance of top wins and memories to look back on.
MATHES took fifth place with 13 team points in his 165-pound weight class at the Class 3A state championship in Hays.
Mathes, a sophomore, began day one by winning by decision over Russell’s Teagen Pfeifer, 6-5.
The Cub then lost to West Elk’s Creyo Koop by a 14-4 major decision in the quarterfinal round. Mathes advanced to day two by pinning Pleasant Ridge’s John McEvoy in two minutes and 27 seconds.
Mathes began day two strong by taking a 1-0 decision over Nemaha Central’s Abram Kiem.
He then lost to Atchison County’s Bricen Lee in a 17-4 major decision before winning his final match of the tournament against Minneapolis’ Augustus John in a medical forfeit.
