ShawneeDispatch.com

Going into Saturday’s 4A regional wrestling tournament in Spring Hill, St. James coach Mike Medina wanted to advance at least eight kids to state.

The Thunder had never sent more than seven, and fielded an especially young team this year after graduating two state champions and a third-place finalist last year. But by the time the final whistle sounded, 10 of the 11 wrestlers St. James took to Spring Hill had advanced to state and The Thunder finished first overall in the tournament with 194 points.

Of those 10 competing in Salina, seven are underclassmen. And for Medina’s program, the younger the better.

“The goal is to get there early and say you’ve been there and done that,” Medina said. “In Salina’s Bicentennial Center, there’s a lot of pressure on you. It’s just a little bit different.”

Overall, the Thunder finished 17-2 at the regional tournament with three champions, one runner-up and all six of its consolation finalists winning to place third.

Perhaps no one had a more challenging path to the regional title than 170-pound sophomore Trent Salsbury. Salsbury avenged what was a pinfall and 11-3 loss one year ago, and defeated three of the top six in his class at 4A.

“It helped prepare him for what he’s about to experience,” Medina said. “I hope it pays off at state.”

Sophomore Reese Cokely (40-7) and freshman Zak Hensley (36-6) also won their brackets at 106 and 113 pounds, respectively.

Freshman Matt Pratt placed second at 145 pounds after dropping a 9-2 decision to No. 1-ranked Jonathan Blackwell of Bonner Springs.

Sophomore Andrew Tujague took third at 132 pounds, and sophomore Ben VanLerberg placed third at 138 pounds. Other third-place finishers included senior Logan Fortney (152), junior Andy Muehlberger (182), sophomore David Feist (220) and junior Darin Feist (285).

Medina understands that, with a young team, nervousness is inevitable. That said, he’ll still be in their ears, telling them they’ve seen this before.

“It’s just another kid from Kansas across from you,” he said. “It’s just another match, one you wrestle two minutes at a time.”

The 4A state championship will take place Friday and Saturday at the Salina Bicentennial Center, 800 The Midway. The first round begins at 10 a.m. Friday, followed by the championship quarterfinals at 2 p.m. At 4 p.m., the first round of consolation matches begin, as will the championship semifinals.

On Saturday, the consolation quarterfinals begin at 10:45 a.m., followed by the consolation semifinals at 12:15 p.m. and the consolation finals at 3 p.m. The championship finals begin 45 minutes after the conclusion of the consolation finals.

After its regional victory, Medina told the Thunder to not worry about the brackets, at least for a day. Enjoy what you accomplished this weekend, he said, and come back ready to prepare for “just another tournament.”

“Every tournament is a preparation for state,” Medina said. “And state is preparation for your next year.”

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