Tigers struggle at loaded Rose Hill tourney

ROSE HILL -- If one is a believer of the idea, "In order to be the best, you have to beat the best," then one understands why Fort Scott High School's wrestling team comes to the Rose Hill Tournament every year.

There were six teams ranked in their respective classes by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association here. And Tiger grapplers faced a total of nine ranked opponents in the tournament.

Unfortunately, the Tigers had no medalists and finished 21st in the 22-team field. Derby, ranked second in Class 6A, was the team title winner followed by Valley Center, No. 3 in Class 4A, Andale, No. 1 in 4A, Andover Central, No. 2 in 5A, and Arkansas City, No. 6 in 5A.

Only two wrestlers managed to break even on the day, byes not included. Justin Sharp and Blake Cowen were each 2-2 on the day.

Sharp (26-6) won a 1-0 decision over Jake Mertins of Valley Center in his first match of the day at 125 pounds. He then lost in the quarterfinals to Levi Eck of Andale, a freshman who is ranked No. 4 in Class 4A. In consolation, Sharp pinned Kaden Kretzer of McPherson. He lost in the consolation quarters to Brady Heincker of Derby, 10-0. Heincker is ranked No. 6 in Class 6A.

Cowen (11-8), competing at 152 pounds, lost to Anthony Whittly of Labette County by technical fall in his first-round match. He went on to beat Jay Page of Andover Central by pin and Issac Stuhlzats of Andale, 6-4, in consolation. He was eliminated via an 11-0 major decision by Austin Hazenbank of Concordia.

Tyler Sharp (25-13) was 1-2 at 103 pounds. He won a 9-5 decision over Clay Kear of Andale. He dropped into consolation with an 8-4 loss to Brade Hake of Concordia and was eliminated on an 8-5 decision by Dalton Dietrich of Arkansas City.

Denzell Davis (25-7), himself ranked No. 5 in Class 4A at 119, pinned Derby's Colin Harrington in his first match. Harrington was ranked No. 6 in Class 6A.

Davis lost to Jonathan Peterson of Hutchinson via pinfall to drop to consolation, where he was ousted on a 10-4 decision by Beau Johnson of McPherson.

Michael Durossette (13-14), wrestling at 135, was pinned by Andover Central's Alex Blontz, who is ranked No. 2 in Class 5A, in his first match. He pinned Austin Samon of Wellington in his next match before he was eliminated by Chase Wells of Augusta, who took an 11-3 major decision.

John Metcalf (19-13) finished 1-2 at 160. He pinned Rayne Curtis of Rose Hill in his first match but was pinned by

Bryce Marr of Ark City in the quarterfinals. Marr is ranked No. 4 in Class 5A.

In consolation, Metcalf was eliminated by Alex Dillman of Valley Center via pinfall.

Dane Cummings (16-13), wrestling at 171, lost his first match by a 6-5 decision to Landon Bryant of Valley Center. In consolation, he took a 5-3 decision over Columbus' Brandon Alberty but was pinned by Mulvane's Jack Diffenbaugh.

Drew Bryant (19-16) started his day at 285 with a pinfall victory over Nic Ice of Rose Hill. In the quarterfinals, he lost a 4-0 decision to B.J. Finney of Andale, who is ranked No. 2 in Class 4A. Finney went on to win the championship over Columbus' Tank Burns to remain undefeated (25-0) on the season.

In consolation, Dakota Denney of Caney Valley, ranked No. 6 in Class 3A, took a 2-1 decision, eliminating Bryant.

Victor Hughes (20-13) was 0-2 at 130 pounds. He had to face the No. 6 wrestler in Class 5A in his first match, Jake Umscheld of Andover Central and lost on a pinfall. In consolation, he was eliminated by Shane Goetz of Hutchinson on another pin.

The Tigers will travel to Pittsburg tonight to face the host Purple Dragons and Iola in a make-up Southeast Kansas League triangular.