Hughes, Durossette reach championship semifinals

Saturday, February 23, 2013 ~ Updated 11:38 PM

SALINA -- Victor Hughes and Jacob Durossette are still in the hunt for individual championships at the Kansas Class 4A State Wrestling Tournament.

Three of Fort Scott High School's other six wrestlers are still alive in the consolation bracket. Action resumes this morning at 10 a.m. at the Bicentennial Center. This is one hour later than originally scheduled.

Hughes (42-6), ranked No. 2 in Class 4A by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, won both his matches at 138 pounds by pin. He stuck McPherson's Ethan Fowler with 19 seconds remaining in the first round and stopped DeSoto's Christian Zwhalen in 48 seconds.

Hughes takes on No. 5 Corey Spader of Spring Hill (38-7) in this morning's semifinal. Spader also pinned both his opponents Friday. The other semifinal has No. 1-ranked and top seed Bryce Shoemaker of Baldwin (43-2) against Andrew Cannon of Osawatomie (17-3), who upset No. 3 Macen Shull of Colby, 3-2, in the first round.

Durossette (28-2), ranked No. 3 and the top seed at 145 pounds, began his day with a 2-0 decision over Augusta's Brett Hamilton, then scored a technical fall over Blake Lewis of Spring Hill.

Today, Durossette will face No. 1-ranked Austin Hughey of El Dorado (24-2) in one semifinal. No. 4 Jared Fiscus of Chanute (37-6) takes on No. 2 Patrick Weaver of Hugoton (31-4) in the other semifinal.

Second-ranked Tyler Sharp (31-6) was pinned by Daniel Thomas of El Dorado in the first round at 120. In consolation, Sharp remained alive by winning a 5-0 decision over Ethan Bach of Kansas City-Piper.

Today, Sharp will begin his day by taking on No. 3 Kaden Kretzer of McPherson in the second round of consolation. Kretzer (25-6) was pinned in the championship semifinal by No. 1 Tyler Mies of Andale (33-4).

No. 6 Jared Heckman (34-12) was beaten by Jonah Lutz of Holton, 9-1, in the first round but stayed alive by winning a 10-0 decision over Jeff Wallingford of Atchison in consolation.

Heckman begins today with a match against Winfield's Payton Smith (13-12).

Fourth-ranked John Metcalf (36-6) lost his first-round 195-pound match to Ulysses' Diego Maravilla, 16-6. He remained alive by taking a major decision, 13-0, from DeSoto's Chandler Carter.

Metcalf will start off against the No. 1-ranked wrestler at 195 this morning. Goodland's Tyler Gastineau (33-8) was upset in the championship semifinal, pinned by unranked Derrick Gates of Andale (24-6).

Cole Stewart (26-17) was eliminated in two matches at 113. No. 1-ranked Cesar Regalado (29-3) took an 8-2 decision in the first round. Hunter Miller of DeSoto (30-15) took a 9-2 verdict in consolation.

The wrestlers in consolation must win two matches to be assured of at least a sixth-place medal and three in order to finish no worse than fourth. The two in the championship semifinals are assured of at least second place with a win. If either lose, they drop into the consolation semifinals, still assured of at least a sixth-place finish.

The Tigers are in 13th place in team standings with 24 1/2 points. Defending champion Andale leads with 44 1/2 points, just ahead of Colby with 44. Chanute is third with 42 points.