SALINA, Kan. – The Smoky Valley wrestling teams sent ten total wrestlers just up I-135 from the 4A State Tournament on Friday and Saturday. When the dust settled, senior Parker Gardner was standing atop the podium at 215# for the second straight year and five wrestlers for the Viking girls had medals.
Gardner pinned his way into the semifinals on Friday, beating Thayne Gross of Holton by fall in just 18 seconds in the first round, followed by a win by fall in 1:09 against Noah Edington of Independence. The semifinal match went the distance for Gardner as he took a 3-0 lead after one period on his way to an 8-2 decision over Talon Conrad of Wamego.
The 3-0 finish on Friday set up a state title bout with Columbus sophomore Kash Smith. Gardner showed his stamina in a low-scoring match. After a scoreless first period, he picked up a two-point reversal early in the second. Smith would notch an escape midway through the period to get within 2-1. Gardner battled through the final period on top, not allowing Smith to escape, picking up the one-point decision.
Gardner finished his senior season at 39-1 with the state title. Over the past two seasons, he has compiled a record of 72-3 with two state championships. He is the second two-time state champion for Smoky Valley as he accomplished the feat in 2014 and 2015.
Rette Krehbiel (138#) and Kristian Erickson (157#) also qualified for state for the Viking boys. Erickson went 1-2 and finished 29-8 on the season, while Krehbiel was 0-2 and finished a solid season at 26-4.
On the girls side, five of the seven wrestlers that qualified for the state tournament ended up on the podium. Madison Zeller had the top finish for the squad, taking 5th Place with a 3-2 record for the weekend. She opened with a win by fall in 1:16 over Mayela Franco of Field Kindley and then picked up a 12-8 decision over Rheya Cook of Winfield in the quarters. Zeller lost by fall in the semis to eventual state champion Finnley Kellerman of Baldwin. A loss by fall in the consolation semis to Izzy Greer of El Dorado put her into the 5th Place match where she picked up a hard-fought 7-6 decision over Chloe Pope of Girard. Zeller finished the year 26-12.
Four other wrestlers finished in 6th Place for Smoky Valley. At 125#, Gracie Brady lost a tough 3-2 decision to Abby Albright of Frontenac in the first round. She battled back strong in the consolation bracket, though, winning three straight to hit the medal stand. She won over Emerson Maslak of Tonganoxie (Fall 2:09), Amara Dossett of McPherson (9-3) and Maliya Collins of Louisburg (Fall 4:24) to make it to the medal rounds. She lost her final two matches by fall, but brought home the medal, finishing 35-16 on the year.
Brylie Ricketts opened the tournament with two wins at 130#. She beat Kynlie Stevenson of Wellsville by an 8-1 decision and then won by fall in 1:54 over Danica Dautel of Goodland to reach the semis. Although she battled strong, Ricketts suffered a 5-2 loss in overtime to eventual state champion Addilyn Wacker of Iola in the semis. Her final two matches were losses by fall on Saturday, but she capped a 34-17 season with a sixth-place medal.
At 135#, Roxana Riedel followed the same path as Ricketts. She opened with a 7-2 decision over Ariana Unruh of Jefferson West and then won by fall in 5:47 over Morgan Mietchen of Wellsville. A loss by fall in the semis sent her to the consolation bracket where she fell by pin in her final matches on Saturday. Riedel finished the year at 32-11 with a sixth-place state finish.
Kate Griffin finished in 6th Place at 190# for Smoky Valley. After winning by fall in 3:31 over Kyli Baylor of Chanute in the opening round, she lost to Central Kansas League foe Nevaeh Graves of Hoisington by fall in the quarters. Griffin fought through with two wins on the consolation side, beating Sophia Torrez of Topeka-Hayden by fall in 3:31, followed by a pin of Livia Miller of Clearwater in 3:38 to guarantee a medal. After a consolation semifinal loss, she met Graves again in the 5th Place match but was pinned in the end. Griffin finished her season at 32-9.
Two other wrestlers made state for the Vikings. At 115#, Jaycie Falcon went 1-2 on the weekend and finished her season at 23-16, while Magdalene Riedel fell short of a win but finished her year 28-17 as a state qualifier.
