Ark Valley News - Hornets place second at 5A state

Tony Caldwell reacts with emotion after winning a match to medal at the 5A state wrestling tournament. The sophomore placed second at 285 pounds.

Hornets place second at 5A state
By Jeremiah Strunk
Last Updated: March 01, 2018

The Valley Center High School wrestling team ended the season with a second-place finish at the Class 5A state tournament Feb. 24 and 25 at Hartman Arena in Park City.

Of Valley's 12 wrestlers, six made it to the medal stand and four made it to the finals.

It was Valley's highest finish at a 5A state tournament.

"This is the second year we have brought home a state trophy, and it represents the foundation of what's going to come in the future," coach Tate Lowe said, referring to last year's third-place finish.

Valley's six medalists were Mike Turkali, Devin Gomez, Dallas Boone, Chase Ramirez, Tyler Boone and Tony Caldwell. Gomez, Dallas and Tyler Boone, and Caldwell all made it to the finals. Each placed second.

"These seniors have set a foundation and the building blocks of the legacy that's about ready to start," Lowe said.

Last year, Gomez, a sophomore, finished state with a third-place medal, and this year he was able to improve, making it to the finals and placing second. Wrestling at 138 pounds, Gomez pinned his opponents in the first round and in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals he faced Brenner Vogan from Salina South, who he beat in sudden victory 5-3.

Gomez moved on to the finals to face Devin Onwugbufor from Maize. His final match was neck and neck, going into another sudden victory. Gomez lost 3-1.

"I put a lot of hard work into everything, and I feel like I deserve it," said Gomez. "I wrestled my best, the best I've ever wrestled."

At 145 pounds, senior Dallas Boone was the second Hornet to make it to the finals, and improved his fourth-place finish from last year. Boone faced Connor Ward from Shawnee Mill Valley in the finals, but was pinned early in the second period. As a senior, this is Boone's second time medaling at state.

Senior Tyler Boone wrestled at 170 pounds and placed second. Boone's final match was against a familiar opponent, Troy Fisher from Goddard. Boone put up a fight, but was pinned by Fisher late into the first period. Boone placed second in his weight class, his first time placing at state.

At 285 pounds, Caldwell, a sophomore, was Valley's fourth wrestler to make it to the finals. In the finals, Caldwell faced Elwin Trejo from Liberal in his final match, an opponent who he faced during regionals. Caldwell lost to Trejo 7-2, placing second. This is Caldwell's second appearance at state and his first time placing.

"I fell short in the finals, but I'm happy with how I wrestled," Caldwell said. "Without any of the teammates, none of this would have been possible, and I'm grateful for all of them."

Ramirez, a senior at 160 pounds, placed third in his state debut. Ramirez lost in the semifinals to Garrett Lange from Goddard, but came back to defeat his opponent in his third-place match.

"It was a great feeling to be with the team and progress through the year all together," Ramirez said.

Turkali wrestled at 126 pounds, placing fifth. Turkali won his fifth-place match against Joseph Dennison from Blue Valley Southwest, 3-1. Turkali also placed fifth his junior year, and this is his second year medaling.

"It feels great to put your name in the record books and be part of the team that took second at state," Turkali said. "To me, Hornet wrestling means ‘Sting Style' right now; in your face and constantly working to achieve greatness."

While losing several seniors, Hornet wrestling still has a promising future.

"Hornet wrestling is a lifestyle," Caldwell said, tearing up after his final match. "Wrestling is our lives and every teammate makes it so much better."

Class 5A State Tournament

Feb. 24-25

1. Goddard 250.5; 2. Valley Center 125; 3. Maize 119; 4. Shawnee Mill Valley 113.5; 5. OP Blue Valley Southwest 107.5; 6. Newton 97.5; 7. Emporia 91; 8. OP St. Thomas Aquinas 90.5; 9. KC Schlagle 80.5; 10. Shawnee Heights 78.5.

VC results

106 — Carver, VC, lost to Maestas, Lansing, tech. fall, 5:48; lost to Vann, St. Thomas, dec., 5-3.

113 — Craig, VC, beat Stickelman, Shawnee Heights, tech fall, 4:24; lost to Treaster, Newton, maj. dec., 12-2; beat Matthews, Eisenhower, tech. fall, 3:46; lost to Williams, BV Southwest, dec. 5-2.

126 — Turkali, VC, pinned Blevins, Leavenworth, 1:06; pinned Hughbanks, Maize, 1:24; lost to Simma, St. Thomas, dec. 4-2; lost to Burgoon, Salina Central, dec. 3-2; beat Dennison, BV Southwest, dec. 3-1; placed fifth.

132 — Clouse, VC, lost to Boone, St. Thomas, dec., 9-7; lost to Harder, Salina Central, dec., 5-2.

138 — Gomez, VC, pinned Castro, KC Wyandotte, 1:19; pinned Wathke, Shawnee Heights, 0:52; beat Vogan, Salina South, SV-1, 5-3; lost to Onwugbufor, Maize, SV-1, 3-1; placed second.

145 — D. Boone, pinned Plaiko, Highland Park, 5:15; beat McCall, BV Southwest, dec., 4-3; beat Craine, Goddard, dec., 6-1; pinned by Ward, Shawnee Mill Valley, 2:20; placed second.

160 — Ramirez, VC, pinned Still, Pittsburg, 0:44; beat Delgado, Emporia, dec., 3-2; pinned by Lange, Goddard, 0:43; beat Harper, Newton, TB-1, 5-2; beat Delgado, Emporia, dec., 3-2; placed third.

170 — T. Boone, VC, pinned Hosford, Olathe West, 0:28; pinned Arend, BV Southwest, 2:52; beat Fitzmeir, Maize, dec., 8-2; pinned by Fisher, Goddard, 1:16; placed second.

182 — Kraus, pinned by Yanez, KC Turner, 0:58; pinned by Allen, Leavenworth, 4:14.

195 — Stoffel, VC, lost to Kremer, Shawnee Mill Valley, dec., 9-7; beat Chapell, KC Wyandotte, KC Wyandotte, beat Ludwig, BV Southwest, maj. dec., 15-4; lost to Scott, Heights, maj. dec., 13-5.

220 — Watkins, VC, lost to Duhart, BV Southwest, maj. Dec., 9-1; lost to Roth, Shawnee Mill Valley, dec., 8-6.

285 — Caldwell, VC, pinned Williams, BV Southwest, 2:46; beat Reeves, St. Thomas, dec., 6-2; pinned Wallace, KC Schlagle, 2:36; lost to Trejo, Liberal, dec., 7-2; placed second.