KANSAS REGIONAL WRESTLING
Aquinas sending 14 to state tournament
The Kansas City Star

The St. Thomas Aquinas wrestling team has been on a mission to win a state championship all year, and it is on the brink of finishing the job.

The Saints dominated the Bonner Springs 5A regional on Saturday, scoring 267 points - 123 more than any other team - and sending all 14 wrestlers to state.

St. Thomas Aquinas had 13 wrestlers, including seven first-place finishers, in the finals of their weight classes. But the most impressive performance was turned in by junior Phillip Henes.

Henes beat previously undefeated Aldon Isenberg of Gardner Edgerton in the 135-pound championship match, avenging a 9-3 loss to Isenberg in January at the Blue Valley Northwest Invitational.

"Isenberg is an outstanding wrestler, and Phil is proving he's right up there," Saints coach Lorne Parks said. "That's a huge win for him, and he should be proud of it."

Henes said he entered regionals more confident because he'd won his last two tournaments and put in extra work at practice. But more than anything, he was happy that the Saints had everyone in their lineup advance to state, because it improves the chances of taking home a team title.

"This shows that we are good from top to bottom," Henes said.

Entering the finals, Gardner Edgerton and Mill Valley were locked in a battle for second place, with only one point separating them. The two teams went back and forth before senior Keith Curtis' victory in the 215-pound championship match gave the Trailblazers 144 points, three more than Mill Valley.

Wyandotte senior Robert Newbill won regional wrestler of the year, remaining undefeated with a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Scott Markey of St. Thomas Aquinas. Gardner Edgerton coach Matt Yeamans, who had nine wrestlers qualify for state, won regional coach of the year.

Blue Valley qualifies nine

Chris Paisley came into the Kansas 6A regional at Blue Valley Northwest on Saturday knowing that his Blue Valley team had a realistic shot at winning a regional title.

Then again, so did five other teams who finished with either eight or nine entrants into this weekend's Kansas 6A state tournament, which begins Friday in Wichita.

Somehow, Blue Valley outlasted its competition. The Tigers scored 153.5 team points and qualified nine wrestlers — three first, second- and third-place finishers each — for the state tournament.

Austin Quarles at 103 pounds, Parker Madl at 112 and Conner Combes at 189 won regional titles for Blue Valley.

Although they won the regional, the Tigers didn't win the most weight classes. That distinction went to Blue Valley North. The Mustangs got victories from Nathan McCormick at 119 pounds, Jake Tanenbaum at 125, Anthony Livengood at 130 and Casey Curran at 171.

Olathe North senior Adam Almaguer, who is 34-1 at 135 pounds, earned the regional’s wrestler of the year honors with two wins.

good job!!!! they recruit.

Outstanding job Coach Parks and boys. Keep up the good work.

Looking good guys! One more good weekend and it should all come together...

And if it doesn't, cut those guys and recruit some new ones!

Im sure there are acouple of freshman coming up in the kc area for them to recruit

What are the stats on teams that have sent all their wrestler. Has there been very many? That STA head coach and coach Bud are a couple of heavy hitters. Can't wait to see how they react when the battle of the private catholics school see each other next week-end (this is going to be good).

Ark City has acouple of times im sure bishop carrol has and probally hoxie maybe goodland and most of the decent KC schools since there regionals at times are pretty easy.

Here is a listing of the Aquinas wrestlers going to State that I know of that wrestled their youth wrestling with the Saint Thomas Aquinas wrestling club before they entered high school.

112: Joe Rausch
119: Connor McCarthy
125: Jake Walker
135: Phillip Henes
140: Skyler Scott
152: Scott Markey
160: Paul Markey
215: Mike Hammer
285: Jacob Nowak

That is nine out of the 14. Whenever this recruiting allegation comes up like it did two years ago, it does not give the deserved credit to the kids club and coaches like Sean McCarthy, Mark Roos, Barry Sullivan, Barry Anstine, Rob Tannebaum, Tim Markey, Bob Henes, Bob Golubski and many others over the years. It especially does not give credit to Joe Cisper who started this club many years ago and has worked hard to make it the success it has been. It also does not give the proper credit to Coach Lorne Parks and the incredible coaching staff that he has enjoyed over the last several years. Coach Parks and his staff run a great high school wrestling program. A program like this is naturally going to attract a lot of high quality wrestlers and their families. It happens at other schools too like Bishop Carroll, Goddard, and others.

How does Shawnee Mission Northwest manage to win the State Cross Country championships for both boys and girls year in and year out? Do you think it has anything to do with their coach and the program he runs? How about Shawnee Mission East with their swimming teams? Do you think their coach has anything to do with it? Are these public schools recruiting to make those programs so successful over such a long period of time? Most fair people know a good coach and program will produce long term success at the high school level. Good coaching will attract athletes in public or private schools in about any sport.

Those of us with kids that wrestle at Aquinas know it has to do with the kids program and the good high school coaching at Aquinas. You can blame it on recruiting if you want but the Aquinas wrestling family knows it is just good old fashion work by both the coaches and the kids. There is also great support from the parents too.

I don't understand Richard Sayler said at the top of the post that STA is sending 14 wrestlers to state. What is the deal is this another crazy grandpa off his meds?

I may be old, crazy and off my meds but I am not a grandpa!!!

And who is Sayler???

I was refering to the Richard D Salyer who started the post saying STA is taking 14 to state.

It says that he is a moderator?

Well we better watch ourselves because he is liable to take us to the woodshed.

STA is sending all 14 wrestlers to State.

The 9 listed above by Husker Fan are those who were involved in the STA Kids Club prior to high school.

I would guess the other 5 started wrestling somewhere else or just started with high school.

As far as the 14 going to State comment to my post where I only listed 9 wrestlers, I was referring only to the nine that I knew of that started wrestling with the STA wrestling club prior to starting high school.

I found out from a founding member of the club that actually 10 started with the club before high school. Our 103 state wrestler Jimmy Bryant also wrestled with the club before high school.

It was also pointed out to me that the other four members of the team Noles 130, Millstead 145, Nill 171 and Mamie 189 also after their high school seasons had wrestled with the STA club.

I really should have mentioned Randy Ewing as a STA coach too.

Skyler Scott did not always wrestle with STA, he wrestled with JC kids. R.J. Nill wrestled for Piper and then KC kids. Also Millstead wrestled for KC kids. Doesn't hurt to have Dads that are good coaches also. Good luck boys-Markey boys Good luck to you also!