Pratt High School wrestling coach Tate Thompson and activities director Curtis Nightingale are excited about the Class 4A Regional Wrestling Tournament that begins tomorrow at PHS, and they encourage everyone to come out and cheer for the Greenbacks.
Pratt’s regional is said to be the toughest Class 4A Regional by far, with five of the top ten teams in Class 4A and at least 27 state-ranked wrestlers scheduled to compete.
“Our regional is the toughest 4A regional by far, which is exactly why we need a huge fan turnout for our home regional,” Thompson said after the MSAA tournament. “Let's face it, most of the time our parents are the only fans in the stands. Our boys deserve better than that and I know Pratt fans can make a difference in how many we take to state.”
Pratt has just two wrestlers in the current Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association poll, but Thompson said his team has plenty other athletes with a legitimate shot at making the top four and qualifying for the state tournament.
Brothers Austin and Taylor Baird are ranked fourth in their respective weight classes, and they’ll be challenged by the No. 1 and No. 6 wrestlers in Class 4A.
At 160 pounds, Austin has a 26-4 record after going 4-0 at the MSAA tournament.
“Austin is set for a good seed at regionals and he is just wrestling really well right now,” Thompson said. “He is wrestling like there is no tomorrow and Austin deserves to punch his ticket to state and control his own destiny from there. I can't wait.”
Baird’s bracket will also include top-ranked Jake Hattenbaugh of Andale and sixth-ranked Joe Johnson from Buhler.
The road facing Taylor isn’t any easier, as Andale will bring top-ranked Benny Armstrong and Colby will send out sixth-ranked Andrew Flanagin.
But Thompson believes that the junior — 26-2 on the year — is up to the challenge.
“Taylor is set for a good seed in regionals and has been wrestling outstanding,” Thompson said. “It is hard to believe Taylor is just a junior. I think he will have a surprise for the home fans when the season ends.”
Thompson also has high hopes for senior Chase Kreutzer, who is 23-7 at 189 pounds and has been state-ranked for much of the season.
“We have been working out some minor offensive tweaks with Chase and he is where we need him to be at the right time,” Thompson said.
The 189 pound bracket will also include Scott City’s Luke Hayes, who is 1-1 against Kreutzer this season and currently holds down the fifth spot in the Class 4A rankings.
There isn’t a weight class without at least one of Class 4A’s top six wrestlers, meaning that the Greenbacks will need to be on top of their game to extend the season another week.
Junior Ludwing Verbena will face a particularly loaded bracket at 119 pounds, as Robbie Hines of Ulysses is ranked second, Colby’s Konnor Kriss fourth, and Scott City’s Francisco Antillon is fifth.
Verbena (13-15) lost to Hines and Antillon at the MSAA tournament, but Thompson is confident that the Greenback junior is capable of avenging at least one if not both those losses.
“Luda will get Antillon before our season in is up and I just can't wait,” he said. “If we can infuse just a little more confidence and show Ludwing a few more things, he will be there for us at state.”
Pratt’s lineup is also expected to include sophomore Ryan Rojas at 103, freshman Zack Dipman at 125, freshman Mitchell Baird at 130, sophomore Aaron Pribil at 135, sophomore Adam Swinford at 140, junior Jordan Ervin at 145, junior Tyler Reed at 152, junior Steele Flemming at 185, and either sophomore Kasey Crump or senior Joe Williams at 215.
“When our guys make it out of this regional, they will be more than primed for state,” Thompson said. “I am calling out all Greenback fans to support us whether you like or understand wrestling or not. Show up for our home regional and our boys will perform even better.”
Action will begin at 2 p.m. Friday with the opening rounds, and Saturday’s matches are scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
Updated results will be posted after each round on the internet at http://www.kansaswrestling.org/pratt/pratthome.htm.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the Class 4A State Tournament next weekend in Salina.
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Pratt High School wrestling coach Tate Thompson and activities director Curtis Nightingale are excited about the Class 4A Regional Wrestling Tournament that begins tomorrow at PHS, and they encourage everyone to come out and cheer for the Greenbacks.
Pratt’s regional is said to be the toughest Class 4A Regional by far, with five of the top ten teams in Class 4A and at least 27 state-ranked wrestlers scheduled to compete.
“Our regional is the toughest 4A regional by far, which is exactly why we need a huge fan turnout for our home regional,” Thompson said after the MSAA tournament. “Let's face it, most of the time our parents are the only fans in the stands. Our boys deserve better than that and I know Pratt fans can make a difference in how many we take to state.”
Pratt has just two wrestlers in the current Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association poll, but Thompson said his team has plenty other athletes with a legitimate shot at making the top four and qualifying for the state tournament.
Brothers Austin and Taylor Baird are ranked fourth in their respective weight classes, and they’ll be challenged by the No. 1 and No. 6 wrestlers in Class 4A.
At 160 pounds, Austin has a 26-4 record after going 4-0 at the MSAA tournament.
“Austin is set for a good seed at regionals and he is just wrestling really well right now,” Thompson said. “He is wrestling like there is no tomorrow and Austin deserves to punch his ticket to state and control his own destiny from there. I can't wait.”
Baird’s bracket will also include top-ranked Jake Hattenbaugh of Andale and sixth-ranked Joe Johnson from Buhler.
The road facing Taylor isn’t any easier, as Andale will bring top-ranked Benny Armstrong and Colby will send out sixth-ranked Andrew Flanagin.
But Thompson believes that the junior — 26-2 on the year — is up to the challenge.
“Taylor is set for a good seed in regionals and has been wrestling outstanding,” Thompson said. “It is hard to believe Taylor is just a junior. I think he will have a surprise for the home fans when the season ends.”
Thompson also has high hopes for senior Chase Kreutzer, who is 23-7 at 189 pounds and has been state-ranked for much of the season.
“We have been working out some minor offensive tweaks with Chase and he is where we need him to be at the right time,” Thompson said.
The 189 pound bracket will also include Scott City’s Luke Hayes, who is 1-1 against Kreutzer this season and currently holds down the fifth spot in the Class 4A rankings.
There isn’t a weight class without at least one of Class 4A’s top six wrestlers, meaning that the Greenbacks will need to be on top of their game to extend the season another week.
Junior Ludwing Verbena will face a particularly loaded bracket at 119 pounds, as Robbie Hines of Ulysses is ranked second, Colby’s Konnor Kriss fourth, and Scott City’s Francisco Antillon is fifth.
Verbena (13-15) lost to Hines and Antillon at the MSAA tournament, but Thompson is confident that the Greenback junior is capable of avenging at least one if not both those losses.
“Luda will get Antillon before our season in is up and I just can't wait,” he said. “If we can infuse just a little more confidence and show Ludwing a few more things, he will be there for us at state.”
Pratt’s lineup is also expected to include sophomore Ryan Rojas at 103, freshman Zack Dipman at 125, freshman Mitchell Baird at 130, sophomore Aaron Pribil at 135, sophomore Adam Swinford at 140, junior Jordan Ervin at 145, junior Tyler Reed at 152, junior Steele Flemming at 185, and either sophomore Kasey Crump or senior Joe Williams at 215.
“When our guys make it out of this regional, they will be more than primed for state,” Thompson said. “I am calling out all Greenback fans to support us whether you like or understand wrestling or not. Show up for our home regional and our boys will perform even better.”
Action will begin at 2 p.m. Friday with the opening rounds, and Saturday’s matches are scheduled to start at 10 a.m.
Updated results will be posted after each round on the internet at http://www.kansaswrestling.org/pratt/pratthome.htm.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the Class 4A State Tournament next weekend in Salina.
