Despite a third-place finish at Saturday’s MSAA Tournament, Pratt High School wrestling coach Tate Thompson was pleased with his team, which is building momentum for a strong effort at the Class 4A Regional in Pratt later this month.
The Greenbacks beat Larned and TMP but lost their duals to Ulysses and Scott City to finish third as a team.
“We are not a dual team, yet we were a shift in one of our matches in the Ulysses and Scott City duals away from beating them both, and duals are supposed to be Scott City’s thing,” Thompson said. “Scott City only lost to Garden by one this year and we were right with them with a whole lot of inexperienced wrestlers in the lower weights.”
Pratt did have two league champions as Austin Baird and Taylor Baird continued their great seasons with 4-0 records on the day.
Taylor, a junior at 171, won three matches by fall and one by forfeit as he improved to 26-2 on the year.
“Taylor is set for a good seed in the regional 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.”
Older brother Austin was nearly as dominant, pinning one opponent while also winning a 13-5 major decision and a 5-0 decision. He is now 26-4 on the season.
“Austin is set for a good seed at regionals and he is just wrestling really well right now,” Thompson said of the senior. “He is wrestling like there is no tomorrow and Austin deserves to punch his ticket to state and control his own destiny from there.”
Pratt also got second-place finishes from Mitchell Baird, Steele Flemming, Chase Kreutzer, Aaron Pribil and Adam Swinford while Kasey Crump, Zack Dipman, Jordan Ervin, Tyler Reed and Ludwing Verbena placed third in their classes.
At 130, Mitchell Baird went 3-1 and improved to 8-15 as a freshman.
“Mitchell is a hard worker and has never let a rough season get to him,” Thompson said. “He is seeing the rewards of his effort and attitude at this point in the season.”
Flemming improved to 10-6 on the season in the heavyweight class, losing only to a full heavyweight.
“Steele is primed for a strong regional finish and I am so proud of how he has done at heavyweight for us,” Thompson said. “He would be even more impressive at 215.”
Kreutzer ran his season record to 23-7 at 189, and bounced back from a loss to TMP with a dominating win over Scott City’s Luke Hayes, who gave Kreutzer his first loss of the season in December.
Pribil and Swinford also competed well, improving to 12-13 and 19-13 on the year at 135 and 140.
“Aaron had a strong day and could get a good finish at our regional coming up,” Thompson said. “Aaron is deceptively strong and he surprises opponents on the mat. Aaron had a really nice day for us and he kept us in the running for a league championship all day.”
“Adam wrestled well today and got us some much needed points,” Thompson said. “His Scott City opponent was hurt, so that head-to-head never happened, but Adam had a sound day and is right where he needs to be for regionals.”
Thompson was also pleased with Pratt’s five third-place finishers.
Crump went 2-2 at 215 pounds, moving his season record to 15-9.
“Kasey wrestled well for us and he knows what he needs to do to improve before our home regional,” Thompson said. “Kasey lost to two regional opponents and understands that he needs to pick it up in practice and wrestle the way that represents him best and he will get one if not both of those losses avenged by the regional. I have faith in Kasey and know he will step it up for us.”
Dipman was one of two freshmen placers for PHS, as he went 2-2 at 125 pounds.
“Zack is showing improvement, which is good and I think he is finally getting in better shape,” Thompson said. “Zack has been wrestling Ludwing in practice, which has brought his level up and I am pleased with his progress.”
Ervin had a disappointing day, going 2-2 at 145 pounds, but Thompson is confident that he will bounce back in time for the regional tournament.
“Jordan was not himself in this tournament. He lost to the Ulysses kid who he usually pins in the first period and was up 5-0 on the number four kid in 4A and just made some mental mistakes that Jordan hasn't made all year,” Thompson said. “Jordan will come back strong during our regional. I have the utmost confidence in his ability.”
Reed tuned up for a very tough regional bracket with a tough run through the MSAA tournament, going 2-2 at 152 pounds.
“Tyler fought hard for us today and will have to be able to get a good draw in regionals as his bracket is super tough. He has Josh Rodriguez from Ulysses, the number three kid in 4A and the number one in 4A is from Valley Center,” Thompson said. “His Scott City opponent was ranked before and is really tough. Tyler fights hard and I know he will give his all in his attempt to knock one of these guys out of our regional. Our plan is for him to do that. I just hope the fans show up to cheer him on and give Tyler some adrenaline.”
Reed is 12-10 on the season.
Verbena battled two state-ranked wrestlers and finished 2-2 on the day to take third place at 119 pounds.
“Luda gave them all they wanted and more, so much so that one of his opponents punched him in the face and Luda actually stopped for five full seconds in neutral position looking at the referee who all but ignored him,” Thompson said. “The number two wrestler in 4A, Robbie Hines, ended up running up the score to a tech fall against Luda, but most of that scoring happened in the third period. Luda was in on Robbie's leg so fast in the first period that he did not know what to expect from then on. 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 was also represented by Cinthya Ibarra and Ryan Rojas, who finished 1-3 and 0-4 respectively.
“Ryan Rojas was 0-4 on the day and just had a really tough go,” Thompson said. “Ryan stays positive and is giving us a good effort. Ryan will work on his strength index this summer and hopes to see improvement next year.”
“Cinthya filled a spot that has been open all year. Cinthya showed a lot of heart out there and I am very proud of her effort,” Thompson said. “Cinthya fights harder than a lot of wrestlers, but she has very little experience. This was only the third time she has seen competition, so to have the guts to go out there was impressive.”
The Greenbacks will host a Class 4A Regional on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 19 and 20. Additional information on the tournament will appear in the Tribune next week.
MSAA Tournament
Dual Results
Pratt 77, Larned 6
103 — Ryan Rojas lost to Duran by fall.
112 — Cinthya Ibarra won by forfeit.
119 — Ludwing Verbena won by forfeit.
125 — Zack Dipman def. Lohr by 18-3 technical fall.
130 — Mitchell Baird def. Smith by fall.
135 — Aaron Pribildef. Avery by fall.
140 — Adam Swinford won by forfeit.
145 — Jordan Ervin def. Reason by fall.
152 — Tyler Reed won by forfeit.
160 — Austin Baird def. Haberman by fall.
171 — Taylor Baird def. Graham by fall.
189 — Chase Kreutzer def. Peterson by fall.
215 — Kasey Crump won by forfeit.
285 — Steele Flemming def. Glover by fall.
Pratt 52, TMP 24
103 — Rojas lost to J. Walker by fall.
112 — Ibarra lost to Schumacher by fall.
119 — Verbena def. L. Walker by fall.
125 — Dipman def. R. Werth by 16-5 major decision.
130 — M. Baird won by forfeit.
135 — Pribil won by forfeit.
140 — Swinford lost to A. Werth by fall.
145 — Ervin won by forfeit.
152 — Reed won by forfeit.
160 — A. Baird won by forfeit.
171 — T. Baird won by forfeit.
189 — Kreutzer lost to P. Werth by 3-1 decision.
215 — Crump won by forfeit.
285 — Flemming lost to Barnes by 4-1 decision.
Ulysses 42, Pratt 33
103 — Rojas lost to J. Perez by fall.
112 — Ibarra lost to Corbez by fall.
119 — Verbena lost to Hines by 17-5 major decision.
125 — Dipman lost to A. Rodriquez by fall.
130 — M. Baird lost to Morales by 16-0 technical fall.
135 — Pribil def. Garnette by fall.
140 — Swinford def. Herrera by fall.
145 — Ervin lost to T. Perez by fall.
152 — Reed lost to J. Rodriguez by 10-2 major decision.
160 — A. Baird def. Sandoval by 5-0 decision.
171 — T. Baird def. Salas by fall.
189 — Kreutzer def. Casey by fall.
215 — Crump lost to Maxwell by 15-7 major decision.
285 — Flemming def. Frazee by fall.
Scott City 38, Pratt 32
103 — Rojas lost to Mulligan by fall.
112 — Ibarra lost to Kough by fall.
119 — Verbena lost to Antillon by 8-4 decision.
125 — Dipman lost to Pearson by 8-1 decision.
130 — M. Baird def. McCulloch by fall.
135 — Pribil lost to Gardner by fall.
140 — Swinford won by forfeit.
145 — Ervin lost to D. Hayes by fall.
152 — Reed lost to Numrich by 9-2 decision.
160 — A. Baird def. Paul by 13-5 major decision.
171 — T. Baird def. Clinton by fall.
189 — Kreutzer def. L. Hayes by 10-2 major decision.
215 — Crump lost to Erven by 19-4 technical fall.
285 — Flemming def. McEachern by fall.
