Four MHS wrestlers qualify for state

Four Marion wrestlers qualified for the state tournament with their performances at the Class 3-2-1A regional tournament at Eureka Friday and Saturday.

“The wrestlers all did a great job this weekend,” coach Tyler McMichael said. “Our four qualifiers did excellent on going out there and doing what was necessary to make it to Hays. We had some good matchups at regionals that really set some of us well in the tournament.”

Three Warriors won their respective weight classes to earn trips to state.

Fourth-ranked Tyler Palic (22-4) won the 195-pound weight class with a 2-0 record. Following a quarterfinal bye, Palic pinned Joey Nuzum of Douglass in the semifinals, then won by injury default over Cherry­vale’s Colben Dodson, who ranks second in the state.

Sixth-ranked Charlie Nordquist (30-3) won the 220-pound weight class with a 3-0 record. Following a first-round bye, Nordquist pinned all three of his opponents: Fredonia’s Lorenzo Celani, Cherry­vale’s Tim Allison and Chase County’s Joseph Stout.

Fourth-ranked Jarret McLinden (31-9) won the 285-pound weight class with a 3-0 record. He, too, pinned all three of his opponents: Halstead’s Cole Herman, Eureka’s Jonathan Turner and Fredonia’s Bryar Hebb.

Ethan Darnall (19-15) was Marion’s fourth state-qualifier. He finished third at 132 pounds with a 4-1 record. Darnall pinned his first opponent, then won a 6-2 decision in the quarterfinals. He lost by technical fall, 15-0, in the semifinals, then pin­ned his opponent in the consolation semifinals. He won by 6-5 decision over Jayhawk Linn’s Jonathan Bownes for third.

Rounding out the Warrior roster, Calib Mallory (17-17) was 2-2 at 138 pounds, Kyle Horton (13-20) was 2-2 at 152 pounds, Kolton Brewer (14-17) was 2-2 at 160 pounds, Todd Palic was 2-2 at 170 pounds, Will Alleven (7-20) was 1-2 at 113 pounds and Brock Mitchell (11-26) was 1-2 at 145 pounds.

“Those wrestlers who ended their season this weekend battled hard,” McMichael said. “Every single one of our wrestlers contributed team points to our total and fought hard. We lost three of our wrestlers in the blood round, and that is always a hard way to go out.

“Even the wrestlers who didn’t make it to next weekend had a great importance in the practice room, as well as on the mat,” he added. “They helped push everyone during practice to make everyone better.”

As a team, Marion placed third among 21 schools with 117.5 points behind Caney Valley (130) and Douglass (126.5).

Coming—Marion’s four state qualifiers will compete in the Class 3-2-1A state tournament Friday and Saturday at Fort Hays State Univer­sity.

In their opening-round matchups, Palic will wrestle Chance Korinek of Minneapolis at 195 pounds, Nordquist will face Trego County’s Dillon Dunn at 220 pounds, McLinden will face St. John’s Military’s Bryce Kisner at 285 pounds and Ethan Darnall will face Smith Center’s Jaden Atwood at 132 pounds.

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