Palic, Janzen lead Marion wrestlers at state tournament

The Marion wrestling team earned two medals at the Class 3-2-1A state tournament at Hays Friday and Saturday.

Kyle Palic claimed second place in the tournament with a 3-1 record at 220 pounds. He started with a 5-0 decision over Skyler Tebo of Ellis. He then defeated Pleasant Ridge?s Logan McKinney by technical fall (15-0) in the quarterfinals. Palic pinned Luke Jacobs of Phillipsburg in the semifinal round to face Oakley?s Dylan Gassmann in the championship, which Palic lost in a controversial decision, 3-2.

?They gave some points that I didn?t feel should?ve been points, and we didn?t get some points that we should?ve gotten, so we ended up losing 3-2,? coach Chad Adkins said. ?Not a way to end, but just have to take care of business a little bit better and not make it an issue, I guess.

?(Kyle) had the best tournament of the year, and he wrestled really aggressively. You could tell he was nervous in the finals match and he got a little cautious. It was closer than it should?ve been, but you still shouldn?t get it taken away from you.?

Marion?s second medalist, Adam Janzen, went 3-3 at 170 pounds to finish sixth. He defeated Doniphan West?s Trevor Fee in the opening round by an 8-6 decision in overtime. He then dropped a 5-4 decision to Keith Short of Southeast of Saline.

Janzen won by major decision (11-2) over Republic County?s Ray Farnsworth, then won a 9-5 decision over Cole Renner of Norton. Janzen lost a 5-2 decision to Michael Baumgartner of Sabetha, the eventual third-place finisher, to face Atchi?son County Commun?ity?s Scott Birkinsha for fifth place. Janzen lost, 9-2.

?(Adam) wrestled tough,? Adkins said. ?He (faced) a lot of tough kids.?

Seven additional Warriors competed in the tournament.

Jarrett Johnson went 0-2 at 106 pounds. In the first round, he lost 1-0 in double overtime to Austin Constable of Minneapolis, then lost 6-0 to Silver Lake?s Michael Marsh.

Noah Albin (113) went 0-2. He was pinned by Ells?worth?s Ty Nienke in the first round, then was pinned by Jordon Herrman of ACCHS.

Bryce Shults was 1-2 at 120 pounds. He was pinned by Smith Center?s David Hileman in the first round, then won by major decision (14-4) over Garden Plain?s Gunnar Gassmann.

That pitted him against Sterling?s Cody Salazar, who prevailed by major decision (9-0) and went on to place fourth in the tournament.

Ezra Darnall (126) went 1-2. He was pinned by Joe Smith of Marysville in the first round, then was awarded a forfeit win over Halstead?s Adan Andrade. Darnall was pinned by Council Grove?s Austin Swartz, who went on to place fifth.

Remington Putter (0-2, 145) lost by technical fall (16-0) to Decatur Com?munity?s Dayton Dreher, then dropped a 7-3 decision to Casey Veith of Cheney.

Luke Steele (0-2, 160) lost to Jared Pfeifer of Ellis by a 9-6 decision, followed by a 16-9 loss to Bobby Bleakley of St. Marys.

Zac Lewman went 2-2 at 182. He began by pinning Joe Myers of Lincoln, then was pinned by Wichita County?s Brice Mason. Lewman pinned Andrew Makings of Phillipsburg, but lost a 5-1 decision to Kyle Ames of Onaga, the eventual sixth-place finisher.

Sending nine state qualifiers was a first for Marion. The previous number was seven, Adkins said.

?We?re just getting better,? Adkins said. ?Our kids work awfully hard.?

Seven of the nine qualifiers will return next year, and Adkins said he anticipates a good freshman class as well.

?Things are going really well, and they?re just buying into what we?re trying to do,??he said.

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