Bullpup wrestlers fall to Washburn Rural

Sports Editor Peter Holland Jr.

There is no question Washburn Rural High School is the No. 1 team in Class 6A, and the McPherson High School boys wrestling team got a taste of it during its dual on Thursday night.

The Bullpups lost to Rural 45-14 but Head Coach Doug Kretzer didn’t focus on the final scores. He was more engaged in the individual performance from each of his wrestlers.

” I thought we wrestled really, really well,” Kretzer said. “They’re a good team and that’s why we wanted to bring them in here and get on the mat with them to see where we’re at and see what we’ve got to fix.”

Four of the McPherson’s losses were by pin and the other were by decision. Some of the matches were close calls such as Landon Frantz , who lost to Gavin Carter 3-2. Both are the No. 1 wrestlers in their class at 195 pounds.  Rhett Edmonson (145), Landon Crews (138) Jonah Clarke (170) and Kourtney Craig (182) were the only four that left the mat victorious.

“There were a lot of scrambles, and we didn’t get over the hump,” Kretzer said. “I thought we really got after it and I thought we wrestled tough. I think they are walking out the door respecting McPherson right now.”

The Bullpups will now focus on the Tournament of Champions in Newton this weekend. From a conditioning standpoint, Kretzer believes the Bullpups still have long ways to go. For Kretzer, Competing in Newton will be another evaluation to see where his wrestlers are at halfway through the postseason.

“Going into Newton, we kind of got that first match out of the way,” Kretzer said. “A lot of times if you’re not on your game, it will put you on the backside of the bracket and in that tournament that’s not where you want to be.”

Varsity Results:

106

Treyton Pelnar lost 5-3 to Jacob Tangpricha

113 

Brock Burgess lost by a fall to Bishop Murray

120

Lorenzo Cruzen lost by a fall to Caleb Douglas

126

Jase Anderson lost by a fall to Trace Lawler

132 

Collin Pearson lost 8-0 to Bowan Murray

138

Landon Crews won 4-2 over Nick Vincent

145

Rhett Edmonson won 4-2 over John Vincent

152

Nate Rogers lost by a fall to Austin Fager

160

Landon Frantz lost 8-4 to Cole Wells

170

Jonah Clarke won by technical fall (17-2) over Aidan Boline

182

Kourtney Craig won 8-6 over Remington Stiles

195

Landon Frantz lost 3-2 to Gavin Carter

220

Mason Thrash lost 8-2 to Andrew Davis

285

Jonah Scott lost by a fall to David Huckstep

Exhibition Results:

152

Jevon Clemmons lost by a fall

160

Caden Burris lost by a fall