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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
PARK CITY -- Bob Gonzales arrived at Hartman Arena early Saturday morning and made the rounds prior to the start of the Class 6A boys wrestling tournament, making sure he made the most of his final experience as a high school coach after a banner 44-year prep career.
Gonzales, who announced his retirement from coaching earlier this week, went from team to team on the floor of the arena, visiting with coaches and taking pictures with his iPad to remember the moment.
"As I've been making my way around the arena, it's just been a blast to talk to all my friends,'' Gonzales said. "I feel a little sad because of the great friendships I've built. Most of the coaches that are coaching I actually watched them wrestle, but it's time.''
Retiring Manhattan wrestling coach Bob Gonzales, who lives in Topeka and coached at Topeka West and Shawnee Heights, hugs fellow coaches at Saturday's Class 6A state tournament. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
PARK CITY -- Granted, Friday's Class 5A state boys wrestling tournament didn't end the way Shawnee Heights coach Chad Parks and his team wanted it to, with the T-Birds going 1-5 in their place matches.
But what the T-Birds accomplished up until that point at Hartman Arena, with six underclassmen taking home state medals, left Parks already looking forward to next season.
Shawnee Heights, which finished sixth as a team, got fourth-place finishes from 106-pound sophomore Tyler Lincoln (37-5), 120 junior Brock Ferguson (39-5), 160 junior Caden Walker (37-2) and 182 junior Preston Hartman (37-8) while junior Garrett Peery (36-7) finished fifth at 220 and junior Cole Manrose (31-14) took sixth at 170.
"We have six placers, which ties the most we've ever had, and that means we have six returning state placers next year,'' Parks said. "We didn't graduate anybody, so that's good.''
And overall, Parks was pleased with his team's performance on the day.
Shawnee Heights junior 160-pounder Caden Walker suffered his first two losses of the season in Friday's 5A wrestling tournament, but still finished fourth. [Submitted]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A year ago, Shawnee Heights sophomore Riley Thompson served as a manager for the T-Birds’ boys and girls wrestling team.
But although she enjoyed her time in that role, she’s finding out that she’s better suited to being on the mat than beside it, particularly after earning a Division I state medal is her first state appearance.
“The chemistry with the team, it was like a family and everyone had each other’s backs and it just seemed like it was so much fun to do and would make you better as a person, to fight harder, everything,’’ Thompson said about making the switch for Chad Parks’ T-Birds.
Thompson said that her teammates encouraged her to join them as competitors throughout last season.
“They did, coaches, too,’’ Thompson said. “Everybody, was like, ‘You need to wrestle,’ and I ended up doing it and I love it.’’
Riley Thompson
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
As good as Bishop Murray has been in a unprecedented four-year wrestling career for Washburn Rural, the Junior Blues' star 120-pounder is constantly looking for more.
And that's the attitude Murray will take on the mat Saturday in his final Class 6A state tournament at Park City's Hartman Arena.
“I’m not like other kids that may get complacent,'' Murray said. "I’m always getting better, I’m never slowing down and I always want to be better than that other dude. I don’t want to see anyone in the room that’s working harder than me.That’s going to piss me off.
“I’m definitely one of my toughest critics, me and my dad (Greg Murray). Him not so much, but when I need it he does, and I’m definitely always one of my toughest critics.’’
Washburn Rural star 120-pounder Bishop Murray looks down after pinning an opponent earlier this season. [Rick Peterson/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Junior Jaley Barkley scored a game-high 24 points as Cair Paravel Latin, which became full Kansas State High School Activities Association member this school year, topped Madison 37-36 Thursday in a Class 1A Division I first-round sub-state game at Cair Paravel, the Lions' first-ever KSHSAA postseason win.
Jaley Barkley
