By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
PARK CITY -- There's obviously still work to be done, but Washburn Rural did what it needed to do Friday to put itself in position to win a second straight Class 6A wrestling championship.
Washburn Rural put six wrestlers in the semifinals and three in the state finals en route to opening up a 113-92 lead over Olathe East, with Derby third at 91.5 going into the final day of the tournament on Saturday at Hartman Arena.
"We felt all year that we're the best team in 6A,'' first-year Washburn Rural coach Josh Hogan said. "We went out there last week in the (Wichita Southeast) regional and we had the top six teams in the regional so it was like a microcosm of state itself and we've got all the confidence and all the belief that our guys can get it done.''
Not everything went the Junior Blues' way, with two-time state champ Jacob Tangpricha and returning state champ Jonathan Morrison being knocked off in the semifinals.
But senior 182-pound Austin Fager made it to the state finals for the second straight season and will be joined in the championship round by freshman 106-pounder Easton Broxterman and 160-pound senior Aidan Boline.
"I feel good,'' Hogan said. "We started with 11 kids today and we've still got 11 kids wrestling tomorrow. We dropped three of our six semifinal matches and we want to win them all, but this is the best competition that 6A has to offer so everybody was bringing their best shot against us today.''
And Hogan feels like if Washburn Rural wrestles like it can on Saturday, the Junior Blues could be celebrating another state title.
"If we can over-perform that would be a joy, but if we just wrestle like we're capable of, we should be in a good spot.''
Washburn Rural freshman 106-pounder Easton Broxterman gains the upper hand over Lawrence's Andrew Honas on the way to a 13-0 major decision in Friday's Class 6A semifinals. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Broxterman, now 39-5, got the semifinal round off to a good start for the Junior Blues, advancing to the 106 final with a 13-0 major decision over Lawrence sophomore Andrew Honas.
Broxterman has put together a storied Kids Wrestling career, but Friday was his first appearance in a high school state tournament.
"It was a different atmostphere, a lot more older kids,'' Broxterman said. "I'm just a freshman coming in. I'm younger, and just trying to show that I can be just as good as them even when they can be like three years older than me.''
Broxterman said he handled his state tournament jitters better than we thought he would.
"I thought I would be a lot more nervous,'' Broxterman said. "I used to get really nervous, but today was a lot less than I thought it would be.''
Broxterman will face Junction City sophomore Ezekiel Witt (39-1) in the state championship match.
Senior Aidan Boline moves into position to get a pin in Friday's Class 6A 160-pound semifinal against Liberal senior Easton Zapien Friday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Boline (40-7) earned his shot at a state title with a pin at the 1:04 mark of the first peiod over Liberal senior Easton Zapien.
After losing in the semifinals a year ago, Boline set the goal to get a chance to wrestle for a title this time around.
"This is what I've been working with coach (Travis) McBurney all offseason for,'' Boline said. "He's poured his heart into me and I wanted to give everything right back.
"He's believed in me when I didn't believe in myself and I owe it to him. I just want to go get that title for him.''
Bodine has also had to overcome multiple serious injuries to earn his title shot.
"In October (of 2020) I was in my living room crying with my dad forehead to forehead because I had just fractured my arm and its great to see it come full circle and give him a huge hug after this win and let him know I've still got one more and I'm going to get it for him. This one's not just for McBurney or my parents. This one's for all of Rural and everything that they've helped me with because it takes a village to raise someone.''
Boline will take on Olathe East senior Nick Carlson (40-7) in the 160-pound championship match Saturday.
Washburn Rural senior Austin Fager (top) dominates his Class 6A 182-pound semifinal against Junction City's Cooper Bogenhagen on the way to a 15-0 technical fall. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN
Fager (42-2) said that making it to the finals a year ago en route to a runner-up finish helped him relax for Friday and just concentrate on what he needed to do.
Fager dominated his semifinal against Junction City sophomore Cooper Bogenhagen from the outset on the way to a 15-0 technical fall.
"For sure I was at a comfort level I don't think he was in, I could see it in his eyes,'' Fager said. "I was calm and collected. Last year I got all the jitters out and this year I came out and I was prepared.
"I didn't have any nerves going in. I know what I have on the table this year. I won to win state as a team and individually as well, but more as a team.''
Fager will square off with Campus senior Aidan Williams (27-10) in the 182 final.
Shawnee Heights junior Sean Wunder advanced to the 5A 195-pound semifinal, losing a 20-5 technical fall to Goddard senior Kaden Glass (39-4).
Glass is a two-time 5A state runner-up.
Seaman, Highland Park and Topeka High also have at least one wrestler advancing to Saturday's competition, which starts at 9 a.m.
