Lansing wrestlers dominate Tonganoxie and Bonner Springs

The Lansing wrestling team stayed undefeated in dual play this season with a 61-18 win over Tonganoxie and a 43-25 win over Bonner Springs in a triangular meet at Tonganoxie High School on Thursday evening.

The Lions (7-0 in duals this year) went unbeaten in eight of the 14 weight classes on Thursday, and head coach Ron Averill said that his wrestlers have done a very good job of doing what they need to do in order to maximize their team point total during duals.

“We started off (the season) strong with that league dual tournament, and I was real pleased with the way we competed in that,” Averill said. “The guys are just real focused on trying to step up and do their best ... and we try to give guys pats on the back for what they do for the team.”

One of the prime examples of that was turned in by Clayton Bogner (119 pounds). Although he didn’t go undefeated after losing to a very tough opponent in Bonner Springs’ Caleb Seaton, Averill said he was pleased that Bogner saved points for the Lions by avoiding a pin or a technical fall. That helped add up to a Lansing victory over the Braves, and Bogner’s 12-5 win over Tonganoxie’s Anthony Baker contributed to the win over the Chieftains as well.

“I thought Clayton really wrestled well today. He had his 12-5 win against Tonganoxie and competed well against Bonner Springs,” Averill said. “Caleb Seaton is a very respected wrestler in this part of the state. ... Instead of giving up six or five (points) for a pin or a tech fall, he held it to a major decision. So that was a great effort of competition.”

Garrett Hinckley (135), Dillon Scanlon (145), Cullen Demarest (152), Tyler Baughman (160), and Geno DeGraw (215) each won two bouts for Lansing on Thursday. Scanlon, Demarest, and Baughman not only won by fall each time, but they did it in the first period each time.

Averill was also excited about the improvements he saw out of Hinckley and DeGraw. Hinckley was another Lion wrestler who made the most out of his opportunity to contribute to the team point total, turning what could’ve been simply a 14-5 major decision over Tonganoxie’s Britton Price into a pin with six seconds left.

“It was good to have Garrett Hinckley win a couple of matches,” Averill said. “We’re expecting big things out of him come regional time. ... And Geno DeGraw had a great day with his pin over Bonner and his win over (Jonas) Myers of Tongie.”

Hinckley and DeGraw each picked up one pin, but DeGraw’s 6-5 decision over Tonganoxie’s Myers was a big sign of his improvement, as it was DeGraw’s first win in three tries this season against him.

“It’s his first win over that opponent...” Averill said of DeGraw. “Geno wrestled a good close match, kept in close, ended up scoring, and was able to hold on for the win.”

Kevin Keller (103), Bo Pursel (112), and Spencer Blew (140) were also undefeated on the evening for Lansing, including one forfeit win apiece against Tonganoxie. Pursel won by fall, Keller won by technical fall, and Blew won by major decision against Bonner Springs.

“Kevin Keller had a great match with (Justus) Seaton of Bonner,” Averill said. “Seaton has been doing pretty well this year, and when you can go out their and tech fall him, that was pretty dominating.”

Lansing won’t compete again until the Kaw Valley League Tournament next Saturday, Feb. 13, at 9 a.m. Averill said his team will take advantage of a rare opportunity to rest this weekend before preparing for the stretch run of the season.

“It’s going to be nice to have a break this weekend. This is our only free weekend during the season that’s scheduled,” Averill said. “We’re going to hit the ground running (in practice) on Monday ... and then make our final drive toward the state tournament.”

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