by Derek White
With nine boys qualifying for the Kansas State High School Activities Association 4A state wrestling tournament, the Colby Eagles traveled to Salina on Feb. 28 for the two-day competition at the Tony’s Pizza Event Center. After both days, fifty-six teams brought a collective 224 wrestlers to settle who is best. At 113 pounds, Colby’s junior Ryder Dempewolf was headed back to Salina to defend his state title from last year. He defeated four boys to become Colby’s latest two-time state champion.
The Eagles had a good first day with only one wrestler being eliminated. The second day was rough for most of the 224 boys and the Eagles finished the day with two state placers, senior Dawsen DeGood finished in third place at 165 pounds, and Dempewolf.
In the first round, Dempewolf somewhat walked into the finals as he’s done all season long, capping off a wrestler-of-the-year type of season. He ended this season with a 41-1 record, with his only loss coming from moving up a weight to challenge Hoxie’s Ian Giancola for the opening day dual. This year at Salina, Dempewolf started his march with an impressive win over Santa Fe Trail’s David Neal by fall in the first period.
In the quarter finals, Dempewolf set out to wrestle Isaiah Peachey from Hugoton, a common opponent with the two battling six times with all wins going to Dempewolf over their high school careers. Peachey suffered another defeat, this time by major decision 16-5 to Dempewolf who advanced to the semifinals. Dempewolf then defeated Andale’s Luke Seiler by decision 9-7, to advance to his second final in his high school career.
The task to win gold was a great match in the making, and on the mat. Dempewolf had met up against Rose Hill’s Trenton Richwine last year in the semifinals, and defeated him by decision 10-5 to move on to winning his first state title.
This year the match was closer as Richwine had a year to plot revenge, and for a small moment it looked like he might find it in the third period. Dempewolf however, proved to be resistant to adversity by staying calm and regaining the lead to finish out the match as a two-time state champion after winning by decision 8-6.
“The best moment of the tournament was being able to hug all my teammates as I walked off the mat, and then chugging that first root beer of the offseason,” said Dempewolf.
DeGood had a long tournament ending the event in third place after advancing to the quarterfinals by defeating Paola’s Chavez Neely by technical fall 15-0. Then he was sent to the backside of the bracket after losing to Andale’s Ethan Eck by technical fall 15-0.
DeGood then battled his way to the consolation finals in an epic showing of resolve, he first defeated Osawatomie’s Dodge Browning by fall, then beat Abilene’s Landon Taplin by fall. Next, he defeated Buhler’s Luke Kerns bye decision 7-3 for an opportunity to wrestler for the bronze medal.
In a regional showdown with Scott City, DeGood dominantly won by major decision over Blaze Gossman 14-5. The seven other Eagles that qualified for the tournament were Julian Salcido, he ended up forfeiting due to a medical injury in the second round ending his day at 0-2. His brother Simon finished at 1-2, Nathan Schroeder was 1-2, Talon Wark was 2-2, Eric Schroeder was 1-2, Cai Lanning went 2-2, and Cameron Lilly finished 0-2.
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