Andover Central dominates Augusta Invitational


By SCOTT ELPERS
For CatchItKansas.com
11:07 a.m. CST, January 9, 2011

The Andover Central wrestling team continued its successful run through the season with a first place finish at the Augusta Invitational on Saturday.

The Jaguars had six wresters take home first place honors, four more than second place finisher, Kapaun Mount Carmel.

“We had some kids step up and place first for the first time this season. That was big for us,” Andover Central coach Terry Alley said. “For the finals, you couldn’t ask for much better. You’d like to win them all but we won our share of them.”

Andover went 6-for-8 in the championship round. Zac Gentzler (103 pounds), Luke Lee (135 pounds), Jake Umscheid (140 pounds), Alex Bontz (145 pounds), Josh Miller (152 pounds) and Matt Henrikson (285 pounds) all took home championship medals.

Gentzler improved his season record to 15-0 with a wins over Augusta’s Tyler Hildibrand, Southeast’s Devante Smith and Kapaun’s Parker Howell.

“Hopefully he can keep that going,” Alley said. “He is a little machine on his feet and he’s turning into a pretty good pinner also.”

Bontz kept his perfect 15-0 record intact with wins over Newton’s Cody Spencer, Smoky Valley’s Jake Johnson and Augusta’s Nick Collins.

Tied at 1-1 against Collins in the championship match, Bontz was able to pull away in overtime with a 3-1 victory.

“That was the most exciting match of the night,” Alley said. “Both him and Collins had great scrambles. I think they will both be in the state finals.”

One setback for Andover Central came in the 130-pound weight class. Two-time Class 5A state champion Jake Genztler suffered a rare loss against Columbus’ Kyle Johnson in the championship match.

The loss was the first of the season for Gentzler and just the 11th of his varsity career.

“We knew it was going to be a battle. It was really going to come down to whoever scored the first point. Kyle did that,” Alley said. “You face that caliber of wrestler and that’s tough to overcome.”

Johnson looked like he had the chance for the pin late in the second period, but Gentzler found his way out. Johnson still got the points to give him some cushion going into the final round.

“I couldn’t believe I got him in that move,” Johnson said. “I knew he wasn’t cutting very much weight and I knew I was a little stronger than he was. I knew if he tried to do anything I could probably toss him over.”

Gentzler couldn’t gain any ground in the third period. Johnson held on to win 6-2 and was named Most Valuable Wrestler at tournament.

Bruised, bloodied and with a face a red as his school colors, a smiling Johnson admitted defeating Gentzler was a rare feat.

“It doesn’t happen very often. I’ve seen him wrestle quite a bit and he’s pretty good.” Johnson said, “But I’ve been working hard all week. I’ve been waiting for today since the beginning of the season.”


http://www.catchitkansas.com/sports/cik-andover-central-dominates-augu-01092011,0,93233.story