http://www.varsitykansas.com/top/story/3971.htmlHeights defends wrestling crown
BY MATT BROWNING/Eagle correspondent
Published today at 1:16 a.m. | Last updated today at 1:22 a.m.
Early in the season, the Heights wrestling team may have been appropriately ranked in the middle of the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association's top 10.
But since the middle of January, when they were finally able to use their full lineup, the Falcons have had the look of a team capable of winning Class 6A.
On Saturday, Heights won the City League tournament, adding it to recent victories in the Junction City Tournament and a dual with Kapaun Mount Carmel.
Heights finished 59 1/2 points ahead of Northwest and 60 points ahead of Kapaun.
"We were dominating this weekend, and I can't really find a bad spot," Heights coach Mike Church said. "I think we are peaking at the right time. This tournament is a good gauge for where we are right now. I think we are in a good spot and hopefully have set ourselves up for two more trophies over the next two weeks."
It was the second consecutive City League title for Heights. During that stretch, Heights has won 16 consecutive duals and ended Bishop Carroll's 105 consecutive-dual streak.
"Everybody on our team has to keep winning," sophomore Matt Reed said. "We need all the bonus points we can from here on out. Everybody's role is important and we have to win consolation matches."
Saturday night, 12 of the Falcons' 13 wrestlers were either in the championship or consolation matches. Five Heights wrestlers took home first-place medals and two more were second.
"These kids don't compete for themselves, but they compete for the other guys on the team and for the fans," Church said. "I couldn't be more proud of these kids and I really can't find a single bad thing to say about them."
Heights' dominating trio of Reed (171), Daniel Deshazer (125) and Uylesses Deshazer (135) cruised with relative ease. The Deshazers both won their decisions, while Reed pinned Devon Keith from Bishop Carroll.
But it was some of the Falcons' more unsung wrestlers that stole the spotlight.
Connor Neal at 103 pounds defeated Cody Dollman from Northwest 7-0. In the first period, Neal recorded a takedown, and then in the third period he took down Dollman again and nearly pinned him.
"I didn't really have this expectation before the season," Neal said. "But as the season went on I started to think it was a possibility."
One of Heights' three seniors, Mike Ashpole, made a late rally to top West's Antoine Bannister 8-7. Trailing 7-6 with 30 seconds left, Ashpole made a quick reverse to win the match.
"The thought when I was in that bad spot late in the match was 'I can't get beat,' " Ashpole said. "I found the opening and I got through and I made it tough."
Team — 1. Heights 208.5, 2. Northwest 149. 3. Kapaun 148.5, 4. Carroll 123, 5. South 105.5, 6. Southeast 58.5, 7. West 49, 8. North 45, 9. East 40.5
Individual results
103—1. Neal, H def. Dollman, NW 7-0; 3. Werth, BC pinned Friling, KMC 4:33. 112— 1. Maki, KMC def. Lindlar, NW 16-2; 3. Jackson, W def. Tiger, S 5-3. 119— 1. Dryden, KMC def. McCullough, SE 19-9; 3. Newhouse, S, def. Newton, H 9-7. 125— 1. D. Deshazer, H def. Webber, S 7-3; 3. Ziegler, BC def. Stone, NW. 130— 1. Ashpole, H def. Bannister, W 8-7; 3. Whitworth, N def. Davis, SE 9-2. 135— 1. U. Deshazer, H def Koch, BC; 3. Mills, KMC def. Terrell, NW 16-8. 140— 1. Schrimscher, H pinned Stephenson, NW 3:08; 3. Dugan, BC def French, S 7-5; 145— 1. Wescott, KMC def Maier, H 8-7; 3. Dulaney, BC def. Collins, W 16-0. 152— 1. Penka, BC def. Gaither, NW 3-1; 3. Henderson, H def. Snapp, E 12-6. 160— 1. Collins, S def. Jameson, H 5-1; 3. O'Connor, KMC pinned Flores, E 3:52. 171— 1. Reed, H pinned Keith, BC 2:43; 3. Kendall, NW def Jones, S 3-1. 189— 1. Truman, KMC def. Chapparo, SE 16-6; 3. Brandon, S pinned Nelson, N 3:24. 215— 1. Caylor, NW def. Matheny, KMC 7-3; 3. Reynolds, H def. Hong, SE 1-0. 285— 1. Page, NW pinned Schmidt, N 3:05; 3. Nelson forfeit.