Smith and Whittaker Finish 3rd at the Kansas Cup
Wrestling - Sun, Jan. 24, 2016 at 8:00 PM
LINDSBORG, Kan. – Tyler Smith and Trevor Whittaker each took different routes through their brackets, but at the end of the day they each took home the third place plaque at the Kansas Cup hosted by Newman University.
Whittaker, who scored a team-high 13.5 team points, won his first match by fall in the first minute and half of the match. He then had to grit out a 3-2 decision to move into the semifinals. In the semifinals Whittaker was down late in the third period, went for a move and was eventually pinned. But, he regrouped to pick up back-to-back decision wins to take home third place. He knocked off Baton College Community College 3-1 before besting Kyle Ryan of Newman 10-4.
"I've been really focused on peeking out and we keep up with our conditioning each week which I think is paying off and showing for me and the other guys. We always talk about never giving up and trying to win the last 20 seconds of each period and that pays off as well," said Whittaker. "Getting the first takedown is usually a recipe for success in any match, but to get one in the last seconds of the first period (in the third place match) was big."
Smith, who added 12.5 team points for Bethany, received a bye in the first round. He then took on Zell Beiberle and after regulation the wrestlers were tied. Eventually, Beiberle won 5-4 in tie breaker – 2. After another bye, Smith fought through for a sudden victory win. He beat Barton's Justin Scarbro 3-1 in extra time. He then picked up a forfeit win to head into the third place match with… Zell Beiberle. The third place match went exactly as the first had. However, the first two tie breakers were not enough to decide who would take home the plaque. But, in the third tie breaker Smith earned two back points and won 6-4.
"The adversity we have gone through as a team has been a help mentally in these tough matches. We have had our ups and downs as a team, but we are getting to that point of the year where you have to be tough and keep doing the right things. It doesn't matter if it's by one point or by 15 points, you have to go out and just do the right things consistently," said Smith after the match. "This was pretty crazy to win because I lost to him last week at Kearney duals, and then starting off today too. It had me down a little bit, but I knew I had to bounce back for my teammates."
John Risewick also had a strong day for Bethany. Risewick earned 10.5 team points and went 3-2 on the day. He started with a 10-0 technical fall over Newman's Forlanda Parker, and then beat Northwest Technical College's Dominique Evans with an 18-6 major decision. He then lost his next two matches, but responded to earn a 2-1 decision win to take home fifth place.
Quinton Harrison finished the day with a 6th place finish and 6.5 team points. He lost his first match, but responded with a 9-1 major decision and a 9-2 decision on the backside. Harrison lost his final two matches of the day and finished 2-3.


LARRY NUGENT
BETHANY SWEDE WRESTLING COACH
719-205-3161 / nugentld@bethanylb.edu