Jace Tapia faced off against Basehor senior Cohen Suchy in the last varsity match of the dual meet between Bonner Springs and Basehor-Linwood. Tapia won a hard-fought 10-7 decision, but the Bobcats won the meet 46-32. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Bonner Springs and Basehor-Linwood high schools faced off in a varsity wrestling dual meet on Thursday evening in Basehor. The host team won both the girls’ meet (36-33) and the boys’ (46-32).
Emmalee Foya and Jenna Knight both earned wins by fall in the first rounds of their matches against the Ladycats wrestlers. Haylie Knapp and Chloie Knapp both pinned their opponents as well, taking all three rounds for their wins.
The 170-pound match featured two of Kansas’s top wrestlers. Braves sophomore Olivia Stean, undefeated and ranked number one in the state, took on third-ranked Basehor senior Mandy Wilson. Stean looked on course for an easy win, throwing Wilson in the first round and scoring a near fall.
Wilson rode out the first round and then kept the match under control with some good defensive wrestling in the second round. In the third round, Stean was on the defensive, but even though she conceded the top position and 4 stall points, she came out with an 11-10 decision.
The team lead traded hands throughout the competition, and Bonner Springs held a 3-point lead going into the final match. Basehor sophomore Grace Shelton locked up the 36-33 win for her squad with a first-round pin in the final 235-pound match.
The Bonner boys took an early lead with wins in the higher weight classes. Braeden McGrath won by fall in the 152-pound match, and Shane Daniels earned a technical fall in the 160-pound match.
Basehor-Linwood was unable to find a willing opponent for top-ranked heavyweight Tony Caballero, earning him a forfeit that extended Bonner’s lead, but the Bobcats dominated the lower weight class matches that followed, taking an insurmountable lead with six straight pins.
Jace Tapia ended the evening on a high note for the Braves, getting a 10-7 decision over Bobcat senior Cohen Suchy, who held a 27-7 record going into the match.
The Bonner Springs and Basehor-Linwood girls’ teams won’t have to wait long for a rematch, since both are competing at the Washburn Rural tournament on Saturday in Topeka.
The referee signaled Oliva Stean’s 11-10 win over Basehor senior Mandy Wilson. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel) Sophomore Olivia Stean nearly had Basehor senior Mandy Wilson pinned in the first round. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel) Bonner Springs senior Haylie Knapp tried to turn Basehor senior Amalia Galicia. Knapp won by fall in the third round. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel) Emmalee Foya wrestled against Basehor senior Rylee Jones. Foya won the match by fall in the first round. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel) Jenna Knight tried to reel in Basehor sophomore Sophia Vazquez. Knight won the match by fall in the first round. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel) Carson DeMoss tossed Basehor sophomore Hudson Strahm in their 126-pound match. Strahm rebounded to win by fall in the second round. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel) Kaleb Farmer had Basehor junior Tyler Elven in a tough spot, but Elven escaped and earned a win by fall. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel) Frankie Garcia upended Basehor freshman Brody Ballard in their 113-pound match. Ballard improved his record to 26-4 with a second round win by fall. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
