Garden City wrestlers pull away from Hays late

Garden City, Kan. (westernkansanews.com)–While the season has been challenging at times for the Garden City Buffalo wrestling team, thanks in large part to injuries, the Buffs hosted their final WAC dual of the year Thursday night against the Hays High Indians. Despite having one open, Garden City closed out their league dual record at 3-1, pulling away late from the Indians 41-28 in The Garden.

Garden City, the No. 5 ranked team in Class 6A according to the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, jumped out big 29-6 by winning six of their first seven matches, with three of them by fall. However, Hays came back, winning four of the next five weight classes, one by forfeit, to pull to within 32-28. The Buffaloes closed out the dual with two consecutive wins, and clinched the dual with Julian Facio’s fall at 220 pounds. Garden City would win nine of the weight classes.

Up next for the Buffaloes will be a dual at home against the Colby Eagles next Thursday. This will be their final competition before regionals at Wichita South on February 16-17.

Garden City 41, Hays 28
106: Steven Sellers, Garden City, won by dec over Jordan Zimmerman, Hays, 6-2
113: Silas Pineda, Garden City,won by fall over Grant Karlin, Hays, 1:30
120: Corey Hale, Hays, won by fall over Orion Craig, Garden City, :44
126: Jacob Holt, Garden City, won by fall over Creighton Newell, Hays, 3:03
132: Kaj Perez, Garden City, won by tech fall over Tadin Flinn, Hays, 18-3
138: Malachi Salas, Garden City, won by fall over Hazen Kenner, Hays, 9-2
145: Wyatt McElroy, Garden City, won by fall over Kyle Casper, Hays, 4:29
152: Landon Summers, Hays, won by fall over Troy Havens, Garden City, 1:35
160: Krieghton Meyers, Hays, won by maj dec over Jacob  Sims, Garden City, 9-1
170: Alex Rodriguez, Garden City, won by dec over Cole Schroeder, Hays, 8-3
182: Chase Voth, Hays, won by fall over Nathan Ebert, Garden City, :29
195: Colger Conger, Hays, won by forfeit
220: Julian Facio, Garden City, won by fall over Austin Moore, Hays, 2:41
285: Refujio Chairez, Garden City, won by dec over Logan Schulte, Hays, 6-4

Assistant Coach Paul Lappin