Staff writer
Members of Marion High School Warriors scholars’ bowl won their regional tournament Thursday at Council Grove. The win earned the team a trip to the 3A state tournament Saturday at Belle Plaine.
Team members senior Matt Thierolf, junior Sam Ehrlich, and sophomores Derek Stuchlik, Patrick Hodson, and E.J. Obermeyer compiled a 5-1 record in the preliminary rounds.
Wins came against Rossville, 80-20; Riley County, 50-40; West Franklin, 40-30; Central Heights, 65-60; and Herington, 85-10. The loss was against Rock Creek on a tiebreaker question.
In the championship round robin, the Warriors defeated Marion, 60-30; Osage City, 40-20; and West Franklin, 90-10, before losing against Council Grove, 65-20.
The final match of the tournament pitted the Warriors against Rock Creek with the championship on the line. Regulation ended in a 40-40 tie. Thierolf sealed the win for Marion on the fourth tiebreaker.
Thierolf led the team in scoring with 270 points. Stuchlik scored 130; Ehrlich, 110; Hodson, 80; and Obermeyer, 40.
The Mid-Central Activities Association will be well-represented at state. MCAA members Hillsboro and Wichita Collegiate also will compete.
Hillsboro defeated MHS in the finals of the Goessel and MCAA meets, but they hope to avenge the losses Saturday.
“We’ve been placed in different preliminary pools at state, so both Marion and Hillsboro will have to advance to the final round robin if we are going to have another match with them,” Coach Doug Vogel said. “I think it would be great if three MCAA schools took first, second, and third, with Marion — of course — on top this time.”