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Trio of Warriors pack their bags for state wrestling tournament

Sports reporter

On a day where Marion High School could have sent anywhere from zero to six wrestlers to state, three Warriors qualified for the grand stage.

Seniors Casey Nelson and Gavin Moore, and sophomore Charlie Holub advanced Saturday by taking second, third, and third respectively at the Eureka regional.

Head coach Chad Adkins was happy with his team's performance.

"They've worked real hard all year long," he said. "I can't ask anymore out of them. I'm proud of them."

Now he sets his sights on the three wrestlers traveling to Hays Friday and Saturday with a shot of bringing home a state tournament medal.

"I feel really good about them doing something out at the state tournament," Adkins said. "They can go in and make some noise."

Nelson had a shot at his first regional championship when he wrestled Eureka's Joe Day in the 171-pound championship match.

Leading 2-0 in the second period, it looked as if Nelson would avenge an earlier loss to the 30-6 Day.

But Day escaped Nelson's grip in the second period and later took him down, stealing the lead, 3-2.

As the Eureka crowd rose to its feet anticipating a victory, Nelson escaped from Day with one minute, 10 seconds left to tie the match at three and ignite the Marion crowd.

As the clock ticked closer to zero, Day shot at Nelson and took him down with 45 seconds left. Nelson worked hard to escape until the final buzzer sounded, but Day wouldn't let go, and took the match, 5-3.

Still, Nelson will head to his first state tournament as a number two seed.

"There were four good kids here at 171," Adkins said. [Nelson] beat a good kid earlier, but just had a tough time in the finals."

The senior ended the regular season 24-10.

Holub and Moore both lost early on, but didn't let that deter them. They fought back through the losers' bracket, and won exciting matches to qualify for state.

Holub, wrestling at 135 pounds, fought his way into a match that would qualify him for state. A victory would advance him to the third-place match, with the top four in each class advancing to state.

Holub was pitted against a much taller, lankier wrestler from Wichita Independent, Marshal Frey.

It seemed as if Holub was overmatched, as Frey easily escaped Holub's grip four times.

Trailing 10-6 in the third period, Holub knew he had to make a move. In a standing position, he let Frey go after him. He then stepped aside, and used momentum to knock him down and throw a headlock on him.

Less than 10 seconds later Holub had the pin, and a state tournament appearance on his resume.

He stood, arms hoisted in the air, a smile across his face, knowing he had accomplished a huge goal in just his second year of high school wrestling.

He would go on to win his third-place match as well.

"It was probably his best tournament all year, and that's the way it has to be," Adkins said of the 17-12 sophomore. "Now he needs to go out and have a better tournament [this] week."

Moore won his qualifying match on the other end of the floor from John Barr III, who battled for a spot as well.

As Barr III trailed 7-4 with just more than a minute to play, Moore won his match with a pin. Adkins raised his arms in triumph, but knew there was still business to take care of with Barr III.

The junior recorded a takedown, and then escaped with 25 seconds left, tying the match.

In the first overtime, neither wrestler scored, although Barr III came close to recording back points.

In the second overtime the wrestler who scored first chooses if he wants to be up or down. Barr III chose down and by rule, he had to escape during the 30-second period to win.

As the seconds ticked down, Barr III was out of his opponent's grasp except for his foot.

The whistle blew with Barr III trying to rip his foot free. He sat on the mat afterward exhausted, but knowing he fought until the very end.

"He did everything he needed to do," Adkins said. "There was no fault, he just came up a little short."

Moore then won his third-place match in a heated 8-7 battle to become the third MHS wrestler to qualify.

"The kids all wrestled well," Adkins said. "Some of the kids were disappointed with the way it finished, but fortunately we get most of them back again."

One wrestler they will not have is senior Shawn Britton, who lost one match before qualifying. Still, Adkins was proud of his 275-pound wrestler who competed for the first time this year and finished 16-6.

"Biggie wrestled well," he said. "He just came up a little short."

The three qualifiers will begin wrestling Friday at Hays for a chance at a state championship. Should they advance to the medal rounds they will compete Saturday as well.

first round match-ups

135 pounds - Charlie Holub, Marion (17-12) vs. Spencer Hinson, Silver Lake (30-14).

152 pounds - Gavin Moore, Marion (20-16) vs. Brian Faught, Effingham (26-5).

171 pounds - Casey Nelson, Marion (24-10) vs. David Obermeyer, Hoxie, 30-13.

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