Regionals Wrestling and Who’s Going to State

By Hailey Gregory and Addison Kettler

Regionals are one of the most exciting parts of the wrestling season for athletes and coaches. Throughout the season, wrestlers train, practice, and prepare for this tournament.

The girls and boys had regionals on different days and in different locations. The girls’ regional was a two-day tournament in Tonganoxie, Kansas, on February 13 and 14. It was a combined regional, so some brackets had as many as 32 wrestlers. The boys’ regional was a one-day event in Paola, Kansas, on February 21. The day was full of energy and intense matches, with some wrestlers rushing home afterward to prepare for the One Acts competition.

Freshman Braxton Barnes described his regional performance as amazing, while senior Obree Barnes said she was proud to make it to state and noticed how much progress she had made over the past few months.

Several wrestlers qualified for state. At the girls’ tournament, senior Obree Barnes placed sixth in the 140-pound bracket. She was the fifth seed in a 32-person bracket and finished with a 4-3 record. For the boys, Freshman Braxton Barnes and Senior Zach Schaffer advanced to state. Braxton, seeded first in the 106-pound bracket, went undefeated with a 4-0 record and won his finals match in just 1 minute and 9 seconds. Zach, seeded second in the 157-pound bracket, placed second overall with a 3-1 record.

By the end of the season, Braxton finished with a record of 36 wins and 4 losses, and Obree ended with 21 wins and 21 losses.

The state tournaments will take place in Salina, Kansas. The girls’ tournament is on Friday, February 27, and the boys’ tournament runs Friday and Saturday, February 27 and 28. The wrestlers will leave the high school on Thursday to get settled and ready for the competitions ahead.

Regionals are both exciting and bittersweet because they mark the end of the season. Two of the wrestlers heading to state will be leaving Anderson County High School next year, making this their chance to leave a mark. One wrestler still has several years left, and expectations are high for continued success. Fans are encouraged to support the wrestlers by attending the meets or wishing them good luck.