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Bonner’s Tapia and Caballero lead 16 state tourney qualifiers

Sumner senior B.J. Keith reacted joyfully after his last-second win over Pittsburg’s Cruz Lopez earned him a trip to the state tournament. Keith was one of 16 wrestlers from Wyandotte County schools who earned a spot in next weekend’s state tournament based on their finish in the regional tournaments. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Six Wyandotte County schools took part in the KSHSAA 5A regional wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday at Blue Valley Southwest High School.

Twelve wrestlers from four of those schools finished eighth or better to earn a spot in the 5A state tournament next weekend in Park City.

Bonner Springs senior Tony Caballero, top-ranked in the 285-pound class all year, pinned all four of his opponents, including Blue Valley Southwest’s Andrew Farrell in the tournament’s final match. Caballero placed second in last year’s state tournament and heads to this year’s tournament with a season record of 24-1.

Braves’ senior Jace Tapia won the 138-pound weight class, winning two matches by fall and another by decision. He pinned Ty Lewis, from wrestling powerhouse Shawnee Heights, in the championship match.

Caballero and Tapia will be joined at the state tournament by Bonner’s Shane Daniels, who took third in the 152-pound class, and Ethan Cook, who placed sixth at 120 pounds.

The Piper Pirates are sending five wrestlers to the state tournament. Piper’s top finisher was Ja’Diz Simmons, who placed third in the 106-pound class. He pinned three opponents, but was bested by Basehor-Linwood’s Brody Ballard in the semi-finals.

Heading to Park City with Simmons are Piper’s Sawyer Vas, who placed fifth at 170 pounds, and Payton Mills, who placed sixth at 126 pounds. Makao Groneman and Nick Hoover placed eighth in the 113- and 132-pound classes to earn their places at state.

Sumner’s B.J. Keith earned his tournament berth in dramatic fashion. He faced Cruz Lopez of Pittsburg in his third match with a trip to state riding on the outcome. The back-and-forth match was tied at 3 points, with neither wrestler having a clear advantage.

With only six seconds remaining, Keith scooped up Lopez and dropped him to the mat, earning a takedown, a match win, and an opportunity in Park City.

After the close-fought contest, Keith recounted his thoughts in those final seconds.

“I was just thinking to myself, ‘I’ve got to go,'” the Sabres’ senior said. “I’m going to state. I’m going to state. I don’t care what happens or what it takes.”

Turner’s Connor Scott and Mechia Marks placed eighth in the 170- and 195-pound brackets to earn two places at the state tournament for the Golden Bears.

Washington and Schlagle high schools had wrestlers participate in the regional tournament, but didn’t have any qualifiers to the state tournament.

In other regional wrestling action, Harmon and Wyandotte high schools participated in the 6A tournament held at Shawnee Mission South.

Harmon’s Juma Ibrahim and nDoma Gazadikwe placed fifth in the 120- and 138-pound weight classes to qualify for the state tournament. Wyandotte’s C.J. Anderson (113) and Franklyn VanBebber (285) both placed sixth and will represent the Bulldogs in Park City.

Bonner Springs senior Tony Caballero defeated Blue Valley Southwest’s Andrew Farrell in the 285-pound championship match. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Bonner Springs senior Jace Tapia wrestled Shawnee Heights’ Ty Lewis in the 138-pound final. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Bonner Springs senior Shane Daniels pinned Spring Hill’s Miles Bell to take third place in the 152-pound class. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Piper’s Ja’Diz Simmons pushed back St. Thomas Aquinas’s Tobius Kriner on his way to winning third place in the 106-pound class. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Piper junior Sawyer Vas took control of Mill Valley’s Holden Zigmant in their fifth place match-up in the 170-pound class. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Piper’s Payton Mills took a ride from Seaman’s Draven Bennett in the fifth place match in the 126-pound class. Bennett won 13-8 decision. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Turner’s Mechia Marks faced off with Draven Pipkin of Spring Hill in a 195-pound match. Pipkin won by major decision (11-1). (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Piper junior Nick Hoover wrestled against Seaman’s Colin Little. Hoover lost by fall in the 1st period, but went on to earn a spot in the state tournament. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Bonner Springs sophomore Ethan Cook sent Basehor-Linwood’s Hudson Strahm flying in their 120-pound match. Cook won by major decision (12-4). (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner freshman Miles Dean wrestled Seaman’s Jayden Foster in a 113-pound match. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

The referee signaled two points for a takedown as time ran out in the 132-pound match between Sumner’s B.J. Keith and Pittsburg’s Cruz Lopez. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Piper’s Pollard out after four seasons

Former Piper football head coach Rick Pollard. (File photo)

by Brian Turrel

In an unexpected move, the Piper school district has decided not to renew the contract of head football coach Rick Pollard.

The well-regarded coach held a 21-19 record in his four seasons with the Pirates, including 7-4 and a regional championship in the 2021 season. This week he had been announced as a member of the coaching staff for the 2022 Kansas Shrine Bowl.

Pollard was informed of the decision Tuesday afternoon, and word spread quickly through the Piper football players and their families, many of whom reacted with shock and disappointment.

Junior quarterback Logan Ladish, in a social media statement, said, “I believe [the decision] was selfish and unnecessary in every way possible.”

Junior lineman Camden Beebe, also via social media, said, “We are saddened by the decision regarding the future of the Piper football program. Coach Pollard had this team going in the right direction. Winning our first regional championship since 2014 was only the start.”

Messages to the high school and district administration requesting comment were not returned.

Pirates end Huhtamaki tourney action with 58-53 loss to Mill Valley

Senior Jaron Briggs went up for a shot in the lane during the second half of Piper’s game against Mill Valley in the third round of the Huhtamaki Hardwood Classic tournament. Mill Valley won the game 58-53. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Piper Pirates lost to Mill Valley 58-53 in the third round of the Huhtamaki Hardwood Classic tournament. The Pirates came back from a 15-point deficit and tied the game with two minutes remaining, but the Jaguars held on for the win.

Mill Valley got the early jump in the first quarter thanks to 2 blocked shots, but by the end of the quarter the teams drew level at 11. Gannon Roth hit a 3-pointer, and Jaron Briggs had two baskets to help even the score.

The second quarter belonged to the Jaguars, who held Piper to 9 points while they posted 22 at the other end. Seven Mill Valley players scored in the quarter, and the height and pace of the Jaguars kept the Pirates off balance.

Piper had trouble finishing at the rim during the fast-paced action. The Pirates attempted nine more shots than Mill Valley, but hit five fewer. Piper’s shooting percentage was only 31 percent for the half, which closed 33-20 in the Jaguars’ favor.

Piper started cutting into the lead out of the halftime break. Briggs hit two 3-pointers, and Colin Vigil added another in the third quarter.

Fouls started to accumulate for Piper in the second half, and freshman Lantz Walton saw extended minutes off the bench. Walton earned three steals in 14 minutes of game action and his defensive intensity helped his team close the gap to five heading into the fourth quarter.

Piper continued its comeback into the fourth quarter, drawing level at 52 when Briggs was fouled and hit two free throws with just over two minutes remaining.

A late double-dribble turnover by the Pirates let Mill Valley get back out to a 3 point lead, and Piper missed two 3-point opportunities to tie the game in the closing seconds. Mill Valley’s Nen Matlock iced the game with two free throws, capping off a perfect 10-for-10 at the line.

Briggs led the Pirates in scoring with 24 points in the game. Aaron Simmons had 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

Piper narrowly lost Tuesday’s tournament opener to Olathe Northwest (60-57) but came back to trounce Schlagle (62-23) in the second round.

The team will finish its busy December schedule with games next week against Shawnee Mission Northwest, Louisburg, and Shawnee Mission North before starting the Christmas break.