Wellington to host 13-team invitational on Saturday… Here’s what to expect…

December 07, 2023 Cueball

Wellington boys and girls combined team for 2023. (Photos by Katie Ford)

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Crusader wrestling fans can see what this year’s team is all about when Wellington holds its annual preseason tournament this Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. at the high school.

The event will feature wrestlers from Andover, Arkansas City, Circle, Clearwater, Marion, Mulvane, Nickerson, Rose Hill, Wichita East, Wichita North, Wichita Southeast, and Winfield.

Currently, Wellington has 21 boys and 13 girls out for high school wrestling. Although that may not be the numbers experienced in many years past, participation is up from last season.

Still, Mitch McComb’s troops are young and will be dealing with inexperience throughout the year.

2023 Wellington girls wrestling team.

The girls’ program, which will be competing for a league title, is still going strong but has suffered some setbacks during the offseason.

Wellington will have two open spots on both at 100 and 235 – the light and heaviest divisions in girls. McComb said those positions could be filled by girls who are roaming the hallway and who wrestled last year.

It also lost two girls who potentially could have qualified for state. Nexy Young chose not to go out while Bri Walker moved to Florida.

But there is still a good nucleus of girls who will make Wellington competitive throughout the year, including the return of both of last year’s state qualifiers.

Aubrey Hunt finished second at 190 at the Class 4A State Tournament in March of 2023.

Aubrey Hunt, a senior, is the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 190 pounds. McComb is more than excited about her prospects ahead.

“Aubrey is the kind of wrestler, who opponents may look at her and think, ‘this girl isn’t so tough,'” McComb said. “But they do so at their own peril. She is tough as nails. It will take a very good wrestler to beat her.”

Hunt last year was state runner-up, losing to Emilie Schweizer of Buhler. She went 37-7 last year and is undefeated after the first wrestling weekend last week.

“Aubrey is an example of an ultimate success story,” McComb said. “I remember when she was a sophomore and was in PSQ. Her brother (Rome) was wrestling, and I knew her from swimming. I told him to come on over and talk with me. She had never wrestled a moment in her life or even knew what the sport was about. Now, she is the top wrestler in Class 4A in her weight class.”

Kaylee Horinek goes 2-2 in 4-1A State Tournament.

Junior Kaylee Horinek is also returning at 170. She went 2-2 at state last year and is seeing success early in the season, going 3-1 last week in the Caney Valley Tournament.

Other Wellington wrestling starters are:

Deighlynn Lea, sr., at 105;

Caroline Mott at 110;

Elli Franke, sr. at 115;

Isabelle Cullens, sr. at 120;

Aubrianna Rohrer, so., at 125,

Sophie Parkey, jr., at 130;

Maddie Fullerton, fr., at 135;

Mya Cornejo at 145,

Mikayla Ybarra, so., at 155.

The Wellington girls split their first double dual in McPherson last week, beating Mulvane 54-18, but losing the second match to Mulvane 42-36. Wellington then placed fourth in the Caney Valley Tournament on Friday. The Crusaders scored 143 points behind Pittsburgh, which had 179 points, Labette County 164, and Winfield 148.

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2023 Wellington boys wrestlers.

On the boys’ side, Wellington has more wrestlers than in years past, but it still has some open positions. There are no wrestlers at 106, and McComb is looking for a freshman wrestler to fill the spot at 113.

At 120, Talon Cantrell is one of the two returning senior starters. He has been fighting a back injury in the early going.

At 126, Cabel Boggess, a junior, will be returning as a starter.

At 132, Daleiel Lozano is starting, while Emerson Brownlee will get the nod at 138.

Axl Norris, fresh off his big year as a starting defender, is expected to start at 144 as a junior.

Jalik Armstrong, a sophomore, will come off the field as Wellington’s starting safety to be the starting 150-pounder.

Wellington is open at 157.

Hank Shinliver, a sophomore, will be starting as a 165-pound grappler.

Evan Kelley, a junior, is starting at 175.

Case Ramirez will be the starting 185-pounder for Wellington.

The 215-pound weight class will be manned by Jamar Armstrong.

Lowe is one of two returning senior starters.

And look for Derrick Lowe to have a big season as this year’s 285-pound starter.

Wellington should have a better year this year. In the McPherson double dual, the team lost 63-15 to McPherson and Mulvane 42-35.

Then, on Saturday, the boys finished eighth out of 19 schools in the Caney Valley Tournament. Wellington had six boys who medalled.

•Rameirez placed third at 190 pounds with a 3-1 record.

•Shinliver placed fourth, going 1-2.

•Lowe went 4-2, finishing fourth.

•Ja. Armstrong was fifth, going 2-2.

•Kelly, at 175, placed fifth and went 2-2.

•and Bogguss was sixth, going 1-3.

“We had a much better we did a year ago,” McComb said.

While Wellington is much better, it still is dealing with incredible competition. The Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div. IV is loaded and perhaps the best league in Class 4A. Rose Hill is ranked No. 1, and Andale is No. 4, according to the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association poll.

“I still wish I could get more wrestlers out,” McComb said. “Wrestling is a tough sport. Kids don’t like getting their (tails) kicked, and that is part of wrestling. You are going to lose. But that is wrestling. You are going to always remember your losses more than your wins. Wrestling is more about competing than wins or losses. If you can compete on the mat, you can compete in life.”

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Wellington fans may want to catch some wrestling on Saturday. The Crusaders won’t be home again until Saturday, Jan. 20, when it hosts a boys’ JV and girls’ varsity tournament.

The Crusaders will then wrestle Clearwater at home on Jan. 25.

Wellington will then host its senior night against Andale on Thursday, Feb. 8.

WHS WRESTLING SCHEDULE

Saturday, Dec. 9: Wellington Tournament – 9 a.m.

Friday, Dec. 15: Hillsboro Tournament – boys and girls, 3 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 16: Rose Hill Tournament – boys JV and girls, 8:30 a.m.

Friday, Jan. 5: Rossville dual, away – boys and girls, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 6: Rossville Invitational, boys and girls, 9 a.m.

Monday, Jan. 8 – Boys JV quad at Rose Hill, 5 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 11 – Dual at Rose Hill, boys and girls, 6 p.m.

Friday-Saturday, Jan. 12-13 – Halstead Tournament, girls – 1 p.m., boys – 4 p.m. on Friday. All day starting at 7 a.m. Saturday.

Thursday, Jan. 18 – Dual at El Dorado, boys and girls, 6 p.m.