Graham exits in style

He did it. Arkansas City senior Trison Graham won his fourth straight Class 5A state wrestling title today in Hutchinson. He defeated Valley Center's Seth Mertins by an 8-3 decision. In doing so, Graham becomes just the third Ark City wrestler in program history to win four straight titles, joining Justin Ware (1989-92) and Devin Bahm (1993-96).

Class 5A sub-state basketball brackets released

As expected, the Arkansas City boys will host Valley Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. The Ark City girls play at Kapaun Mt. Carmel at 7 p.m. Thursday. The winner of the Ark City-Valley Center game will face the Emporia-Wichita West winner in next Friday's sub-state championship game at Bishop Carroll. The winner of the Ark City-Kapaun Mt. Carmel game will face the Emporia-Topeka West winner in next Saturday's sub-state championship game at Bishop Carroll.

bonus points galore

The bonus points just keep coming and coming for Arkansas City. Clint Bruce earned a 12-4 major decision over Bishop Carroll's Tanner Cody in the third round of the 189-pound consolation bracket in the Class 5A state wrestling tournament in Hutchinson. Bruce scored a takedown with 14 seconds remaining for the eight-point diffential. Overall, the Bulldogs have earned bonus points in 14 of 22 matches.
Seven Ark City wrestlers are still alive in the tournament.

Graham one win away

Trison Graham takes things one match at a time. He can now start focusing his attention on tomorrow's 130-pound state championship match against Valley Center's Seth Mertins. Graham earned an 11-2 decision over Bishop Carroll's Jake Mainz in the semifinals.

correction

The championship semifinals are today, not Saturday as previously stated.

Elliott lets up...just for a moment

For a moment, there was a reason for concern. Scott Elliott allowed Hutchinson's Dakota Sherry to score a quick takedown for a 2-0 lead. Elliott, a two-time state champion who entered the tournament with only one loss, has rarely trailed in a match this season. Worried? Only briefly. Elliott earned an escape and pinned Sherry with 19 seconds remaining in the first period.
Cameron Riojas, Garrett Jones, Kash Biddle, Aaron Hoag and Trison Graham also advanced to tomorrow's semifinals.

Riojas scores upset

Their records entering the Class 5A state tournament should've been reversed. Cameron Riojas (11-7) dominated top-ranked Gardner-Edgerton's Greg Curtis (34-3) in their 160-pound first-round match. Riojas pinned Curtis with three seconds remaining in the second period.
Scott Elliott (171 pounds) and Clint Bruce (189) also dominated their first-round match-ups. Elliott pinned Shawnee Heights' Cody Mason with 52 seconds remaining in the second perido, while Bruce earned an 18-1 technical fall over Gardner-Edgerton's Kyle Pacheo. Bruce will face three-time state champion Romero Cotton of Hutchinson in the second round.
Ark City won seven of eight matches in the first round.

Martin loses to Isenberg

Maybe it was the atmosphere. Maybe it was the aura and history of the Class 5A state tournament. Or perhaps it was his competition. Arkansas City junior Michael Martin paced with top-ranked and undefeated Aldon Isenberg of Gardner-Edgerton for the last two-plus periods. The problem was that Isenberg, who entered with a 28-0 record, scored and kept scoring points. Martin could only match that with three escapes. Isenberg scored seven of the last eight points in the period for an 11-3 lead en route to a 13-5 major decision over Martin.

Off to a good start

Three matches, three wins for Arkansas City. Kash Biddle defeated Newton's Seth Klein by a 7-2 decision. Aaron Hoag held off a last-second scoring attempt by Salina South's Jason Seibel to earn a 4-2 decision. Trison Graham began his quest for four straight state titles in dominating fashion, pinning Trent Hoover of Salina South with 24 seconds remaining in the third period. Graham led 11-0 before pinning Hoover.

Welcome to Class 5A state tournament

Welcome to the Class 5A state wrestling tournament at the Salthawk Activity Center. First round is nearly one-third in the books. Follow Dave's Den on the Traveler's blog page for continuing coverage.

Arkansas City qualifies eight for state

Arkansas City qualified eight wrestlers for next weekend's Class 5A state tournament. Garrett Jones (112 pounds), Trison Graham (130) and Scott Elliott (171) won regional individual titles on Saturday at Valley Center. Clint Bruce placed second at 189 pounds. Kash Biddle (119), Aaron Hoag (125), Michael Martin (140) and Cameron Riojas (160) also qualified for state, to be held next Friday and Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson.

sloppy first half

Both teams nearly had as many turnovers as points. Campus had 11 turnovers, Ark City 10. Game is tied at 13-13 at halftime. Casandra Brown leads all scorers with nine. Natalie Stinson and Karlyle Sturd each have four points for Ark City.

Starting lineups

Starting lineups for girls games vs. Campus:
ARK CITY
-5. Val White, sr.
-12. Natalie Benton, sr.
-14. Karlye Sturd, so.
-20. Molly Warren, so.
-22. Natalie Stinson, sr.

Campus
-14. Brooke Dickey, fr.
-15. Tori Wheeler, so.
-22. Casandra Brown, fr.
-34. Lorielle Slates, jr.
-43. Lauren Peil, sr.

Welcome to Campus High School

Welcome to Campus High School in Haysville for tonight's games between Arkansas City and Campus. The girls game will tip off in the next five minutes. Ark City enters play 4-12, while Campus is 2-16. Tonight's game is being broadcast live on 95.9 FM KSOK.

Playing keep away

Neither team appeared to want the ball in the first half. Ark City committed 17 turnovers. Hutchinson had 12.

Welcome to Hutchinson

Welcome to the Salthawk Activity Center in Hutchinson. In approximately 15 minutes, the Arkansas City girls basketball team will play the sixth-ranked (Class 5A) Hutchinson Salthawks.