State-Bound

Brackets for the state wrestling championships are available at the KSHSAA website, kshsaa.org. Wichita Heights, the dark horse in 6A, is led by Chase Nelson at 171 pounds. Having wrestled at 160 and even once at 189 this season, Nelson will be challenged by Derby High's Alex Feldkamp, who placed third at state last year. After sitting out all season behind defending state champ Brock Heithaus, Trey Page of Wichita Northwest qualified for state at 285 pounds. He and Derby High's Kyle Westmoreland will chase Lucas Vincent of Olathe North for the title. At 5A state, which is being held once again in conjunction with 6A state at the Kansas Coliseum this season, Chase Nitcher is the favorite at 125 pounds after wrestling most of the season at 130 pounds. Nitcher dropped down to 125 for the Derby tournament in December, where he gave Heights' Daniel DeShazer his only loss of the season. Carroll's Dylan Penka will not be wrestling against Nitcher at 125 pounds after spending the entire season at that weight. Penka will now have to contend with Ark City's Kash Biddle at 130 pounds at state this weekend. Two local schools in 4A are represented by their only top wrestler. At 119 pounds, Rose Hill's Zac Sparr and Clearwater's Nathan Furches have lost only only twice each this season. In Class 3-2-1A, the area has its best shot a state title coming from one of the following wrestlers: Daylen Zladivar of Douglass at 112 pounds; Ky Biddle of Central-Burden at 119 pounds; Tyler McMichael of Central-Burden at 130 pounds; Cole Zoglman of Garden Plain at 145 pounds; Sage Thimmesch of Garden Plain at 152 pounds; and Sheldon Meitler of Halstead at 171 pounds.