The wrestling season for Iola Middle School concluded on a high note at the Eureka Middle School Invitational on March 14, 2024. Several Mustang wrestlers excelled, securing medals and contributing to the team’s overall seventh-place finish.
Kaiden Jones and Jaxson Bernsten stood out by earning gold medals in their respective weight classes. Jones, competing in the 154-pound category, delivered a series of impressive performances. He began the day with a swift first-period pin against Adrian Cook from Chanute, followed by another pin against Noah Everly-Burtin of Eureka in the second period. Jones capped off his successful outing by pinning Lane Novotney of Cherryvale in the first period.
Bernsten also showcased his skills at the tournament. He achieved a decisive second-period pin over Tyler Frankie from Fredonia, ultimately securing the gold medal by pinning Brodhyei Blackwell of Chanute in the first period.
Multiple Silver Medalists Among Mustangs
Iola Middle School had several wrestlers claim silver medals, further highlighting the team’s strong performance. In the 91-pound weight class, Cieson Kidwell started strong with a pin over Eli Riead of Bluestem and continued his momentum with another pin against Arthur McGrew from Cherryvale. However, he faced a setback in the final match, losing to Toryn Ellsworth from Chanute via a second-period pin.
At 135 pounds, Evan Boeken also earned a silver medal. After a tough loss to Moses Durand from Chanute, he rebounded impressively, achieving a first-period pin against Dylan Hanson of Burlington and a second-period pin over Jaxon Atherton from Bluestem.
In the 140-pound division, Milo Franklin finished second after facing the eventual champion, Wyatt Boss, who defeated him 20-2 with a technical fall. Franklin’s journey to the final included a first-period pin against Felix Neal of Eureka and another first-period pin against Lucas Jones of Chanute.
A close match for Ruben Scroggins in the 119-pound category prevented him from earning gold. After a 12-7 victory over Hunter Beard from Fredonia, Scroggins lost to Trevor Freeman of Chanute following a second-period pin. He concluded his day with a dominant 15-3 major decision over Jet Tracy of Cherryvale.
Notable Performances Across Weight Classes
In addition to the medalists, several other Iola wrestlers made noteworthy contributions. Caleb Jankovich-Sette, competing at 144 pounds, took third place after a strong start with a first-period pin against Michael Ellington from Bluestem. However, he was unable to secure further victories, losing to Jaxon Cook and Slade Stich of Chanute.
At 82 pounds, Colton Hall finished third as well. After an initial loss to Brooks Brady from Chanute, Hall staged a comeback with a 7-6 victory over Jesse Highbarger of Bluestem, though he ultimately fell to Jase Hannah from Chanute via a first-period pin.
The tournament also saw participation from other Iola wrestlers, including Dusty Finley at 71 pounds, who claimed second after two losses to Lane Peterson of Bluestem, both by first-period pins. Joshua Emeka at 80 pounds experienced a challenging day, beginning with a 16-0 technical fall against Hunter Hurt of Chanute, followed by two more losses.
At 127 pounds, Zeth Miller took fourth place, while Matthew Holding at 136 pounds also finished fourth. Gabe Klubek, competing at 237 pounds, managed to secure second place after facing Anderson Jones from Cherryvale twice, suffering a third-period pin in their first match and a first-period pin in the second encounter.
The Iola Middle School wrestlers demonstrated their resilience and skill at the Eureka Invitational, marking a memorable end to their season. With standout performances and valuable experience gained, the Mustangs look forward to building on this year’s achievements in the seasons to come.
