Ark City controls 5A state wrestling

Defending champion Arkansas City is in control after the first day of the Class 5A state wrestling championships at Hartman Arena in Park City.

The Bulldogs, who brought a full squad of 14 wrestlers to the state tournament, put seven in the championship semifinals and six more remained alive in the consolation bracket.

Ark City piled up 83 points after the first day.  St. James Academy put five wrestlers in the semifinals and was second with 66 points, while Shawnee Heights (57), Newton (50) and Great Bend (47.5) rounded out the top five.

In Class 6A at Hartman Arena, Garden City lead with 80.5 points, followed by Junction City (61.5), Manhattan (59) and Derby (51.5) and Wichita Northwest (51.5.

In Class 4A at the Salina Bicentennial Center, two-time defending champion Andale leads with 44.5 points - a half point better than Colby and 2.5 over Chanute. However, the Indians qualified just five wrestlers to the state tournament and even though four have reached the semifinals and the fifth in state alive in the consolation bracket, Colby has nine wrestlers still alive and Chanute has seven.

In Class 3-2-1A at Hays, the Norton Bluejays have all nine of their wrestlers still competing after the first day and have scored 53.5 points - 21.5 in front of Oberlin and Plainville.

The state tournaments continue Saturday at 10 a.m. with the semifinals.  The championship matches are scheduled to start around 3 p.m.