Ark City is 5A champ; Andover Central's Zac Gentzler makes history

The Arkansas City Bulldogs proved once again they are the state's premier wrestling program on Saturday by winning the Class 5A state championship for the second year in a row and the 20th time in school history.

The Bulldogs scored 177.5 points at Hartman Arena in Park City, 36.5 more than second place St. James Academy.

Andover Central's Zac Gentzler made history with his fourth consecutive state championship, this one at 120 pounds.  Gentzler finished the season 45-0 and lost just one match in four years.

Arkansas City crowned three individual champions - sophomore Logan Terrill (37-9) at 106 pounds, senior Cody Eastman (41-3) at 145 and senior Wyatt Villers (42-3) at 152.

Also claiming 5A championships were junior Parker Howell (16-4) of Kapaun Mt. Carmel at 113 and senior Lukas Maki (32-1) of Andover at 132.

Top-ranked Garden City rolled to the Class 6A team title with 173 points.  Junction City was second with 125.5.

Wichita Heights sophomore Sean DeShazer is now halfway to his goal of four state titles after winning the 113-pound class and finishing his season unbeaten at 36-0.

After two close calls at the state tournament, Ben Becker of Derby finally won a state title, this one at 152 pounds.  The Panther senior finished with a 41-2 record.

In Class 4A, the Holton Wildcats won their first-ever state title with 104.5 points.  Colby was second and two-time defending state champ Andale, with just five state qualifiers, finished third.

Augusta sophomore Jake Goldenstein wrapped up an unbeaten season (39-0) with a victory at 106 pounds.  El Dorado senior Austin Hughey (26-2) claimed the 145-pound title and Andale senior Levi Eck (39-2) won his second straight championship, this one at 182 pounds.

At the Class 3-2-1A state tournament in Hays, the Norton Bluejays won the team title, but senior Clay Wilcox of Chaparral stole the show at 285 pounds.  After placing in the top six three straight years, Wilcox finally won a state title and finished with a 42-2 record.

Alex Thibault of Halstead was also a state champ at 152 and finished his senior season with a 46-1 record.