By Kyle McCaskey

Chandler Ayer’s season is a perfect microcosm of Derby wrestling this season. 

A junior and previous state qualifier, Ayer muddled to a 16-16 record in the regular season. It was the fourth-best in the 152-pound weight class entering the 6A regional wrestling tournament this past Saturday at Derby.

Yet Ayer showed it has all been a grind to be ready to perform at the highest caliber in the postseason. Three wins later, Ayer had defeated Manhattan’s Michael Leeper, who entered the match 27-9, for the regional championship and another trip to the state tournament. 

“I have just as much entitlement to this as anyone else, because records don’t always mean anything,” Ayer said. “What matters is what happens at the end of the year, and we’re starting to peak as a team. We’ll take it into next week.”

Peaking at the right time has been stressed all season by Derby Head Coach Bill Ross. A year ago, the Panthers were regional champions, but a paltry performance at state had them settle for third.

“We talk about getting better every day, from week to week, day to day, month to month. We haven’t peaked yet,” Ross said. “We peaked one week too early last year, and we’ve been concentrating on not letting that happen this year. Only time will tell if that happened or not.”

Manhattan qualified all 14 of its wrestlers for the state tournament this Friday and Saturday at Hartman Arena. Derby will send 12, and defending state champion Wichita Heights will take 10.

Manhattan won the regional with 231-1/2 points. Derby finished second with 177-1/2. Heights was third with 146. 

At the regional, Derby proved it has the athletes to make deep runs in the tournament. While Manhattan placed 11 in the championship matches, Derby brought seven. The Indians had five regional champs, but the Panthers collected four, including Ayer.

Jeffrey Morrow started Derby’s stellar performances by defeating Manhattan’s Kain Clemens in the 113-pound finals, 2-0. Brady Heincker scored a 7-4 victory over Manhattan’s Taylor Hilgers at 138. Ben Becker built a 4-1 advantage on his way to a 5-3 win over Manhattan’s Davis Matthews at 145 pounds.

Jared Suppes (120 pounds), Jose Santillan (160) and Clay Gordon (220) also reached the finals, but could not complete the task. 

Along with the seven title participants, Cody McDonald (106), Caleb Gash (132), Myles Stroud (170), Shawn Marlatt (195) and Matt Kissinger (285) qualified for the state tournament.

“It’s an once-in-a-lifetime thing,” McDonald said. “Going into state, I need to work hard, peak at the right time. I’m hoping to get at least in the top four.”

The 6A team title race appears to be anyone’s to take. Along with Manhattan, Derby and Heights, Lawrence, Garden City and Gardner-Edgerton bring deep enough teams to claim the top prize.

Derby is taking a modest approach. The Panthers will not bill themselves the favorites, but certainly will not count themselves out, either.

“It’ll be any team’s chance to win,” Ayer said. “We’re going to go in there, and I think we can make something happen.”

 

6A Derby Regional - Feb. 18 at Derby

Team results: Manhattan 231.5, Derby 177.5, Wichita Heights 146, Junction City 144.5, Topeka 55, Washburn Rural 37.5, Wichita East 27, Wichita Southeast 17

Individual Derby results: 

106- Cody McDonald, third place, defeated Brandon Bramalage, Junction City, fall 4:30

113- Jeffrey Morrow, first place, defeated Kain Clemens, Manhattan, 2-0

120- Jared Suppes, second place, lost to Kevin Perez, Junction City, 7-5

126- Gage Wells lost to Marcus Reece, Topeka, fall :33

132- Caleb Gash, fourth place, lost to Weston Mikoleit, Washburn Rural, 17-1

138- Brady Heincker, first place, defeated Taylor Hilgers, Manhattan, 7-4

145- Ben Becker, first place, defeated Davis Matthews, Manhattan, 5-3

152- Chandler Ayer, first place, defeated Michael Leeper, Manhattan, 9-3

160- Jose Santillan, second place, lost to Kaycee Wagner, Junction City, 9-4

170- Myles Stroud, fourth place, lost to Micah Felton, Junction City, 4-2

182- Blake Bradford lost to Jaylan Padilla, Junction City, fall :51

195- Shawn Marlatt, third place, defeated Deonta Thomas, East, fall 4:22

220- Clay Gordon, second place, lost to Deion Parker, Manhattan, 3-1

285- Matt Kissinger, fourth place, lost to CJ Moorman Meador, Manhattan, 2-0

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