WICHITA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) – There are regionals, then there are super regionals. The top eight wrestlers from each of the super regionals around the state advanced to their respective state championships in two weeks, but the Class 6A tournament at Wichita South Saturday was particularly super with eight of the top 10 teams in the latest 6A rankings. Reigning 6A champion Garden City won the title with 247.5 points, followed by third-ranked Manhattan with 239 points. Fifth-ranked Washburn Rural placed third with 221.5 points.
The Lady Buffaloes landed eight wrestlers in the finals Saturday, including a string of grapplers in the light weights. Junior Nicole Abrego set the tone at 100 pounds. Ranked No. 2, Abrego defeated her first two opponents by a combined score of 9-0. She kept the shutout intact with a 9-0 win over third-ranked Eva Lucios, a senior from Manhattan, in the finals.
After a string of finals losses at 105, 110, 115, and 120 pounds, top-ranked junior Marina Loera got the Buffs back on the right side with a title at 125 pounds. Loera finished second at 115 pounds last season, but entered Saturday ranked No. 1 at 125 pounds. She dominated her first three regional opponents before working out a 3-0 win against No. 2 Evelyn Thornburg of Manhattan in the finals.
“It’s such a blessing to be a part of this team,” Loera said. “We like to wrestle with our hearts out and leave it on the mat. We’re family. We’re more than wrestlers. We come here because we like to wrestle. We like to have fun. We don’t come here to chase brackets and chase wins.”…