By Allie Thomasson

Ellsworth County I-R

Two Ellsworth wrestlers recently earned their way into the boys’ and girls’ state wrestling competitions. Sophomore Will Donley was the boys’ state competitor and sophomore Riley Rodriguez wrestled at 170 lbs. at the girls’ state meet.

Donley wrestled at 126 lbs. Feb. 24 and 25 at Fort Hays State University after placing second at regionals.

Donley placed sixth with a season record of 23-10. He won his first match by decision 6-0 over Zach Kibbe of Sabetha. During the quarterfinal round against Hoisington’s Evan Coble, he was pinned in the third period. He won his next two matches by decision, winning 6-2 against St. Francis’ Shane Todd and 7-5 against Erie’s Seth Welch. He advanced to consolation semifinals, but lost by decision 8-3 against Ethan Redetzke from Hoisington. Wrestling for fifth place, he lost by sudden victory. His match against Coble went to overtime, ending 9-4.

One of his coaches was his father, Assistant Coach Clint Donley, who said an advantage of coaching his son was that it allowed him to know him better than his other athletes.

“You have more access to them to help keep their mindset where it

“Riley learned this year that she is able to wrestle at a higher level than she had wrestled at before. She knows what it takes and what she can do. I think next season will be even more rewarding for her.”

Steve Thorburn Head Wrestling Coach needs to be in order for them to succeed,” he said.

“More access can be a challenge too. I’ve had to learn when to take off the coach’s hat and just be a dad, because at the end of the day, our relationship is more important than any sports accomplishments.”

Rodriguez wrestled at 170 lbs. at the girls’ state meet Feb. 22 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center, Salina. In the first round, she was pinned by Grace Stean from Tonganoxie.

She then wrestled Wellington’s Kaylee Horinek for her consolation match, losing by decision, 3-0.

Rodriguez’s season record was 13-12. Her goals for next year are to “have less of the matches where I lost in the first couple times that I saw them and won more towards the end of the season,” she said. “(I want to) just come out strong.” She also hopes to make it to the second day of state and place.

“Riley learned this year that she is able to wrestle at a higher level than she had wrestled at before,” Head Coach Steve Thorburn said. “She knows what it takes and what she can do. I think next season will be even more rewarding for her.” Thorburn said he is looking forward to “getting the stencils out and watching Will put his name up on the board.”

As for next year, he is confident both wrestlers “will do the things during the off-season and in the practice room that will help them continue on their path of success and to accomplish their wrestling goals.”