By andrew hipp

Ellsworth County I-R

HOISINGTON — The Ellsworth boys’ wrestling team competed at the regional contest Feb.

21-22 at Hoisington, advancing five members to state. They placed fourth out of 24 team.

Junior Keegan Urbanek wrestled in the 190-lb. weight class. He started by facing Plainville, who he demolished 10-0. The destruction didn’t stop there, as he then obliterated Phillipsburg 12-1. He then took down WaKeeney-Trego Community in 1:55. His final match was against Russell, who he beat 12-3. He earned first place, 27 points for the team and admittance to state.

Senior Will Donley wrestled in the 138-lb. weight class. He started by facing Lyons and winning 7-0. He then eviscerated Ellis 18-0. He continued the bloodshed by destroying Minneapolis 10-3.

Phillipsburg was his undoing, as he lost to them 6-3. He earned second place, 20.5 points for the team and advanced to state.

Junior Micah Galvan wrestled in the 175-lb. weight class. He started by wrecking Ellis 15-0. He was then, in turn, demolished by Russell 18-3, and moved into the consolation bracket. He regained his mojo by devastating Sedgwick 17-2. He then defeated Phillipsburg 4-2.

He earned third place, 15 points for the team and a ticket to state.

“I thought that I performed well,” Galvan said.

“Obviously, not how I wanted to finish, but I stuck with it, and came out through (the) backside of the bracket”.

Freshman Bo Kyler wrestled in the 150-lb. weight bracket. He didn’t start out too hot, as he lost the first bout to WaKeeney-Trego Community 10-7, moving him into the consolation bracket. He then won against Plainville 3-0, Belleville-Republic County 6-4 and finally, he faced the same wrestler from WaKeeney-Trego he lost to earlier, and beat him 5-1. He earned third place, 14 points for the team and admission to state.

Freshman Walter Hulse wrestled in the 106-lb. bracket. He started by winning against Southeast of Saline with a takedown. He then lost 11-7 against Lyons and was moved into the consolation bracket.

He then beat Hoisington 15-9. Finally, he beat Haven 7-3 and earned third place. He earned 14 points for the team and also will be moving on to state.

The state tournament takes place Feb. 28-29 at Fort Hays State University.