GYPSUM — Three Bearcat boys qualified for state wrestling after an exciting regional meet Feb. 17 at Southeast of Saline.

Wrestlers had to place in the top four to advance to state.

“All of our kids did really well this year and at regionals,” Head Coach Steve Thorburn said.

Junior Will Donley was regional champion in the 132-lb. weight class, winning four matches, his first by decision 6-3 and his second by a fall. He then entered the semifinal round where he won by a fall. Donley’s win moved him to the finals round where he wrestled for first, winning by major decision, 9-0, earning him gold.

“It felt good to win and it also felt awesome to have two other guys qualify for state,” Donley said. “I am looking forward to going to state and hoping to get another medal.”

Sophomores Keegan Urbanek and Micah Galvan also qualified.

Urbanek, who wrestles at 165 lbs., began with a bye then won his next match by decision, 4-0. His next match was a competitive one.

“Keegan beat Pfeifer of Russell in a huge overtime upset match,” Thorburn said.

The exciting win moved him on to the first place match, where he lost by a fall, ending in second place.

Galvan won his first round in the 175-lb. category, but lost his quarterfinal match. This bumped him to the backside of the bracket where he had to win three more consolation matches to be able to place. He was able to do so, winning the first two by fall and the third by major decision. He then wrestled for third place and won by decision, 5-3.

Other Bearcat wrestlers were freshman Lance Muchow and sophomores Hunter Kinsley, Hadley West and Jackson Minear, who all finished the season competitively.

“The kids are going to have a short week of practice to prepare for state on Thursday,” Thorburn said. “They will eat healthy and keep doing what they do.”

The state meet will be at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center, Salina, Feb. 22-24.