And all nine times, a Jaguar qualified for the state tournament at the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence on March 13. Seckman put wrestlers in the championships of the first four weight classes and six in the final round through 138 pounds.
For the first time in the school’s illustrious wrestling history, four freshmen will wrestle at state.
The Jaguars had eight state qualifiers in 2020 and have finished in the top 10 of the Class 4 standings every year since 2017. Seckman has won four state trophies (third in 2012, fourth in 2011, 2015 and 2018) and, after winning a district title and competing in nine of 14 weight classes at Independence, the Jaguars appear poised to add to their trophy case. Team scores were not kept at the sectional meet.
Northwest sends two wrestlers to state, both seniors. Cannon Newhouse was first at 152 and Johnny Daffron placed second at 195.
Newhouse won the 150th match of his career.
A younger crop of athletes will spearhead Seckman’s trophy bid at state. They are led by freshman Draegen Orine, whose older brother Kai won three state championships from 2017 through 2019. Draegen had never wrestled an overtime match before he met CBC freshman Luke Lilledahl for the sectional title at 106 pounds. Both wrestlers were undefeated district champions going into the final. Orine won it on a 2-1 tiebreaker and improved to 39-0 with the overtime escape point.
Orine said he wrestled Lilledahl many times before they reached high school and lost every time.
“I’ve got two weeks. I’m going to train harder, get better and win by more points next time,” Orine said.
Seckman junior Aydan Cook wasn’t planning to wrestle this year until he saw how well his younger brother, Matthew, a freshman, was doing. Now both are state-bound after Matthew finished second at 113 and Aydan came in third at 138.
Matthew (22-9), a district champion, was pinned by CBC sophomore Kolby Warren (17-2) at 3:47 in the finals. Matthew said he’s been wrestling with his teammates since they were in little league together and that’s why the team has such a tight bond.
“We’re all like the same wrestler and that helps a lot,” the younger Cook said. “The next three years is going to be fun.
“I changed a lot since last year. Practicing with Draegen has made my confidence go up a lot. He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever practiced with and all around is the best wrestler I’ve ever seen.”
Aydan Cook (19-5) lost a 7-0 decision to eventual 138-pound winner Jacob Sinn, a senior from Parkway South. Cook then won by fall to reach the third-place match, now a “bubble” bout with the state allowing only three qualifiers because of COVID restrictions. He punched his ticket to Independence with a 1-0 decision over CBC sophomore Chris Spaete.Â
“It was a lot of pressure,” Cook said of facing elimination more than once, in the consolation wrestlebacks as well as the third-place bout.
A state qualifier at 120 last season, Seckman senior Devin Haag has wrestled an abbreviated season, but that didn’t keep him from pinning his way to first place on Saturday at 120. In the final, he won by fall at 3:52 over up and coming Eureka freshman Ryan Thornhill.
“That was amazing. He’s a great wrestler,” Haag (15-7) said of his Wildcat opponent. “He kept wrestling and had great stamina, but I locked that cradle at the end. I was really tired, so I was playing the clock. Once I saw the opening, I hit a switch and sealed it.
“We’re a great program and we’re only going to get better.”
Another Jaguar freshman, Drake Jenkins (25-14), pinned a senior to get to the final at 126, but there he met another senior with a state pedigree in Lindbergh’s James Homfeld (30-1), a four-time state qualifier. Homfeld was fourth at 126 last season and second at 113 in 2019. Homfeld defeated Jenkins in an 11-0 major decision.
Another late starter this season for Seckman was sophomore John Bamvakais, who finished sixth at 106 at state last year. Bamvakais said his whole family dealt with the coronavirus around Christmas and he didn’t think he’d find a spot on the team if and when he could return. Now he’s joining the Jaguars at state after finishing third at 132.
Bamvakais (10-2) denied Northwest senior Chris Allen (29-11) a berth at state with a 4-0 decision in the third-place match.
“I came back and here we are,” Bamvakais said. “It was hard getting back into wrestling shape. It was kind of scary because if you lose, you’re out. I went in with a good mindset and came out a winner.”
Cole Ruble rushed for 1,700 yards playing quarterback for Seckman last fall. Now he’ll cruise to Independence after finishing second at 160 pounds. Ruble (30-9) met undefeated Jackson senior Garner Horman (31-0) in the final and lost a 7-0 decision. Horman was third in the state at 152 last season.
Jeremy Ashlock, a 2019 Seckman graduate, finished fifth in the state at 170 as a senior. His younger brother, Jayden, is following in his state footsteps, winning the third-place match Saturday at 170. Jayden, who has won 35 matches as a freshman, advanced on an 8-6 decision over Lindbergh sophomore Connor Kuehler.
Several times, the match had to be stopped to stem blood flowing from Ashlock’s nose and mouth. Finally, trainers just taped the bleeding nostril shut. Ashlock said his older brother used to bleed a lot, too.
“My coaches told me to get an escape. I tried my best and I got up,” Ashlock said. “I’ve been training for this for four and a half months. I wanted to go big or go home. I have a lot of great teammates who push me to be a better wrestler every day.”
Junior Dylan Carlton (36-6), a state qualifier for Seckman at 170 last year, is going back to state at 195 after pinning Lafayette freshman Andrew Wier in 46 seconds in the third-place match. Carlton lost in the semifinals to Northwest’s Daffron, who lost in the title match to CBC junior Jack Darrah (15-0). Darrah was fifth in the state at 182 a year ago.
Daffron and teammate Newhouse both finished sixth in the state last season. Newhouse (37-2) warmed up for sectionals by pinning all three district opponents and won the sectional title at 152 with a 5-1 decision over Marquette senior Aidan Rudman (35-4). He took his first two sectional matches with first-period pins.
“I’m winded right now,” he said seconds after stepping off the mat. “I went out there and wrestled my match and beat him technically. In the third period, I kept on him and he had nothing (points) to show for it. It was a good match.
“My gas tank’s been the hardest part. I’ve only wrestled a couple of matches that went all three periods. I’ve got a lot of first-period pins this year. Judging by what just happened, I think I’m ready.”
After finishing third at 285 at districts, Fox senior Mason Petty did it again at the sectional by pinning Lindbergh junior Matt Ludwig at 2:44. He’s the only Warrior to qualify for state. Petty (18-4) had to get past Northwest junior Andrew Hinchey (30-13) in the wrestlebacks to stay alive. Hinchey was second at districts.