Republic wrestling captured the team championship at the 57th Annual Joel Rios Invitational, scoring 242.5 points to finish ahead of runner-up Topeka (217.5). The Tigers powered their way to the title with a tournament-high 35 pins.
Five Republic wrestlers won individual championships: Isaac Crowley, Shelby Horton, Ethan Montiel, Keaton Overcast, and Kameron Sutton.
“The boys team stepped up to the challenge this weekend with several great individual performances, which will hopefully set the stage for a strong second half of the season,” coach Eric Nolan said.
Overcast and Sutton both pinned every opponent they faced. Competing at 144 pounds, Overcast went 5-0 with five falls. He spent little time on the mat, ending his first two matches in a total of 36 seconds. He secured the title with a pin in 1:36 against Brady Beaver of Bishop Miege. For his efforts, Overcast was named top wrestler of the tournament.
“It was exciting to see Keaton Overcast selected as the Most Outstanding boys wrestler of the tournament, which is the first time a Republic wrestler has earned that honor over the past five seasons,” Nolan said.
Sutton mirrored that dominance at 165 pounds, also winning all five of his matches by fall. He defeated Kesean Jackson of Shawnee Mission South in the championship match.
At 215 pounds, Ethan Montiel won his bracket in tighter fashion. After cruising through the early rounds with three pins and a technical fall, Montiel needed sudden victory in the final to defeat Xavier Clemons of Rockhurst, 7-4.
Shelby Horton (132) and Isaac Crowley (138) also earned gold medals. Horton won four matches by fall and one by technical fall, pinning Topeka’s Asher Filbeck in the final. Crowley capped his tournament run with a second-period pin against Dominic Phommaseng of Lawrence.
Kaiden Patterson (157) and Brentley Lahey (190) both reached the finals and finished second. Coy Crihfield (113) and Bentley Packwood (126) bounced back from semifinal losses to win their third-place matches.
Other placers for Republic included Aydan Walker (5th at 106), Abel Shade (5th at 150), and Brennan Bird (7th at 285).
Team Standings (Top 5)
Republic – 242.5
Topeka – 217.5
Rockhurst – 139.0
Shawnee Mission South – 121.0
Lawrence Free State – 114.0
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