2002 Journal-World All-Area Wrestling Team

Baldwin dominates wrestling squad

Baldwin High had a breakthrough wrestling season in 2001-02.

School records set by the Bulldogs include the following:

Lightweights 103-140 pounds

Dual victories (15).

State qualifiers (7).

State placers (3).

State finalists (2).

Highest state finish as team (seventh).

Oh, yeah, BHS also produced its first Class 4A state champion in 15 years when senior Witt Hinton captured the 275-pound title.

Incidentally, the Bulldogs ruled the Journal-World 2002 all-area wrestling team with four selections. Hinton was joined on the squad by teammates Derek Lang (140), Kyle Flory (171) and Dan Hamilton (215).

“It was a very exciting season. The kids were all wrestling hard and striving for high goals all year long,” said BHS coach Kit Harris, the J-W coach of the year. “The work they did is the reason we had the success we had this year. We also try to always enjoy ourselves. We don’t want our work to get in the way of us having fun and for our fun to not get in the way of us working. Both aspects of youth sports are essential. I think we accomplished that. I’m real proud of them.”

Here are capsules on the Journal-World’s top 14:

Cody Gardner, Wellsville, fr.

A Frontier League champion and regional runner-up, Gardner (103 pounds) placed sixth at the 3-2-1A state meet with a 28-5 record.

Heavyweights 145 pounds-up

Kyle Patton, Wellsville, jr.

A state champ at 103 pounds last year after placing sixth in that weight class as a freshman, Patton won the 112-pound division of the Class 3-2-1A state meet in Hays to finish 32-0.

Chad Hinderliter, Ottawa, sr.

A Huron League and regional champ, Hinderliter (119) placed third at the 4A state meet. He finished with a 26-5 record and will wrestle at the Kansas City Metro Classic on March 5.

Chris Caruthers, Wellsville, jr.

A Frontier League champion and third-place finisher at regional, Caruthers (119) placed fifth at state with a 30-6 record.

Cody Betsworth,

Santa Fe Trail, sr.

A Kaw Valley League champ and third-place finisher at regional, Betsworth (125) finish fifth at 4A state. He finished 24-3 and was a four-time state placer.

Travis McBurney,

Santa Fe Trail, sr.

A KVL champ who placed third at regional, McBurney (140) was fifth at 4A state. He finished 27-4 and was a three-time state placer.

Derek Lang, Baldwin, so.

A Frontier League runner-up and fourth at regional, Lang (140) placed sixth at 4A state with a 35-15 record and 15 falls.

Justin Wiscombe,

Santa Fe Trail, fr.

A KVL and regional runner-up, Wiscombe (145) finished sixth at 4A state with a 31-11 record.

Luke Powers, Eudora, jr.

Third at regional, Powers (152) placed fifth at 4A state and finished with a 25-8 record.

Kyle Flory, Baldwin, so.

A Frontier League and regional champ, Flory (171) placed second at 4A state with a 42-5 record and 18 falls. His 42 wins are a school record.

Larry Subelka, Oskaloosa, sr.

A regional champ, Subelka (189) placed third at 3-2-1A state with a 29-5 record.

Dan Hamilton, Baldwin, jr.

A Frontier League runner-up and regional champ, Hamilton (215) finished with a 31-11 record and school-record 24 falls.

Witt Hinton, Baldwin, sr.

Hinton (275) went 4-0 at 4A state to become Baldwin’s first state champion in 15 years. A Frontier League runner-up and regional champ, Hinton finished 39-5 with 18 falls

Shane Grant, Eudora, jr.

Fourth at Frontier League and third at regional, Grant (275) came on at 4A state to place second and finished with a 19-7 record.