Lions’ Madill aims to end drought

Lawrence High senior wrestler Aaron Madill admits he feels the weight of the upcoming weekend.

“I wish I could just say there wasn’t any pressure,” said the undefeated 160-pounder, who has a shot at becoming the first state wrestling champion from Lawrence since 1978. “But it’s definitely there.”

Madill will carry a 37-0 record — the best in city history — into the two-day meet, which begins today at the Kansas Coliseum in Wichita.

“People are coming up to me asking, ‘You gonna win state?'” Madill said. “Yeah, I know I have a shot of winning state, but I have to focus on this meet like every other meet this season.

“If I can stay focused and wrestle my style, then, yeah, I’ll have a chance at winning state.”

Madill isn’t the only city wrestler who could walk away this weekend with the first state title since Ken McGovern won at 185 pounds in 1978.

Another candidate?

How about McGovern’s son?

Nick McGovern, a Free State High senior, won the regional title at 189 pounds last weekend and sports a 27-8 record.

“If it happens that I become the first one to win since my dad, then it happens,” McGovern said. “I can’t worry about that. I have to go out and keep concentrating on the things that got me to state.”

The city will send 12 wrestlers — six from each school.

Three Firebirds — McGovern; 125-pound junior Matt Somers (24-11); and 171-pound senior Kyle Frank (20-9) — won regionals. Frank was third at state last year, Somers sixth.

Lawrence’s two regional winners — Madill and heavyweight Kenny Poeverlein — also have had success at state. Poeverlein (28-2) placed fifth last year; Madill had added motivation after losing by technical fall in 2002.

The Firebirds’ other three qualifiers are 152-pound junior Brett Shoffner (23-11); 215-pound senior Grant Steinbach (22-13); and junior heavyweight Jeremy Bustamante (18-12).

The Lions’ other four qualifiers are younger: freshmen Chris Cates (103 pounds, 19-5), Brendan Halpin (135, 17-8) and Nolan Kellerman (140, 17-8); and 125-pound sophomore Pharouk Hussein (25-15).

¢ Baldwin junior Kyle Flory. Runner-up at 171 pounds last year, Flory — 36-6 and a 4A regional and Frontier League champ this season — is a No. 1 seed.¢ DeSoto freshman Neil Erisman. A Class 4A regional and Kaw Valley League champ, Erisman (30-0) is the only undefeated 145-pound wrestler.¢ Eudora seniors Shane Grant and Mike Paxton. Paxton is 31-5 and 4A regional champ at 215 pounds. Grant is 24-8 and was state runner-up at 275.¢ Mill Valley senior Eric Pingleton. Pingleton, a 189-pound 4A regional and Kaw Valley League champ, is 37-0 and is a three-time state qualifier.¢ Santa Fe Trail qualified nine wrestlers, but sophomores Max Connelly (31-9 at 135 pounds), Chad Schmale (28-3 at 140), Travis Eden (36-6 at 145) and Justin Wiscombe (31-5 at 152) have been the leaders most of the season.¢ Wellsville senior Kyle Patton. Patton, a two-time defending state champ, is 30-1 this season at 119 pounds. He’s a 3-2-1A regional and Frontier League champ.