Senior caps career in style
Baldwin's Callahan adds state title to stellar resume
Kevin Callahan set multiple school and state wrestling records in his four years at Baldwin High.
He finished fourth at the Kansas Class 4A state tournament as a freshman and was state runner-up in his sophomore and junior years.
It was never enough, though.
All the accolades and records were simply byproducts of Callahan’s determination to be a state champion.
“He would set all these records and win these tournaments all along the way, but he never once would feel any kind of satisfaction and he kept driving for a state title,” Baldwin wrestling coach Kit Harris said. “I knew how much that meant to him. It was that drive for the title which made him want to keep working hard and improve and get better.”
Finally, in his last attempt on the big stage, the Baldwin senior did what he said “many people believed I could do.”
He claimed the state title in the 130-pound division.
“I can’t really explain it. It was the greatest feeling I’ve ever had in my life,” the 2008 All-Area Wrestler of the Year said. “It’s kind of hard to explain it. A lot of people expected me to win a title and I finally did it.”
The senior’s success would also translate into being named the 4A State Wrestler of the Year.
Callahan is the first Baldwin wrestler to receive the honor and is also the first Bulldog to place at state all four years.
“I never went out to break any records. I just went out to wrestle and get good enough to where I’d have a shot at winning the title,” Callahan said. “Whatever happened along the way was good. It was great.”
It will be difficult for Harris to see Callahan leave. Harris began coaching the senior several years before he got to high school.
“He’s meant so much to Baldwin wrestling over the years,” said Harris, the 2008 All-Area Wrestling Coach of the Year. “There’s no way of replacing him. It’d take a pretty big performance for kids to try to match the things he’s done for this program – but I know our young guys are up to that challenge. He’s been a leader from Day 1, since he was a freshman he was a leader. So that’s almost impossible to ask because he’s left quite a legacy.”
From leading his teammates to coaching youth wrestling, Callahan’s contributions and achievements leave an obvious void.
“I always try to help everybody else out too – I want to make them as good as they can be,” Callahan said. “I’ve coached kid wrestling, and I look at it the same way, not that they’re any younger. But just helping people out along the way. I didn’t think I was better than anybody else, I just wanted to make our team as good as it could be while I was there.”
Journal-World All-Area Wrestling First Team
Nick Rockhold, Baldwin High, Sr.
119 pounds
Nick Rockhold finished with a 31-11 season record, with 21 falls and three technical falls. Rockhold placed sixth in the 119-pound division at the Kansas Class 4A state tournament after finishing third at regionals.
The Baldwin High senior won the Eudora Invitational and placed second in the Frontier League.
Gabe Mason, Baldwin High, Sr.
171 pounds
Gabe Mason finished with a 39-12 season record, with 22 falls and four technical falls. The Baldwin High senior finished second at regionals and went on to place fifth at the Kansas Class 4A state tournament.
Mason was the Frontier League champion in his division for the third time in his career.
Alan Callahan, Baldwin High, Jr.
112 pounds
Alan Callahan finished the season with a record of 43-4, which included 19 falls and three technical falls.
Callahan won six different tournaments during the 2007-08 season, including Gardner-Edgerton, Eudora and regionals.
The Baldwin High junior finished second in the Frontier League and went 2-2 at the Kansas Class 4A state tournament.
Matt Brock, Tonganoxie High, Jr.
130 pounds
Matt Brock finished with a record of 36-7 for the season. The Tonganoxie High junior placed fourth at the Kansas Class 4A state tournament 130-pound division.
Travis Adcox, Tonganoxie High, Sr.
140 pounds
Travis Adcox finished the season with a record of 40-11. The Tonganoxie High senior placed fourth at the Kansas Class 4A state tournament in the 140-pound division.
Zach Hoehn Wellsville High, Fr.
112 pounds
Zach Hoehn finished his season with a record of 29-5. After winning regionals, the Wellsville High freshman went on to finish third at the Kansas Class 3A state tournament in the 112-pound division.
Blake Greenfield, Lawrence High, Jr.
135 pounds
Blake Greenfield ended the season with a 23-5 record. The Lawrence High junior placed fourth at the Kansas Class 6A state tournament in the 135-pound division after losing in the semifinals to the eventual state champion.
Brian Cain, Lawrence High, Jr.
160 pounds
Brian Cain finished the season with a record of 30-10. The Lawrence High junior placed fifth at the Kansas Class 6A state tournament in the 160-pound division.
Alex Hackathorn, Perry-Lecompton, Sr.
285 pounds
Alex Hackathorn finished the season with a 38-4 record. The Perry-Lecompton senior was the 285-pound state champion at the Kansas Class 4A state tournament with a 7-2 decision in the championship match.
Honorable Mention
Cameron Adcox, Sr., Tonganoxie; Steve Davis, Jr., Tonganoxie; Wyatt Coffin, Sr., Tonganoxie; Jake Enick, Sr., Baldwin; Michael Barnes, Sr., Baldwin; Jack Caywood, Jr., Free State; Julian Kuszmaul, Jr., Free State; Jake Pfannenstiel, Jr., Lawrence.