Lou Fincher and Trey Medina grab titles at Sunflower League Invitational

Free State senior Lou Fincher is recognized for winning the 132-pound weight class Sunflower League title on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Olathe — Lawrence High junior Trey Medina won the 152-pound weight class at the Sunflower League Invitational on Saturday after pinning Olathe North sophomore Landon Wilkes. LHS finished ninth as a team with 61 points.

It was also a successful day for Free State, which finished in sixth place with 95 points.

“Man it feels amazing,” Medina said of being a Sunflower League champion. “I’ve had a rough couple of weeks trying to figure out what I needed to do to perform the best I could. I think I’ve been working hard enough to get to where I (wanted to be).”

Medina also said he needed to prepare for the physicality of his opponents on Saturday, particularly Wilkes.

“I’d seen his other matches and knew he was really aggressive, so I knew that when I came out I definitely had to be the more aggressive one,” Medina said. “I definitely knew he was going to be tough and more strength than anything because I could definitely tell from his other opponents he was overpowering them from strength.”

For the Firebirds, senior Lou Fincher led the way, winning the 132-pound weight class by defeating Olathe Northwest senior Quintin Talbert.

This was Fincher’s first Sunflower League title in his career at Free State.

“It feels really good,” Fincher said. “It’s something I’ve never done before, so (it feels like) I’m making progress.

“I’ve won league and regionals, so I’m trying to win state now to get the trio.”

In the championship round, Talbert “got the motor going” and made Fincher work for his title.

“I wanted to score first because I know that kid often comes out hard too,” Fincher said. “I knew I had to capitalize at the beginning if I wanted to win.”

And after scoring first, Fincher pinned Talbert in the third round for the title.

Both Medina and LHS sophomore Kevin Honas (120 pounds) reached the championship round, with Honas falling to Olathe North junior Joseph Triscornia by major decision (8-0).

Medina said he “couldn’t be more proud” of LHS’ effort Saturday and how the work of such a young team has paid off.

“It’s the feeling when you’ve worked so hard and something good actually happens,” Medina said. “I’ve always said I have the worst of luck and I work hard, but sometimes things don’t go the way I want them to. For the first time in a long time something great went my way, and I couldn’t be more thankful.”

With Free State securing five medalists — including freshmen Nolan Bradley (106 pounds) and Eric Streeter (113 pounds) joining Fincher in the championship round — Fincher said this weekend is a major boost on confidence as the Firebirds head further into the postseason.

“I think we did really well (as a team),” Fincher said. “It’s good preparation for regionals next week. We have a lot of guys that can make it to state if they wrestle well like they did this week.”

Sunflower League Invitational

Team Results

Olathe South 262; 2. Olathe North 255; 3. Gardner Edgerton 199.5; 4. Olathe Northwest 183; 5. Olathe East 118; 6. Free State 95; 7. Olathe West 73; 8. SM North 72.5; 9. LHS 61; 10. SM East 53; 11. SM South 32; 12. SM Northwest 27; 13. SM West 26.

Free State Results

106: Nolan Bradley placed 2nd

Quarterfinals – Nolan Bradley (Lawrence-Free State) received a bye

Semifinals – Nolan Bradley (Lawrence-Free State) over Abel Perez (Olathe South) (MD 15-2)

Finals – Cael Alderman (Olathe North) over Nolan Bradley (Lawrence-Free State) (Dec. 8-1)

113: Eric Streeter placed 2nd

Champ. Round 1 – Eric Streeter (Lawrence-Free State) over Hunter Girard (Lawrence) (Fall 2:59)

Quarterfinals – Eric Streeter (Lawrence-Free State) over Colten Chambers (SM Northwest) (Fall 0:31)

Semifinals – Eric Streeter (Lawrence-Free State) over Ethan Jenkinson (SM East) (Dec. 7-1)

Finals – Josh Andrews (Gardner Edgerton) over Eric Streeter (Lawrence-Free State) (MD 10-1)

126: Ben Mellenbruch placed 6th

Champ. Round 1 – Ben Mellenbruch (Lawrence-Free State) over Reese Russman (Olathe West) (Fall 2:35)

Quarterfinals – Keegan Slyter (Olathe South) over Ben Mellenbruch (Lawrence-Free State) (Fall 0:28)

Cons. Round 2 – Ben Mellenbruch (Lawrence-Free State) received a bye

Cons. Round 3 – Ben Mellenbruch (Lawrence-Free State) over Jacob Bradley (Olathe East) (MD 9-0)

Cons. Round 4 – Ben Bluel (Olathe South) over Ben Mellenbruch (Lawrence-Free State) (Fall 0:57)

5th Place Match – Brady Fankhauser (SM East) over Ben Mellenbruch (Lawrence-Free State) (Dec. 6-0)

132: Lou Fincher placed 1st

Champ. Round 1 – Lou Fincher (Lawrence-Free State) received a bye

Quarterfinals – Lou Fincher (Lawrence-Free State) over Thomas Gunion (SM West) (Fall 1:33)

Semifinals – Lou Fincher (Lawrence-Free State) over Zach Ghale (Gardner Edgerton) (Fall 0:43)

Finals – Lou Fincher (Lawrence-Free State) over Quintin Talbert (Olathe Northwest) (Fall 4:51)

138: Caleb Streeter placed 3rd

Champ. Round 1 – Caleb Streeter (Lawrence-Free State) received a bye

Quarterfinals – Caleb Streeter (Lawrence-Free State) over Zaine Mayfield (Gardner Edgerton) (Dec. 8-7)

Semifinals – Gunner Murphy (Olathe North) over Caleb Streeter (Lawrence-Free State) (Dec. 10-7)

Cons. Round 4 – Caleb Streeter (Lawrence-Free State) over Sam Herzog (Olathe East) (Fall 4:38)

3rd Place Match – Caleb Streeter (Lawrence-Free State) over Lucas Hageman (SM North) (Dec. 5-1)

145: Zach Shepley’s place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 – Cash Thomas (Olathe South) over Zach Shepley (Lawrence-Free State) (Fall 0:38)

Cons. Round 1 – Zach Shepley (Lawrence-Free State) received a bye

Cons. Round 2 – Zach Shepley (Lawrence-Free State) over Landon Wadman (SM West) (Dec. 11-6)

Cons. Round 3 – Nick Carlson (Olathe East) over Zach Shepley (Lawrence-Free State) (Fall 3:41)

170: Austin Burenheide’s place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 – Alex Baiza (Olathe Northwest) over Austin Burenheide (Lawrence-Free State) (Dec. 6-2)

Cons. Round 1 – Austin Burenheide (Lawrence-Free State) received a bye

Cons. Round 2 – Stevan Vrban (Olathe North) over Austin Burenheide (Lawrence-Free State) (Fall 3:00)

195: Cole Rorick’s place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 – Cole Rorick (Lawrence-Free State) received a bye

Quarterfinals – Alvin Horner-Luettel (SM Northwest) over Cole Rorick (Lawrence-Free State) (Fall 2:45)

Cons. Round 2 – Jaden Hall (Olathe South) over Cole Rorick (Lawrence-Free State) (Fall 0:57)

LHS Results

113: Hunter Girard’s place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 – Eric Streeter (Lawrence-Free State) over Hunter Girard (Lawrence) (Fall 2:59)

Cons. Round 1 – Hunter Girard (Lawrence) received a bye

Cons. Round 2 – Casin Lawrence (Olathe North) over Hunter Girard (Lawrence) (Dec. 8-4)

120: Kevin Honas placed 2nd

Champ. Round 1 – Kevin Honas (Lawrence) received a bye

Quarterfinals – Kevin Honas (Lawrence) over Jacob Mendoza (SM Northwest) (Fall 0:14)

Semifinals – Kevin Honas (Lawrence) over Jahir Contreras (SM East) (MD 12-2)

Finals – Joseph Triscornia (Olathe North) over Kevin Honas (Lawrence) (MD 8-0)

126: Zach Razak’s place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 – Ben Bluel (Olathe South) over Zach Razak (Lawrence) (Fall 0:00)

Cons. Round 1 – Zach Razak (Lawrence) received a bye

Cons. Round 2 – Jacob Bradley (Olathe East) over Zach Razak (Lawrence) (Fall 1:19)

132: Daniel Parrish’s place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 – Quintin Talbert (Olathe Northwest) over Daniel Parrish (Lawrence) (Fall 1:07)

Cons. Round 1 – Daniel Parrish (Lawrence) received a bye

Cons. Round 2 – Daniel Parrish (Lawrence) over Thomas Gunion (SM West) (Dec. 6-4)

Cons. Round 3 – Mateo Palma (Olathe South) over Daniel Parrish (Lawrence) (Dec. 7-3)

138: Will Maas’ place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 – Gunner Murphy (Olathe North) over Will Maas (Lawrence) (Fall 3:13)

Cons. Round 1 – Will Maas (Lawrence) received a bye

Cons. Round 2 – Henry Boutwell (Olathe Northwest) over Will Maas (Lawrence) (Fall 1:37)

145: Josh Jewsome’s place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 – Nick Carlson (Olathe East) over Josh Jewsome (Lawrence) (Fall 3:32)

Cons. Round 1 – Josh Jewsome (Lawrence) received a bye

Cons. Round 2 – Fabrice Nsenga (Olathe West) over Josh Jewsome (Lawrence) (Fall 3:37)

152: Trey Medina placed 1st

Champ. Round 1 – Trey Medina (Lawrence) over Justin Garden (Gardner Edgerton) (Fall 3:17)

Quarterfinals – Trey Medina (Lawrence) over Nathan Smith (Olathe Northwest) (Fall 2:56)

Semifinals – Trey Medina (Lawrence) over Bobby Thomas (Olathe South) (Dec. 10-7)

Finals – Trey Medina (Lawrence) over Landon Wilkes (Olathe North) (Fall 3:29)

160: Tucker Corbin placed 6th

Champ. Round 1 – Ty Herl (Olathe East) over Tucker Corbin (Lawrence) (Dec. 9-6)

Cons. Round 1 – Tucker Corbin (Lawrence) received a bye

Cons. Round 2 – Tucker Corbin (Lawrence) over Wyatt Coats (SM Northwest) (Fall 0:20)

Cons. Round 3 – Tucker Corbin (Lawrence) over Matthew Tate (SM South) (Fall 1:22)

Cons. Round 4 – Noah Sharpe (Olathe Northwest) over Tucker Corbin (Lawrence) (MD 13-0)

5th Place Match – Sebastian Duran-Garcia (Olathe North) over Tucker Corbin (Lawrence) (Fall 0:31)

182: Tate Meyer’s place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 – Dalton Sterling (Olathe North) over Tate Meyer (Lawrence) (Fall 1:08)

Cons. Round 1 – Tate Meyer (Lawrence) received a bye

Cons. Round 2 – Will Shuler (Gardner Edgerton) over Tate Meyer (Lawrence) (Fall 3:35)

220: Ronston McKinney’s place is unknown

Champ. Round 1 – Noah Short (Gardner Edgerton) over Ronston McKinney (Lawrence) (Fall 0:50)

Cons. Round 1 – Ronston McKinney (Lawrence) received a bye

Cons. Round 2 – Cade Conover (Olathe Northwest) over Ronston McKinney (Lawrence) (Fall 0:15)

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