High School wrestling teams converged upon the West Platte School District facilities on Feb. 3 for the return of the West Platte Scramble.
There were 11 schools represented, with 11 girls' teams competing in the elementary school gymnasium and six boys’ teams competing in the high school gymnasium. After weather conditions forced the annual event to be postponed last year, the West Platte Scramble returned this year with the Blue Jays honoring Matthew Mellick, Canton Wilkins and Addison Bailey on the trio’s Senior Night.
On the boys’ side, West Platte finished third with 49 points highlighted by four division winners. Wilkins led the way by winning the 132-pound division, followed by James Lybarger (106 pounds), Cuin Vincent (138 pounds) and Brody Scott (175 pounds), who also won their respective divisions.
Wilkins went 3-0, beginning with an 18-1 technical fall before taking his second match with a pin in 30 seconds, and his third match with a second-round pin. Vincent and Scott followed suit as they both earned pins in all three of their matches, while Lybarger took a pair of technical falls.
The Blue Jays also had a pair of runner-up finishes from sophomore Wyatt Gill (126 pounds) and freshman Mason Pirtle (190 pounds), who both split results with a 1-1 record. Gill earned a first-round pin and a major decision defeat while Pirtle won an enthralling 22-18 decision before falling in his second match.
West Platte senior Addison Bailey finished runner-up in the 125-pound division of the West Platte Scramble.
Bailey helped the three lady Jays to a fifth-place finish as a team with 45 points, with the trio finishing runner-up in each of their divisions. The senior produced a team-high 21 points at 125 pounds by getting a first-round pin and a major decision in her semifinal, but eventually fell in the second round of her first-place match to Pleasant Hill’s Piper Hamilton.
Junior Emily Haynes contributed 12 points with a 3-1 record at 145 pounds, opening the evening with a third-round pin and another second-round pin before taking a win via medical forfeit, but eventually settled for runner-up after losing her final bout with a second-round fall.
Sophomore Aylah Gray also posted a 3-1 record with 12 points at 190 pounds, opening with a disqualification victory before racing to pin her next two opponents inside a minute before falling in the final round via second-round pin.
Platte County was also represented at the tournament, finishing fourth on the boys side with 37.7 team points. Brady McDaniel led the way in the 150-pound division with a 2-0 showing, earning a pin in 60 seconds before taking a 10-0 major decision.
Hassan Alyssari (132 pounds) and Kyle McGee (165 pounds) each added eight points to the tally with runner-up finishes. Alysarri needed just 13 seconds to get his first pin before getting another in 49 seconds and eventually falling to Wilkins in his third match, while McGee also got a pair of first-round pins before falling via third-round pin.
The Pirates also sent a contingent on the girls side of the bracket, headlined by Anna Wiesehan. The senior finished third at 130 pounds with a 2-2 record after getting a pair of pins in addition to losing via decision and finishing with a fall.
The teams now shift focus to the district tournaments, with girls districts set for Feb. 13-14 as West Platte competes in the Class 1 District 4 meet in Kearney and Platte County hosts the Class 2 District 4 meet. Boys districts are slated for Feb. 20-21 as West Platte competes in the Class 1 District 4 meet at Lathrop and Platte County moves up to Class 4 District 4 at Park Hill.