SMOKY VALLEY WRESTLERS AIM FOR STATE MEDALS

Lady Viking Mullen leads Returnees

By Staff

LINDSBORG – Both the boys and girls Smoky Valley wrestling programs return at least a pair of state qualifying wrestlers to build with as they look to make another run at medals and a high state team finish for the 2023-24 season.

Leading the returnees will be state champion Keira Mullen who won state in 2023 at 135. Juniors Kenzlie Crain and Taytum Reed joined Mullen at state where Crain finished sixth while helping the Lady Vikings place twelfth overall as a team.

“State Champion Keira Mullen is the only senior for the Lady Vikings,” noted Smoky Valley head coach Ben Elliott. “We do have junior Kenzlie Crain back after placing at state plus both junior Taytum Reed and sophomore Sara McCullick wrestled at state as well.”

For the Viking boys, two seniors provide leadership with Connor Barnes and Andrew Young while Barnes and now sophomore Parker Gardner both wrestled at the state meet with Gardner finishing fifth as just a freshman.

Coach Elliott concluded his pre-season reflections by adding, “Our numbers are lower, so we are looking to fill as many weight classes as possible. Our main goal will be to compete hard and get better each and every week.”

The Viking boys will open the season on Friday, December 1 at a meet in McPherson before hitting the mats at the Riley County Invitational on Saturday, December 2. The Lady Vikings open up at an Invitational in McPherson on Saturday, December 2.

SMOKY VALLEY VIKING WRESTLING

2023-24 SEASON PREVIEW

COACH INFORMATION >

Head Coach > Ben Elliott = 19th Season

Assistant Coaches > Adam Lackey, Courtney Strauss, Trevor Whittaker.

TEAM INFORMATION >

2022-23 Season >

Viking Boys finished 7-2 in duals/Lady Vikings went 2-0 in duals.

League Standings > Vikings – 4th; Lady Vikings – 3rd.

Regionals > Vikings – 11th; Lady Vikings – 2nd.

State > Vikings – 24th; Lady Vikings – 12th.

INDIVIDUAL VIKING/LADY VIKING INFORMATION >

VIKING BOYS – Starters Returning >

Deonte Crane – so. = 106 = 18-17.

Connor Barnes – sr. = 126 = 39-9 = 4th/Regionals = 6th/State.

Takoda Hauck – jr. = 132 = 8-22.

Hayden Gehrke – so. = 138 = 11-28.

Andrew Young – sr. = 144 = 12-19.

Geo Luis – jr. = 165 = 16-16.

Parker Gardner – so. = 175 = 35-7 = 3rd/Regional = 5th/State.

LADY VIKINGS – Starters Returning >

Sara McCullick – so. = 105 = 9-16 = 4th/Regional.

Kenzlie Crain – jr. = 115 = 36-8 = 2nd/Regional = 6th/State

Taytum Reed – jr. = 120 = 22-15 = 3rd/Regional.

Keira Mullen – sr. = 135 = 26-6 = 2nd/Regional = 1st/State.

2023-24 SMOKY VALLEY WRESTLING SCHEDULE >

Friday, December 1 > Vikings at McPherson

Saturday, December 2 > Vikings at Riley County Invitational

Saturday, December 2 > Lady Vikings at McPherson Invitational

Thursday, December 7 > Vikings at Chapman

Saturday, December 9 > Vikings at Hesston Invitational

Thursday, December 14 > Lady Vikings at Abilene

Friday, December 15 > Vikings at Abilene

Thursday, January 4 > Vikings hosting a meet

Friday, January 5 > Lady Vikings at Augusta

Saturday, January 6 > Vikings at Augusta

Thursday, January 11 > Vikings/Lady Vikings at Hoisington

Tuesday, January 16 > Lady Vikings at Nickerson

Friday, January 19 > Vikings/Lady Vikings at Nickerson

Thursday, January 25 > Vikings at Hesston

Friday, February 2- Saturday, February 3 > Vikings/Lady Vikings at Circle Invitational

Thursday, February 8 > Vikings at League Meet hosted by Hoisington

Friday, February 9 > Lady Vikings at Regionals, TBD

Saturday, February 10 > Vikings at Chapman

Friday, February 16 – Saturday, February 17 > Vikings at Regionals, TBD

Wednesday, February 21 – Thursday, February 22 > Lady Vikings at State

Friday, February 23 – Saturday, February 24 > Vikings at State

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