Bartel, Bachman nail down championships

By RYAN RICHTER

Staff writer

The Trojan wrestling team scored three medals at the Halstead Invitational Friday and Saturday.

Out of 22 competing schools, the Trojans, paced by a trio of medalists, captured 10th place with 69 points.

The duo of Mackenzie Bartel and Jordan Bachman captured championships and Andre Patton finished fourth.

One year ago at Halstead, then junior Bartel fell just short of capturing a gold medal in the 120-pound final.

There would be no denying Bartel this year, as he pinned all four of his opponents, including making short work of Hesston’s Riley Slater in 49 seconds in the title match.

Bartel’s day of havoc began against Chase County adversary Trint Rogers, who owned a win over Bartel from earlier in the season.

Bartel got payback, dispatching Rogers in 44 seconds.

Appearing in his first high school tournament final, 126-pound freshman Bachman made the most of it, beating Southeast of Saline’s sixth-ranked Zeb Turner in a dramatic 5-2 decision for first.

Bachman outlasted Cherryvale’s second-seeded Dylon Morrill, 8-6, in overtime of the semifinals.

Patton finished the day 2-2, competing at 138 pounds.

Patton’s bid for a title was spoiled in a 12-10 overtime decision in semifinals to Nickerson’s eventual champion.

Patton bounced back in the consolation bracket, topping Marion’s Calib Mallory in the semifinals to set up a third-place match against Trinity Academy’s Brec Voges.

Voges scored a 3-2 decision in the consolation final.

The Trojans travel to Eureka Saturday.