State wrestling yields quartet of local champs

Four area wrestlers who are household names in local mat circles tacked on to their already burgeoning resumes with individual state championships Saturday.

Each of the four won a state title last year as well.

In Class 6A at Wichita, Blue Valley North junior Zack Tanenbaum won the 135-pound title with a 3-1 decision over Wichita Heights’ Uylesses DeShazer.

Also in 6A, Blue Valley senior Parker Madl claimed a 5-3 decision over Junction City’s Evon Royal in the 171 championship match.

At the 4A tournament in Salina, St. James Academy junior Ryne Cokeley earned a 6-3 decision in the 145 title match over Abilene’s Aaron Morgan.

Cokeley’s Thunder classmate, Taylor Moeder, won the 130 crown via a dramatic 5-4 win in double overtime over Columbus’ Kyle Johnson.

Madl’s and Cokeley’s wins were made even more special.

Madl secured a 47-0 season with three pins and on the way to the final set the state’s single-season record for pins with 40.

“In his final match, I think he was thinking a little too much,” Blue Valley coach Chris Paisley said. “He was behind for the first time all year (momentarily), and that woke him up.

“He had a great year and a great state tournament. He is a tremendous worker who deserves accolades.”

For Cokeley, 44-3, this year actually marked his third straight state crown.

“I have demanded quite a bit from Ryne from the first time he walked in the door,” St. James Academy coach Mike Medina said.

“He has taken this team under his wing and shown the wrestlers what it takes to be a champion, and it has helped the whole team.”

With a fourth state title next season, Cokeley would join the vaunted ranks of former Blue Valley Northwest mat star Zach Roberson (1996-1999), who rates as the lone four-time state champ ever to emerge from our area. Roberson went 153-0 in his career.

As for the late heroics of Moeder, 40-1, Medina said, “Taylor has been in this position many times this year, and I felt confident that he would not break under the pressure.”

State glory for Tanenbaum, 40-1, came in dramatic fashion as well.

He needed a takedown in the waning seconds to break the title match’s 1-1 tie, and he got it.

A viral infection over the winter break, Blue Valley North coach Dylan Hitchcock said, sent Tanenbaum to the hospital, and he lost some 10 pounds.

Hitchcock also pointed to the junior’s state quarterfinal match, where he trailed by two points with seconds to go but still pulled out that win, too.

“These moments have defined his career,” the Mustangs coach said. “When things are tough, he finds a way.”

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