By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
OVERLAND PARK -- Two Washburn Rural boys wrestlers brought home gold medals at the Class 6A State Championship at AdventHealth Sports Park in Overland Park Saturday, leading the squad to a third-place team trophy.
Washburn Rural senior star Landen Kocher-Munoz jumps into the arms of coach Josh Hogan after capturing his third Class 6A state championship Saturday in Overland Park. [Photo by Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports]
Washburn Rural junior 215-pound state champion Jadyn Baum helped the Junior Blues post a third-place team finish Saturday in Overland Park. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Washburn Rural scored 180 points, which trailed Maize with 235 and Manhattan with 192.5.
“I thought it was going to be a tall order to beat Maize. They are probably one of the deeper teams that Kansas has ever seen in the history of the state tournament,” said Washburn Rural coach Josh Hogan. “It would have been nice to beat Manhattan, but you know, you can’t win them all. It just came down to a couple of matches.”
Senior Landen Kocher-Munoz won gold in the 144-pound weight class and junior Jadyn Baum took first in the 215-pound class.
Three other Junior Blues made the final round, placing second -- freshman 113-pounder Andrew Peterson, senior 120-pounder Ryder Harrison and senior 138-pounder Cooper Stivers.
“I’m happy for the guys to be able to bring a trophy home, especially our seniors,” Hogan said. “They worked so hard, some of them from the time they were six years old until now to get where we’re at.
“I really attribute this to our commitment to togetherness and our commitment to believing in each other and trusting each other and forming the bonds that let us go through the highs and the lows together.”
Kocher-Munoz claimed his third gold medal in four tries final-round appearances at state. He won first in the 120-pound class as a freshman. He took second wrestling in the 138-pound class as a sophomore. He returned to win that weight class as a junior.
“Last year was my revenge tour,” Kocher-Munoz said. “This year, it’s all about being with my guys, being with my team, being with the family. I am so grateful for everyone that’s been in my life that’s trained me for this moment.
“It’s very sentimental. I told each and every one of my coaches, like an hour ago, I was like, ‘No matter what happens out here tonight, I’m so grateful that you guys trust me enough to come put on a Rural singlet.’ And I’m just so happy right now.”
The senior admitted he felt pressure to go out on top after having won two titles previously.
“Oh, there was so much pressure. I was unbelievably nervous,” Kocher-Munoz said. “Right before, my teammate, Cooper, one of my best friends in the whole entire world … I couldn’t even watch his finals match. That’s how nervous I was. I had to get out of here and be in my own headspace.”
Kocher-Munoz’ brother Brodye, a junior, placed third in the 150-pound weight class. Freshman Hayden Broxterman finished fifth in the 106-pound class, as did sophomore Kaiden Marshall in the 285-pound class. Senior Brenner Beninga placed sixth in the 175-pound class.
After placing third in the 190-pound weight class as a sophomore, Baum jumped to the 215-pound class for this season. His championship match on Saturday was delayed several times due to Baum’s bloody nose. He also required a stoppage when he injured his knee. He stayed focused through the delays and battled through the pain to win the gold.
“Just knowing it’s the last match, just being mentally tough,” Baum said. “My knee got a little twisted this week in practice, but it’s nothing major. (The stoppages) were just a time to breathe, relax, you know, a little reset mentally. But overall, it’s happened a lot. I bleed a lot, so I’m kind of used to it.”
Baum said he didn’t take immediately to the jump to the 215-pound class.
“I didn’t get much taller, but I definitely filled out a little bit more, trying to get bigger for football, and I didn’t want to go back down to 190,” Baum said. “Wrestling at 190 is way different. It’s a lot more speed. (At 215), your muscles get more tired. It’s more about muscles than endurance. But I just adjusted throughout the year.”
