LITTLE ROCK -- Lakeside High School junior Chance Mahan became the first Ram wrestler to win an individual state title this weekend as the team achieved a new program-best in the 2018 Centennial Bank State High School Wrestling Championship.
Mahan (31-4) pinned his opponent, Greenbrier senior Sean Harlan (33-15) in the second period of the first-place match to win the 113-pound state title.
Another four runner-up finishers helped the Rams place second overall in the Class 5A-1A state competition in only the program's fifth year. The Arkansas Activities Association's 10th annual Arkansas State Wrestling Tournament was held Friday and Saturday at the Jack Stephens Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Coach H.E. Burchard started the program from scratch five years ago. Lakeside earned third place a year ago behind state champion Greenbrier and runner-up Pulaski Academy.
The Rams passed up Greenbrier this year to finish second overall. Lakeside finished with 229 in the state tournament and Greenbrier scored 219. Pulaski Academy won first place with 316 points.
Junior Garrett Garner (41-3) suffered only his third defeat of the season in a 9-8 decision to Arkadelphia sophomore Rickey Rogers (25-8) in the first-place match in the 170-pound division. Garner was seeded first heading into the tournament.
Alex Stewart, one of only two seniors on the roster, lost in the first-place match of the 182-pound division to James Noel (57-0), an undefeated senior for Pulaski Academy.
Burchard's son, junior Colton Burchard (37-10), took second place at 152 in a major decision to Rylan Howard (64-3), a senior from Greenbrier.
Junior Aaron Killian (33-9) also lost a major decision to Pulaski Academy sophomore Dregan Smith (56-4) at 145.
Another six wrestlers for Lakeside placed at state.
Sophomore Christian Puckett (29-12) won the third-place match at 132 with a pinfall against Berryville junior Ceasar Martinez (28-23).
John Michael Fuller (32-6), a junior, lost a major decision to Greenbrier senior Drew McCoy (47-16) in the third-place match of the 220-pound division.
Lakeside sophomore Reuben Eye (31-15) and junior Myles Jerrels (29-11) won fifth-place matches in the 138- and 285-pound divisions, respectively. Junior Brandon Otwell (20-16) placed sixth at 120.
Lakeside also placed second in the state dual tournament earlier this month.
Hot Springs freshman Brandon Griffin (3-3) placed sixth at 145. The Trojans finished with 31 points for 18th place.
Bismarck senior Prestin Phillips (13-8) finished sixth in the 285-pound division. The Lions were 22nd with 15 points.
Lake Hamilton earned nine points in the 6A-7A competition.
Sports on 02/21/2018