BY JIM MISUNAS

jimisunas@gbtribune.com

PARK CITY — Great Bend's No. 1 ranked Trenton Kern (215) survived a third-period challenge from Basehor-Linwood's Gavin Mitchell, Basehor for a 9-3 victory to earn a 5A state wrestling title.

Kern sprinted up the staircase to celebrate with Panther sports teammates while waving to the crowd. Kern has played for a state baseball runner-up and 5A state semifinal football team.

"That's pretty sweet, about due. It's awesome," Kern said. "It's a sign of relief going out on top in your last year."

Kern (19-1) led 4-1 with a third-period takedown, but Mitchell escaped and was awarded a point when Kern was tagged for stalling. Mitchell nearly earned a 3-point takedown, but Kern's shoe touched the cement floor out-of-bounds.

In the final seconds, Kern powered through for a 2-point takedown and near fall for a 9-3 victory to earn the Panthers 16th boys wrestling championship.

"That was a very tough match because Gavin's a great wrestler. I just came out on top."

At one point, Mitchell physically lifted Kern in the air. Another time, Kern toe-tapped out-of-bounds to prevent a takedown.

"That happened my freshman year a few times," Kern said. "That's wrestling. You try and stay in good position and I did that most of the time."

Kern pinned Blue Valley's Joaquin Capra, (3:49) to post three consecutive pins on his path to the finals.

Fifth-place medalist Cal Schartz (37-10, 138) finished 4-2 with a 20-5 victory over Emporia's Holden Timmons.

No. 2 fourth-place medalist Triston Tomlinson (37-10, 157) finished 4-2 with a third-period loss (5:00) to Hank Kolich of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Sixth-place medalist Trevin Maciel (29-17, 144) finished 3-3 with a loss (0:47) to Basehor's Jet Millison.

Maize South's state champion Joshua Kerr beat Maciel 17-2. Blue Valley Southwest state champion Tad Forsyth (190) pinned Panther Brady Mendez (0:38).

Great Bend (75) placed 10th. Basehor-Linwood (1691/2) captured the team title with Goddard (131) placing runner-up.

5A BOYS

138—Cal Schartz, GB def. Cannaley, SH, 1:33; No. 2 Nick Miller, Godd def. Schartz, 7-1; Schartz def. Turner, DeSoto, 14-3; Schartz def. Owens, SH, 3:20; Lander, WC def. Schartz, 4:24; 5TH—Schartz (37-10) def. Holden Timmons, Emp, 20-5

144—Trevin Maciel, GB def. Barmann, SJ, 7-3; No. 1 Kerr, MS def. Maciel, 17-2; Maciel def. Williams, BS, 2:18; Maciel def. Turner, Leavenworth, 2:52; Lerch, KMC def. Maciel, 9-8; 5TH—Millison, Basehor def. Maciel (29-17), 0:47

157—No. 2 Triston Tomlinson, GB def. Aguliar, BS, 16-1; No. 4 Eli Koster, KMC def. Tomlinson, 5:28; Tomlinson def. Luchene, DeSoto, 1:57; Tomlinson def. Giles, Newton, 2:32; Tomlinson def. Axtell, MS, 0:25; 3RD—Kolich, STA def. Tomlinson (37-10), 5:00 

190—No. 1 Tad Forsyth, BVSW def. Brady Mendez (22-25), 0:38; Munson, Ark City def. Mendez, 2:17  

215—No. 1 Trenton Kern, GB def. Kasson, SH, 1:09; Kern def. Mendez, KC Sumner, 3:21; Kern def. Capra, BV, 3:49; 1ST—Kern (19-1) def. Mitchell, Basehor, 9-3 

285—No. 6 Duncan Pinkham, SH def. Josue Bustamante, GB, 3:32; Young, VC def. Bustamante, (25-18) 10-1