Van Horn head wrestling coach Craig Addison said he has a solid team for the 2025-26 season, and he said he saw a good amount of his wrestlers qualify for state.
The Falcons had a strong showing in Thursday’s home tri dual against Lincoln College Prep and Kansas City Center.
The Falcons had six wrestlers finish the day 2-0, including seniors Dominick Paige and Jaylen Mitchell as they topped Center 45-30 and Lincoln College Prep 62-18.
“At this point in the year, it’s good to get solid victories like these,” Addison said. “I thought we could have improved a little bit with our cardio. We will work on that. We have five weeks before districts.”
Paige (144) was a big part of the “solid victory” as he picked up a 17-2 tech fall win over William Banks of Center. He didn’t have an opponent against Lincoln Prep and won his second match by forfeit.
“I feel like I did alright, but there is still a lot of room for improvement,” Paige said. “Overall, it was a good night. A lot of people leave their arms open so you that’s when you can get your duck unders and slide bys. That was a big factor in my win today.”
Mitchell (285) got a tech fall win of his own after he downed Center’s Steven Young 23-4. He won by forfeit and went 2-0, however, he was critical of his performance.
“I need to be a little bit more offensive and get to practice a little bit harder,” Mitchell said. “I lost my stamina in the third period. I just got to be quicker on my feet and get to my attacks. I got to my underhooks and got easy mat returns.”
Other wrestlers for Van Horn to finish 2-0 include Dylan Bugarini (113), Darren Faustlin (120) and KeJuan Porter (126), all who had a won by forfeit and got a pin; and Dylan Cox (165), who had a 13-12 win and a victory by forfeit.
“(Burgarini) is a junior varsity guy and he stepped up today,” Addison said. “Those were his first varsity matches. He impressed me.”
Despite a loss to Van Horn, it was a big day for Center head coach Charles Misher Jr. His team defeated Lincoln Prep 44-36, which notched Misher’s 100th career victory. After both teams shook hands, members of the Yellowjacket boys and girls’ jumped up and down and screamed in jubilation as they gave pats on the back and high fives to their head coach for the milestone.
Junior Larry Clayton even gave Misher, who is a similar size to a college or professional offensive lineman in football, a celebratory takedown on the mat as the head coach sported a wide smile.
“It feels amazing,” Misher said. “But I am not the only one involved in this. I have to thank my assistant coaches and athletic directors for having faith in me. I have to thanks all the wrestlers I have had over the years and stepping on the mat and putting everything on the line for me.
“It’s been an amazing journey. To get here with all these people is worth it.”
Clayton was happy to share the special moment with his coach, who he has worked with since middle school while playing football, as well.
“I am so proud of him,” Clayton said of Misher. “I have been with him since sixth grade. He has been there for me a lot. He’s like my second father. Most coaches don’t get to that.
“(The takedown of Misher) was tough love.”
Clayton (150) was one of five Yellowjackets to finish 2-0 on the night as he got a pin and a 22-6 tech fall.
Others to end their night with two wins for Center included Vi Bui (113), who had a pin and an 11-8 victory; Mason Ellis (132), who won a match by a 13-2 major decision and added a victory by fall; Terrwain McClinton (138) junior, who had a pin and a 17-0 tech fall; Benjamin Fortner (215), who had a forfeit victory and a pin with a cradle; Justin Lobo (157), who had a 10-4 victory and a forfeit win.
For Lincoln Prep, Phillip Fiagan (175), Josh Medina (106) and Roman Lewandowski each finished 2-0 for their squad.
