Konnor Tannahill

Like a couple other Holton wrestlers this year, junior Konnor Tannahill got a late start to the season while recovering from a fall football injury. But when it mattered most, Tannahill was at his best and capped his season with 12 consecutive wins, including a state championship, winning the 195 pound class title in Class 4A at Salina.

It wasn't easy for the three time state qualifier, who had finished third at state as a sophomore, but came into the 2020 state tournament ranked #5 with a record of 23-6 after winning the Big 7 League as well as the Regional title at Louisburg with three dominating pins the week before.

Tannahill opened his state run with a pin in 5:25 in the opening round, but then fell behind late in the second period 7-6 in his second match before flipping his opponent (#4 ranked Hagan Booi, 36-3 record) and getting another fall victory in 5:13.

Konnor then met #2 ranked Kanden Young of Wellington who was a senior with a 42-1 record in the semifinals and trailed early 2-1 before an impressive move that led to a fall victory in just 1:55. Following those three wins on Friday, Tannahill waited through the entire day Saturday before facing off in the title bout against #1 ranked senior Chanz Gerleman from Prairie View who was 32-2 and had beaten Tannahill already twice this season. Gerleman had early control before Tannahill completed a front elbow pass and turned that into a head lock to win by pin in 1:51. 

Tannahill became just the third junior in Holton history to win a state wrestling title, joining elite company with Jesse Strawn and Lucas Lovvorn. The championship match was the 100th win in Tannahill's career and helped the Wildcats to a fifth place team finish in Class 4A while qualifying just five wrestlers for state.