BV North wrestlers’ success pleases family

Source: The Star

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Above, Zack Tanenbaum of Blue Valley North defeated Jeff Vesta of Manhattan to win the 119-pound class. Below, Blue Valley’s Nick Pearch lost an 8-3 decision to Kyle Caylor of Wichita Northwest in the championship of the 215-pound class.

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WICHITA | Blue Valley North sophomore Zack Tanenbaum had plenty of support during the 119-pound championship match of the Class 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday.

Aside from his coaches and friends, Tanenbaum’s older brother, Jake, was also in attendance at the Kansas Coliseum. Jake, a freshman wrestler at Cal Poly who qualified for state several times at BV North but never won a title, came all the way from California to watch his little brother.

And Zack didn’t disappoint his fans. He defeated Manhattan senior Jeff Vesta 5-2 and won his first state championship.

“It’s good for the family,” BV North coach Dylan Hitchcock said. “They spent a lot of hours in the gym growing up. Zack wouldn’t be the wrestler he is if it wasn’t for Jake.”

The victory meant a lot to Zack, who realized how difficult it is to win a state title because of his brother.

“My brother (is) the best wrestler I know, and for him not to win a high school state title shows how tough it is,” said Zack, who lost in the state championship match last season.

After the match, the two brothers embraced, and Jake couldn’t have been happier for his little brother.

“I couldn’t miss this,” Jake said. “I’m sure he’ll remember it forever.”

•Blue Valley junior 140-pounder Parker Madl had a comfortable six-point lead late in his 6A state championship match against Blue Valley Northwest senior Linwood Peoples, but there was no way he was letting up.

Last year, Madl blew a 3-1 lead late in the third period of the championship match and finished second. This time, Madl held on for a 6-0 victory and his first state championship.

“He didn’t want to slip on a banana peel like he did last year,” Blue Valley coach Chris Paisley said. “He wrestled defensively last year once he got the lead, and this year he definitely stayed aggressive.”

Blue Valley junior Nick Pearch also did well for the Tigers, taking second in the loaded 215-pound weight class.

•St. Thomas Aquinas senior 215-pounder Jacob Nowak fell short of a perfect season, but that didn’t keep him from ending his career on a high note.

Nowak, who entered state with a 42-0 record, lost to Bishop Carroll senior Jake Cole 3-1 in the semifinals of the 5A state tournament, but won his next two matches and took third.

“I knew I had to get third,” said Nowak, who ends his Aquinas career with more than 100 wins. “I wanted to end my career in a good way.”

•Blue Valley Northwest coach Tim Serbousek said seniors Linwood Peoples (140 pounds) and Anson Worrell (160) should be proud of their second-place finishes at the 6A state tournament.

“Both of them had good tournaments and wrestled hard,” said Serbousek, whose Huskies finished 11th with a team score of 59 points and was the highest placing Blue Valley team.

•Blue Valley West coach Randy Lowe was chosen the 6A Coach of the Year by the Kansas Association of Wrestling Officials. After taking 26th at state last season, the Jaguars won a regional title and took 18th at state this season.

submitted by TEREZ A. PAYLOR - 2009-03-03 13:13:01