Russell Boys Sending Four to State, Xzeph. Donner and Jones Win Regional Titles
The Russell boys wrestling team traveled to Norton for the Class 3-2-1A Regional on Saturday, February 21.
The Broncos finished the day with four wrestlers qualifying for the State Tournament at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays on February 27 and 28. Two wrestlers captured regional titles, one finished second and one finished fourth.
Xzephren Donner, a state champion in 2025 at 113 pounds, won the regional championship at 120 pounds while Kolten Jones, a returning state qualifier, punched his return ticket in resounding fashion with a regional title at 190.
Xzander Donner, who entered the tournament undefeated on the season, suffered his first defeat in the title match at 106, but still qualified for his second-consecutive state tournament, where he finished third a year ago. Peyton Gibson also qualified for state at 215 with a fourth place finish at regionals.
As a team, Russell took fourth with 98.5 points. Hoxie repeated as regional champs with 253.5 points, outpacing second place and host school Norton by 117.5.
Combined, the Russell boys and girls are sending 12 wrestlers to state in Hays. Listen for reports on KRSL 95.9, 98.1 and 990 AM each day along with coverage on KRSL.com and the KRSL-KZRS Russell Radio Facebook page.
Regional results for Russell:
106 - Xzander Donner (So., 37-1, ranked #1) (2-1, 2nd) (2x State Qualifier)
1st Round-BYE
Quarterfinals-def. Zerrick Betzold, Osborne by Fall (0:48)
Semifinals-def. Reed Moore, Cimarron by Fall (1:13)
Championship-Lost to Corbin Franklin, Atwood-Rawlins County by Decision (8-3)
120 - Xzephren Donner (Sr., 39-1, ranked #2)(4-0, Regional Champ) (4x State Qualifier)
1st Round-def. Rommel Rodriguez, Lakin by Fall (0:45)
Quarterfinals-def. Oliver Coleman, Trego by Tech. Fall (2:08)
Semifinals-def. Issac Stansbury, Smith Center by Tech. Fall (3:15)
Championship-def. Gunner Wente, Hoxie by Fall (4:36)
126 - Kaleb Ives-Thull (Sr., 11-24) (0-2, DNP)
1st Round-Lost to Zael Bermudez, Lakin by Fall (2:18)
Cons. Rd. 1-BYE
Cons. Rd. 2-Lost to Ryan Micek, Atwood-Rawlins County by Fall (1:31)
132 - Aidan Stratton (Fr., 4-22) (0-2, DNP)
1st Round-Lost to Derek Clydesdale, Norton by Fall (1:27)
Cons. Rd. 1-Lost to Nate Phy, Smith Center by Fall (2:57)
138 - Dakota Sullivan (Jr., 11-23) (0-2, DNP)
1st Round-Lost to Brady Russom, Phillipsburg by Fall (4:48)
Cons. Rd. 1-BYE
Cons. Rd. 2-Lost to Ayston Kats, Norton by Tech. Fall (3:40)
144 - Alex Cates (Fr., 9-18) (1-2, DNP)
1st Round-Lost to Alex Robles, Lakin by Tech. Fall (0:44)
Cons. Rd. 1-def Issak Vogel, Cimarron by Fall (1:54)
Cons. Rd. 2-Lost to Raleigh Hanson, Atwood-Rawlins County by Fall (1:35)
150 - Donovan Lara (Fr., 2-18) (0-2, DNP)
1st Round-Lost to McCoy Nash, Cimarron by Fall (1:21)
Cons. Rd. 1-Lost to Ayden Cadoret, Plainville by Tech. Fall (4:32)
157 - Braigan Dinkel (Fr., 22-18) (1-2, DNP)
1st Round-Lost to Jett Wolf, Oakley by Fall (1:51)
Cons. Rd. 1-BYE
Cons. Rd. 2-def. Ty Braun, Norton by Fall (4:30)
Cons. Rd. 3-Lost to Issac Hernandez, Cimarron by Fall (0:39)
165 - Camryn McConnell (So., 17-17) (2-2, DNP)
1st Round-BYE
2nd Round-def. Gannon West, Leoti-Wichita County by Fall (1:12)
Quarterfinals-Lost to Jaxson Smith, Hill City by Tech. Fall (3:37)
Cons. Rd. 4.-def. Gus Bryan, Oberlin-Decatur Community by Tech. Fall (5:00)
Cons. Qtrs.-Lost to Jared Aschenbrenner, Trego by Major Decision (14-1)
190 - Kolten Jones (Jr., 27-5) (4-0, Regional Champ) (2x State Qualifier)
1st Round-def. Klayton Hessman, Cimarron by Fall (1:10)
Quarterfinals-def. Nash Toole, Stanton County by Fall (1:51)
Semifinals-def. Weston Loeppke, Lakin by Fall (3:45)
Championship-def. Rylan Hamel, Plainville by Decision (8-4)
215 - Peyton Gibson (So., 16-24) (3-2, 4th Place) (State Qualifier)
1st Round-Lost to Aiden Hall, Hill City by Fall (4:00)
Cons. Rd. 1-BYE
Cons. Rd. 2-def. Kenneth Walker, TMP-Marian by Decision (6-3) (Sudden Victory)
Cons. Qtrs.-def. Jesse Detmer, Phillipsburg by Fall (2:10)
Cons. Semis.-def. Aiden Hall, Hill City by Decision (12-9) (Sudden Victory)
Cons. Champ.-Lost to Gage Withington, Atwood-Rawlins County by Fall (2:38)
Final Team Standings
1. Hoxie 253.5
2. Norton 135
3. Smith Center 107
4. Russell 98.5
5. Hill City 96.5
Regional Results (courtesy of Track Wrestling)
Our Regional wrestling coverage is presented by:
- USD 407 Russell County Schools
- Agrilead, Incorporated
- The Bank – Gorham and Victoria
- Al’s Auto Glass and Deidra’s Stylin’ Salon and Spa, Gary and Dee Schmidtberger and Massage Therapist Cristy Duden
- Farm Bureau Financial Services Agent Jason Pfeifer
- 21st Century Construction in Gorham
- Southwind Bank
- Russell Oil, Incorporated
- Werth Family Dental in Hays
- Nex-Tech
- Hair Haven – Cheryl and Brad Prester
- Wilson State Bank
- Shane’s Casing
- Quality Oilwell Cementing
- Jason’s Oil
- Jason and Nicale Ney and Merlin and Bonita Ney
- Gudenkauf and Malone Incorporated – Pam, Jim and Kelli
- Wallpe Chiropractic Restoration of Russell