GCHS boys win 5th straight conference crown

Story Credit: GCHS Athletics

While the Western Athletic Conference championship has some level of importance for Garden City High School sports, the boys’ wrestling team sees the four WAC duals as a means to an end.

“It’s part of the bigger piece of the puzzle we have for the season,” said second-year coach Paul Lappin after watching his Buffs’ boys claim their fifth straight WAC title and 26th overall since the conference was formed in 1984. “It’s another dual and another match for us to keep getting better.”

The Buffs sealed the title in the ninth of 14 matches when Jordan Moreno pinned Pedro Jiminez in the 157-pound division for a 40-6 lead that eventually ended with a 40-32 victory over the Hays Indians on Thursday at The Garden.

It was also Senior Night for the fourth-year wrestlers to be celebrated by family and friends in a ceremony prior to the night’s competition of both girls and boys’ teams.

The victory was like icing on the cake for senior Zach Long, who won his 126-pound match with a pin of Camden Luck. Long is one of the few seniors on this year’s team after nine seniors graduated from the 2025 Class 6A state runner-up squad.

“I expected it (win over Hays) because we’re just getting better every day,” Long said. “It feels good to win the WAC. We knew Hays had some good ones in the heavier weights so we had to push the pace in those early matches.”

The Buffs won at 106 in an open forfeit before reeling off wins at 113 (Roman Garcia, fall), 120 (Pace Plankenhorn (19-4, Tech fall), Long at 126, Myles Garza (Major decision, 17-4, at 132), Isaiah Ayala (13-11 Dec. at 138 and Romeo Garcia (9-0 major decision at 144 pounds).

By the time Moreno had won his 157-pound match, the Buffs were up 40-6 and had secured enough points to insure the team victory. Hays’ heavier weights are loaded with three Class 5A state-ranked competitors and all either won by falls or a technical fall.

Long said he had been working all season long as a senior leader to instill a sense of confidence in the younger wrestlers.

“Just trying to make sure that all the kids are on the same page and that they are not scared to go out and compete on the mat,” Long said of one of his primary responsibilities. “If you give your full effort things take care of themselves.”

Lappin said one of the positives from the matches was the number of bonus points earned with major decisions, technical falls and pins of the Indians.

“That’s one thing that has been missing for us, so that was encouraging,” Lappin said. “We are starting to beat some kids who we’re not supposed to be at. I thought Roman and Myles stepped up for us and gave us some pins.”

The Buffs will now have two weeks to practice, rest, recover and prepare for the Class 6A West Regional on Feb. 20-21 at Wichita North. The Class 6A State championship will be Feb. 27-28 at the Advent Health Park in Overland Park.

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Western Athletic Conference

Dual No. 4

Thursday, February 5, 2026

At The Garden

GARDEN CITY 40, HAYS 32

(Garden City wrestler listed first)

106–Aiden Salas won by forfeit.

113–Roman Garcia, won by fall over Ethan Brannaman, 3:07.

120–Pace Plankenhorn won by tech fall over Cyler Luck, 19-4, 5:32.

126–Zach Long won by fall over Camden Luck, 1:13.

132–Myles Garza won by major decision, 17-4, over Westyn Cook.

138–Isaiah Ayal, won by Dec., 13-11, over Jace Myers.

144–Romeo Garcia won by major decision, 9-0, over Grady Lind.

150–Adrian Morales lost by fall, to Cade Lind, 1:59.

157–Jordan Moreno won by fall, over Pedro Jiminez, 3:19.

165–Isaac Guerrero lost by Dec., 16-10, to Brian Prough.

175–Connor Wheeler lost by fall to Archer Amrein, 1:14.

190–Mason Guerrero lost by tech fall, 16-1, to Jonathan Rigler, 5:03.

215–Carlo Toledo lost by fall to Jaxson Chartier, 0:17.

285–Manny Hernandez lost by fall to Tanner Geist, 2:24.