'Wrestle free': Shawnee Heights’ Andrew Bonebrake overcomes self-doubt for UKC title
TOPEKA — Andrew Bonebrake threw his hands emphatically into the air with four fingers raised to the sky. The senior from Shawnee Heights claimed his fourth straight United Kansas Conference title on Saturday.
He's the No. 4 ranked wrestler in the 138-pound weight class of Class 5A and holds an overall record of 28-5. Bonebrake, aptly named, dominated the UKC championship as he won the semifinal and championship matches via pins.
It wasn’t all easy earlier in the season for the wrestler. He explained that his body is in its best shape possible, but it was his mind that needed the most work.
“I would have self-doubt and nervous before matches,” Bonebrake shared. “I felt it a lot earlier this season. I’ve been working pretty hard.”
Bonebrake emphasized that a switch turned on once the postseason arrived. He is taking one match at a time he explained and it showed in the conference championship.
He strutted around his home gym with confidence before each match. When he was on the mat, he worked with an attention to detail that was not rushed, but precise. Bonebrake pinned Leavenworth’s Nathaniel Atwell inside two minutes in the semifinal bout. He followed it by pinning Basehor-Linwood’s Noah Gutierrez at the 2:53 mark of the championship.
“It doesn’t matter if I am in the finals or it is just a dual,” he said. “I want to wrestle free. It’s my last year and I just want to go have fun.”
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Bonebrake did not take his competition in the conference championship lightly. He knows this is a great litmus test for the state tournament. Last season, he finished in sixth place in the 132-pound weight class of the Class 6A-5A state meet. This year, he is determined for more.
“My overall goal is to make it to the state finals,” Bonebrake said. “That has always been a dream of mine to win state and be able to compete at the highest level of the state finals. I know that I can do it, it’s all about my mindset and controlling my emotions.”
Not only does Bonebrake have a goal of winning the state title, but he also has another personal goal that he wants to achieve. He sits at 97 career pins and is aiming to hit the century mark with a few weeks remaining on the schedule.
Allen Baughman (175 pounds) and Rykan Carver (285) class also won the UKC individual title with Bonebrake. Baughman holds a 25-6 record and Carver is 30-8 overall.
This trio of impressive wrestlers is joined by Tristan Buce at 106. Buce, ranked fourth in Class 5A, finished second in the conference championship to the top-ranked Trevor Christenson from Basheor-Linwood.
Shawnee Heights finished fourth in the conference with 156 points. Lansing won the team title with 193 points.
Bonebrake explained how this group has helped the younger wrestlers on the roster grow and enjoys the sport even more which has been pivotal to the team’s success.
“With us doing that, it has helped us grow,” Bonebrake said. “Helping younger wrestlers calm down and relax has helped me for my matches. It has helped me calm myself down.”
The next meet for Bonebrake and his teammates will be the Class 5A regional tournament hosted by Pittsburg on Feb. 16. Wrestlers must reach the top eight in each weight class to qualify for the state championship from the regional.
The Class 6A and 5A state tournament will begin on Feb. 22 in Park City.
Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Shawnee Heights’ Andrew Bonebrake overcomes doubt to win UKC title
