The 2025-26 Sabetha Bluejay wrestling season has come to a close with the completion of the 2026 KSHSAA Class 3-2-1A Boys State Wrestling Championship held in Hays, Kan., on Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28. The Jays qualified seven wrestlers from the regional competition held the week before and at the conclusion of the State tournament action on Saturday afternoon, three grapplers stood on the medal stand.

Junior 138-pound Lincoln Menold capped off his season with a fifth-place finish, while junior 165-pound Curtis Fitzgerald and senior 157-pound Andre Dalinghaus ended their campaigns with sixth-place finishes.

Senior 120-pound Korbyn Stinnett and junior 126-pound Jackson Jacobs went 1-2 at the tournament and saw their successful seasons come to an end. Junior 132-pound Isaac Wikle went 2-2 at the tournament and senior 175-pound Brendon Bestwick went 0-2 to close out their successful years.

Lincoln Menold

Junior 138-pound Lincoln Menold entered the tournament as the number five seed after a very successful and dominating season. In his first bout of the tournament, Menold matched up against Tyson Peters of Leoti and fell behind 4-0 in the second period before bouncing back and pinning Peters. In the championship quarterfinals, Menold met Tucker Read of Leon-Bluestem. Menold fell behind 4-3, but in the second period Menold took control of the match and pinned Read in the third period.

In the championship semi-finals, Menold met the number one seed Denton White of Jayhawk-Linn. Menold was trailing 8-3 midway through the third period before battling back to tie the match at 8-8, but White earned a point for an escape to come away with the 9-8 win. This loss pushed Menold to the consolation side of the bracket where he met Peters once again in the consolation semi-finals. Peters turned the tables on Menold in the rematch and defeated Menold 12-9 in overtime.

In the match for fifth place, Menold met Karson Nichols of Smith Center and was trailing Nichols 1-0 going into the third period. In the third period, Menold took control of the match and won 7-2 to grab the fifth-place medal.

Andre Dalinghaus

Senior 157-pound Andre Dalinghaus entered the tournament as the number 12 seed and responded with an outstanding performance in the tournament. Dalinghaus matched up against the number five seed Kolby Strnad of Belleville, and Dalinghaus controlled the match during the second and third periods to win by a pin to move into the championship quarterfinals.

In his second match, Dalinghaus met Sage Bryan of Oberlin. Dalinghaus was trailing late in the match before being awarded a penalty point for a stalling call on Bryan to move the match into overtime. In overtime, Dalinghaus took Bryan to the mat for a takedown and the win to move into the championship semi-finals.

In the match to move into the finals, Dalinghaus fell to Blake Buresch of Phillipsburg by a 20-2 margin. This loss moved Dalinghaus to the consolation semi-finals against Xander Young of Lyons. In a close match, Young topped Dalinghaus 2-1 to move him into the match for fifth place. In the final match for Dalinghaus, he met Bryan once again and this time, Bryan came out on top, defeating Dalinghaus by a 9-3 decision to give him sixth place.

Curtis Fitzgerald

Junior 165-pound Curtis Fitzgerald entered the tournament as the number 12 seed and after losing to Parker Hutchinson of Smith Center — the eventual State champion at the conclusion of the tournament — in his opening bout, staged a tremendous comeback to get on the medal stand.

Wrestling on the consolation side of the bracket, Fitzgerald won three matches in a row to earn a medal. After the opening round loss, Fitzgerald matched up against Reece Abell of Minneapolis and Fitzgerald pinned him early in the first period. Up next for Fitzgerald was Gage Peine of Richmond-Central Heights. Fitzgerald fell behind early but mounted a comeback and won, 11-7.

In the blood round, Fitzgerald matched up against Kain Koontz of ACCHS. Koontz defeated Fitzgerald in regional action the week before, but Fitzgerald turned the tables on Koontz and defeated him 4-3 after Koontz was disqualified for an illegal hold that caused Fitzgerald to lose consciousness. Then, Fitzgerald met Jaxson Smith of Hill City, who pinned Fitzgerald to push him into the match for fifth place. In his final match, Fitzgerald was pinned by Zayne Stahl of Plainville after Fitzgerald had built a 6-3 lead, earning Fitzgerald a sixth-place finish.

“The whole team had a great year and it was a fun ride,” said first-year Head Coach Trevin Edelman. “We reached some of our goals and fell short of others, but overall it was a successful season. I can’t thank the kids enough for their hard work and commitment to the team. To end the year with three medalists and others who were on the doorstep is a springboard to the off season and onto next year.”