Wrestling coaches leave alma mater after top finishes at state

A shake-up in Kansas high school wrestling resulted in two coaches leaving an alma mater – and a successful program – for another traditionally strong program in the state.

First, Greg Buckbee left his state-championship team at Emporia to take the reins at Arkansas City. Buckbee coached for five years at Ark City before another five-year stint at Emporia, which he led to the Class 5A state title in February.

Buckbee wrestled for Emporia and won a 6A title at 98 pounds in 1983. After leading the Spartans to their first state crown since 2000, he will resume his tenure in Ark City.

Buckbee’s replacement at Emporia is Dennis Charbonneau, who just completed his 13th season at the helm in Clay Center. His Clay Center squad won team titles in four of the past eight years; the Tigers placed second in Class 4A in February.

Charbonneau won individual wrestling titles as a Clay Center athlete in 1981, 1982 and 1983. The Tigers earned a team championship in 1981.

Now Charbonneau – and his wrestler son, Brandon – are headed to Emporia. Brandon will be a sophomore Spartan. He and future teammate, Chase Sanchez, an incoming junior, participated in the ASICS/Vaughn Junior & Cadet National Championships last week at Fargo, N.D.

In the cadet Greco-Roman category, Chase placed seventh at 145 pounds and Brandon finished eighth at 119 pounds. Chase also placed at the state tournament in February, where he was third at 145 pounds in 5A.