Think your return to work is tough?

Well, the holidays are over and by now you have probably dragged yourself back to work or school. Harsh reality has set in as you have traded your La-Z-Boy and bowl games on TV for a desk and a computer screen.

But as you read this in an effort to look busy, thinking about how much it hurts to get back into the daily grind, be glad you are not a wrestler headed to the Derby Invitational this weekend.

Regarded as being tougher than any state tournament, this year’s Derby Invitational will not disappoint. With eight teams ranked in the top-10 across three different classes and 49 individually ranked wrestlers, nine No. 1’s, this is a tournament that will weed out the riff-raff quickly.

Welcome back boys and girls! Now dive right in!

This is a sampling of what to watch for in terms of ranked wrestlers, according to the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, in each weight class.

103—

The fun begins. Look for 6A’s top-ranked Kaleb Bonilla from two-time defending state champion Goddard to be tested by Great Bend freshman Chris Burley. Burley is ranked No. 3 in 5A and will grow up quickly during this tournament

112—

If Bonilla can win at 103, the Lions from Goddard will try to keep it going with junior Justin Martinez, who will have his hands full with Aspen Kimec from Shawnee Heights. Martinez, the No. 6 wrestler in 6A, is a returning state qualifier while Kimec, No. 4 in 5A is a two-time state qualifier who placed fourth last year.

119—

Top-ranked Zac Sparr from 4A Rose Hill is chasing a school record for career wins, and a title in Derby. Sparr will have to get through Pittsburg’s Aaron Seybold, No. 3 in 5A. And don’t count Lincoln Lemon out either. Lemon, another Goddard wrestler is No. 6 in 6A.

125—

125 pounds could be a beauty. This weight features two top-ranked wrestlers in Daniel DeShazer from Wichita Heights and Garrett Jones from Ark City. DeShazer, a state champion two years ago, and a state runner-up last year, lost in the finals of this tournament last year. Jones also has state hardware, as a runner-up two years ago, and as a champion last year. Brady Heincker from Derby, Austin Haake from Pittsburg and Jake Mertins from Valley Center could make some noise at 125 as well. All three are ranked No. 6 in 6A, 5A and 4A respectively.

130—

Top-ranked Taylor Moeder from 4A St. James Academy will have his hands full with Skyler McComb from Derby and Mario Corado from Pittsburg, both ranked No. 2 in 6A and 5A respectively. Goddard’s Mitchell Belle can have a good showing as well as the No. 6-ranked wrestler in 6A.

140—

140 could be a rowdy rivalry and state final preview, between top-ranked Tre Houlden from Goddard and No. 2 Bradley Little from Derby. Vance Oliver from 5A Winfield brings a No. 2 ranking as well. No. 4 Brent Koehn from Pittsburg and No. 6 Cole Rickabaugh from Shawnee Heights make three 5A wrestlers with hopes of state championships at this weight.

145—

St. James Academy will put another top-ranked wrestler in with the bigger school with Ryne Cokeley. No. 2 Cody Shavlik from Derby and No. 4 Tyler Willis from Shawnee Heights will also contend for the title. Chad Macy from Goddard, Daniel Blair from Pittsburg and Kyle McGoldrick from Valley Center all carry a No. 5 ranking and make it six ranked wrestlers at this class. Six ranked wrestlers is the most at any class in this tournament.

152—

Top-ranked Cade Blair from Valley Center will see some tough competition from No. 3 Dylan Penka from Bishop Carroll, No. 4 Vontez Long from Derby and No. 6 Domonique Henderson from Wichita Heights. This will be another interesting test for a top-ranked wrestler in 4A, going up against some of the best 5A and 6A have to offer.

160—

No. 2 Austin Willis from Shawnee Heights could see a potential state foe in No. 5 Louis Burley from Great Bend. But they will both have to deal with No. 3 Lucas Cortez from El Dorado and No. 4 Ian Whittit from Derby, wrestling in his home gym.

171—

The ninth top-ranked wrestler, Devon Keith from Bishop Carroll, will take on some stout competitors at 171. No. 2 Garrett Hoover from Winfield and No. 3 Glen Thurber from Shawnee Heights give this weight all of the top three wrestlers in 5A. Matt Reed from Wichita Heights will try to break up the party as the No. 3 wrestler in 6A.

189—

189 will separate a group of four close wrestlers. Dylon Walker from El Dorado has the highest ranking at No. 2 in 4A, but he will have to go through No. 3 Cole Carpenter from Derby. Dalton Beard from Goddard and Donnie Lockhart from Shawnee Heights will also contend as the No. 4 wrestlers in 6A and 5A.

215—

This will be the last chance to see how a 4A school compares to the 6A and 5A’s of the world. No. 2 Titus Hopper from Valley Center will try his hand against No. 4 Josh Hicks from Goddard, Derby’s Shawn Marlatt and Shawnee Heights’ Brandon Flanagin who are both ranked No. 6.

285—

The heavyweights could feature a rumble between Tylor Woodruff from Goddard and Derek Holly from Shawnee Heights, both ranked No. 4.

Wow. I hope you boys didn’t eat too much holiday ham, peanut clusters, or fudge, because your return to work will not be forgiving.