Cody Thorn
Layton Schneider’s first trip to the Kansas City Stampede ended with a runner-up finish and a little bit of a shock at the medal stand.
“I got my medal and I’m a city boy, so I was confused but we figured it out,” the Edmond North sophomore said while holding a belt buckle. “I will probably put it in my room. It’s a tough tournament … maybe I put it on once or twice. But this is a tough tournament.”
Schneider was one of four runners-up for the Huskies, which won the team title at the two-day with 200 ½ points – barely ahead of runner-up Stillwater and its 199 points.
The Huskies won the team title without a champion.
This marked the first time Edmond North won the competitive tournament and it came without a full lineup. Coach Andy Schneider noted four of his usual starters weren’t competing due to a combination of maladies: shoulder injury, flu, knee and ankle. Two of those gone were ranked: No. 5 Kody Routladge (132) and No. 3 Ricky Thomas (195).
“We came together as a team very well and put on a show for our fans,” Layton Schneider said.
His dad, Coach Schneider, noted Edmond North had been in this tournament with a team that eventually won the state championship but were only a top-four placing team in this field that is typically loaded. This year’s meet expanded from 40 to 64 and moved to a new location — Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City.