The Class 2 District 3 wrestling finals were held at Bolivar High School on Saturday afternoon, with perennial state power Pleasant Hill taking home the over-all team title, 195.5 to second place finisher Monett’s 144.0.
Monett head coach Daryl Bradley was not disappointed with his team’s second place finish and is optimistic for next weekend’s state championships.
“We always hope for first, but there’s no shame in second place,” said Bradley. “Pleasant Hill is a very good team. To get seven kids in the state tournament is always a good thing. I thought our kids wrestled hard, some of them came up a little short but that’s just the way it goes. Overall, it was a good performance. I’m hoping all of our seven wrestlers will be on the podium in Columbia. That’s what we’re going to work for. Our district champs definitely have an advantage. Wrestling the No. 4 from another district in the first round gives them an opportunity and they’ve just got to win one more after that. This week we are going to work on staying healthy, nothing new, just staying fresh, keeping our minds fresh, and just go back at it. We’re going to go back in tomorrow and we’ll take care of all the little stuff. We’re going to have a good week of practice as far as just staying sharp, fresh, and hopefully stay healthy.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE MEET
Winning his first district title for Monett was junior Onis Howard (36-12). Howard won by pin over Logan-Rogersville’s Lucas Campbell.
“This is my first district title and it’s pretty awesome,” said Howard. “Last year I didn’t have such good luck, I dislocated my knee, so it just felt really good to come back this year and win myself a district title. Coach really teaches us a lot. This sport really makes you become a man and makes you push yourself.”
Also winning first place for Monett was junior Ian Meyer (42-7). Meyer won a major decision over Buffalo’s Colten Kenady.
“My season has been good so far, fighting a couple injuries early and toward the middle of the season,” said Meyer. “I was the one seed coming in and we face hard competition all year, so that prepared me for districts. At state, I’m hoping to meet a kid from Smithville that’s pretty good, he’s ranked No. 1. We didn’t wrestle Smithville so I look forward to meeting him in the finals or semi-finals this year at state.”
Buffalo finished fourth in the team point total, one-half of a point behind Clinton, 132.5 to 132. Buffalo head coach Eric Nolan was pleased with qualifying seven wrestlers for next week’s state tournament.
“We had high expectations for this year,” said Nolan. “One of our goals was to break our school record for most qualifiers in a season, and that was three. Getting seven through, that’s a pretty good day for our kids, I’m real proud of them. They wrestled with a lot of heart and determination. A couple of our kids, even though they qualified for state, weren’t necessarily satisfied with the way their day ended. To me, that’s encouraging because I think that they’re going to come into practice this week and work hard and get prepared for the state tournament. I think the mental aspect is something we’ve really got to focus on. I feel good about our conditioning, I feel good about the technique that we’ve been using. I think we need to focus on the mental game. Our mental toughness, our mental focus, can improve a little bit between now and the state tournament.”
Buffalo sophomore Shane Sisco was a heavy favorite going into last year’s district tournament but suffered two surprising losses and did not qualify for state. This year, he was looking for redemption.
“Last year I didn’t place in districts so this is a new experience,” said Sisco. “I feel happy but I still have a lot of work to do. I wasn’t expecting to go from not even going to state to winning districts and going to state. I’m looking to win at state, so this week I’m going to work my tail off and try to get better and better every day.”
Some other area district champions were Nevada’s Dayton Miller (47-4), and Reeds Spring’s Broden LeMaster (22-0) and Matt Kahnert (34-10). Miller, who is ranked second in the state, defeated Gaige Brunell of Pleasant Hill, 6-3, to win the title.
“I was state runner up the past two years, this year the plan is to win it,” said Miller. “It’s been a pretty tough season, tougher than last year. I’m at the same weight as last year but there’s new kids and tougher competition. This is my senior year; it’s my last chance to win.”
Reeds Spring’s LeMaster has not wrestled since mid-season after suffering a broken jaw. He was medically released just in time for districts.
“It’s been a pretty good season besides the fact that I broke my jaw and had to sit out for four to five weeks,” said LeMaster. “I didn’t stop running, so I kept the conditioning up. I’m glad to be back on the mat. Just this week I got cleared. They told me I might not be able to wrestle at districts and I told them no way, I’m wrestling no matter what. I got third last year, aiming for first this year.”
Joining LeMaster at state will be fellow Wolf, Matt Kahnert.
“This season has been a grind,” said Kahnert. “I started to catch the groove and it’s been uphill since. I kind of expected to win, I was district champ last year, but this year was completely different. Different weight class and a couple different kids, but it was fun. I got fifth last year at state; I’m looking to improve on that.”
Making Hollister school history was junior Brandon Gandy who became the first wrestler from Hollister’s young program to qualify for the state tournament.
“It makes me feel great; I feel like I’m making the program better behind me,” said Gandy. “My coaches have been teaching me and developing me to be a better wrestler. I’m fourth seed so I’ll have some tough competition, I’ll have to face some first seed wrestlers, but I feel good, I feel confident that my coach will get me there.”
The state tournament will be held February 18-20 in Columbia at the Mizzou Arena.
106 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Dalton Landreth of Marshall
2nd Place – Joel Barrientos of Monett
3rd Place – Luke Moffett of Bolivar
4th Place – Ethan Smith of Buffalo
1st Place Match
Dalton Landreth (Marshall ) 41-3, So. over Joel Barrientos (Monett ) 33-1, So. (Dec 4-1).
3rd Place Match
Luke Moffett (Bolivar ) 29-8, So. over Ethan Smith (Buffalo ) 44-4, Fr. (Dec 8-1).
113 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Cameron Morrison of Marshall
2nd Place – Jordan Whalan of Clinton
3rd Place – Isaiah Simmons of Eldon
4th Place – Brock Carter of Logan-Rogersville
1st Place Match
Cameron Morrison (Marshall ) 33-10, So. over Jordan Whalan (Clinton ) 23-7, Jr. (SV-1 6-4).
3rd Place Match
Isaiah Simmons (Eldon ) 31-6, Fr. over Brock Carter (Logan-Rogersville ) 29-17, Fr. (Fall 2:52).
120 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Matt Kahnert of Reeds Spring
2nd Place – Hayden Carlson of Osage
3rd Place – Chance Sullivan of Pleasant Hill
4th Place – Angel Rabadan of Monett
1st Place Match
Matt Kahnert (Reeds Spring ) 34-10, Sr. over Hayden Carlson (Osage ) 22-7, Jr. (Fall 4:29).
3rd Place Match
Chance Sullivan (Pleasant Hill ) 34-17, So. over Angel Rabadan (Monett ) 15-20, So. (Dec 1-0).
126 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Dayton Miller of Nevada
2nd Place – Gaige Brunell of Pleasant Hill
3rd Place – Sean Jastal of Monett
4th Place – Caleb Swearingin of Logan-Rogersville
1st Place Match
Dayton Miller (Nevada ) 47-4, Sr. over Gaige Brunell (Pleasant Hill ) 43-6, So. (Dec 6-3).
3rd Place Match
Sean Jastal (Monett ) 37-9, Sr. over Caleb Swearingin (Logan-Rogersville ) 17-12, So. (Fall 0:18).
132 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Onis Howard of Monett
2nd Place – Lucas Campbell of Logan-Rogersville
3rd Place – Trenton Houston of Buffalo
4th Place – Thomas Henderson of St. James
1st Place Match
Onis Howard (Monett ) 36-12, Jr. over Lucas Campbell (Logan-Rogersville ) 32-12, So. (Fall 3:18).
3rd Place Match
Trenton Houston (Buffalo ) 41-10, Jr. over Thomas Henderson (St. James ) 36-16, So. (MD 14-0).
138 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Cole Sullivan of Pleasant Hill
2nd Place – Benny Ladd of Clinton
3rd Place – Mikey Crocker of St. James
4th Place – Colton Shrewsbury of Nevada
1st Place Match
Cole Sullivan (Pleasant Hill ) 49-5, Sr. over Benny Ladd (Clinton ) 28-7, Jr. (Dec 10-3).
3rd Place Match
Mikey Crocker (St. James ) 43-7, So. over Colton Shrewsbury (Nevada ) 42-12, Jr. (Dec 2-0).
145 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Aaron Sims of Marshall
2nd Place – Sam Bayless of Clinton
3rd Place – Kaler Selvin of Pleasant Hill
4th Place – Austin Magnuson of Osage
1st Place Match
Aaron Sims (Marshall ) 36-9, Sr. over Sam Bayless (Clinton ) 43-7, Sr. (Dec 2-1).
3rd Place Match
Kaler Selvin (Pleasant Hill ) 46-9, Sr. over Austin Magnuson (Osage ) 29-4, So. (Fall 3:21).
152 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Olen Brattin of Pleasant Hill
2nd Place – Floyd Miller of Buffalo
3rd Place – Trenton Dillon of Eldon
4th Place – Isaac Swearingin of Logan-Rogersville
1st Place Match
Olen Brattin (Pleasant Hill ) 53-1, Sr. over Floyd Miller (Buffalo ) 46-1, Fr. (MD 12-4).
3rd Place Match
Trenton Dillon (Eldon ) 32-8, So. over Isaac Swearingin (Logan-Rogersville ) 20-16, So. (MD 17-3).
160 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Grant Taylor of Clinton
2nd Place – Cole Lightfoot of Pleasant Hill
3rd Place – Michael Henley of Osage
4th Place – Blake Williamson of Buffalo
1st Place Match
Grant Taylor (Clinton ) 46-3, Sr. over Cole Lightfoot (Pleasant Hill ) 44-10, Jr. (Dec 4-2).
3rd Place Match
Michael Henley (Osage ) 17-10, Sr. over Blake Williamson (Buffalo ) 40-12, Jr. (Dec 9-4).
170 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Dalton Bach of Pleasant Hill
2nd Place – Ryan Henderson of Marshall
3rd Place – Austin Reid of Buffalo
4th Place – Chance Huff of Clinton
1st Place Match
Dalton Bach (Pleasant Hill ) 38-13, Jr. over Ryan Henderson (Marshall ) 32-11, So. (Dec 4-3).
3rd Place Match
Austin Reid (Buffalo ) 38-12, Jr. over Chance Huff (Clinton ) 27-18, Sr. (Dec 9-3).
182 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Ian Meyer of Monett
2nd Place – Colten Kenady of Buffalo
3rd Place – Joel Concannon of Boonville
4th Place – Bobby Harkness of Eldon
1st Place Match
Ian Meyer (Monett ) 42-7, Jr. over Colten Kenady (Buffalo ) 41-8, So. (MD 9-0).
3rd Place Match
Joel Concannon (Boonville ) 35-10, Jr. over Bobby Harkness (Eldon ) 30-15, Jr. (Fall 4:03).
195 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Broden LeMaster of Reeds Spring
2nd Place – Scott Swink of Nevada
3rd Place – Lane Jellison of Pleasant Hill
4th Place – Bryce Logan of Monett
1st Place Match
Broden LeMaster (Reeds Spring ) 22-0, Sr. over Scott Swink (Nevada ) 36-4, Sr. (Fall 1:06).
3rd Place Match
Lane Jellison (Pleasant Hill ) 44-7, Jr. over Bryce Logan (Monett ) 25-18, Sr. (MD 10-1).
220 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Tommy Williams of Pleasant Hill
2nd Place – Chas Kempf of Osage
3rd Place – Angel Villalta of Monett
4th Place – Trey Pritchett of Nevada
1st Place Match
Tommy Williams (Pleasant Hill ) 41-1, Jr. over Chas Kempf (Osage ) 31-11, Sr. (Fall 1:21).
3rd Place Match
Angel Villalta (Monett ) 27-11, Jr. over Trey Pritchett (Nevada ) 38-15, Sr. (Fall 4:16).
285 Results
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Shane Sisco of Buffalo
2nd Place – Ian Schaumburg of Osage
3rd Place – Jesse Knisely of Clinton
4th Place – Brandon Gandy of Hollister
1st Place Match
Shane Sisco (Buffalo ) 43-7, So. over Ian Schaumburg (Osage ) 30-7, Jr. (Dec 5-2).
3rd Place Match
Jesse Knisely (Clinton ) 25-25, So. over Brandon Gandy (Hollister ) 21-6, Jr. (Dec 4-2).
Team Scores
1. Pleasant Hill 195.5
2. Monett 144.0
3. Clinton 132.5
4. Buffalo 132.0
5. Marshall 102.5
6. Nevada 96.0
7. Osage 93.0
8. Logan-Rogersville 69.0
9. Eldon 59.5
10. Reeds Spring 57.0
11. St. James 37.0
12. Bolivar 35.0
12. Boonville 35.0
14. Hollister 29.0
15. East (Kansas City) 0.0
