It was a busy day for Class 3 at state wrestling Saturday. Neosho claimed its fourth straight team title and sixth in the past seven years. Wildcats senior Kyler Rea surpassed NHS alum Nate Rodriguez (2010-13) for the school’s career wins mark with 212.
Willard’s Niko Chavez won the 138 title. Teammate Hunter Yeargan suffered a late loss in the 195 finals as he sought a repeat championship.
Webb City’s Brandon Musselman took a narrow decision victory over COC-Large rival Adrian Hitchcock for the 220 title.
Earlier in the day, Rolla had four individuals compete in 5th or 3rd place matches. Camdenton’s Josh Keys finished his career with a victory in the 285-pound 3rd place match.
Neosho makes it 4 in a row
Unlike some recent seasons, Neosho didn’t enter the final day of the state wrestling championships as a lock to take first place.
Aided by some solid performances on the backside of the bracket, and four individuals competing in finals matches on the winner’s side, Neosho continued its state-wide dominance by winning its fourth straight state championship.
Neosho (167.5) bested second-place Platte County by 16 points. The backside made the difference as Platte County went 1-5 in its Saturday consolation matches.
PHOTOS: 3RD AND 5TH PLACE MATCHES
By comparison, Neosho went 5-3 on the consolation side. Dalton Kivett (106) and Kyle Hostetter (182) finished third in their respective weight classes. Gannon Millard (132) placed fourth.
“We do that as a family,” said Neosho coach Jeremy Phillips. “We gained our separation – and we knew we would – on the back side of the bracket where a lot of character shows. Even guys that were out of the tournament stayed with us and believed in the process.”
Although Neosho finalists Trenton Young (113), Jonathan Williams (126) and Kyle Hostetter (182) all lost, their ability to make it that far and post lopsided wins in the early rounds gave the Wildcats crucial team points.
“Our guys understand they’re not fighting for themselves,” Phillips said. “They’re fighting for more. They’re fighting for their team. We really work on scoring those bonus points. Every time we stepped on the mat, we were trying to score major decisions – not just wins. We were trying to score falls, not just wins. We’ve been in the team race for a while and you understand those bonus points. We use that to our advantage.”
Rea moves into Neosho history
Kyler Rea capped off a stellar career with his second straight state championship and an undefeated season (56-0) in the 152-pound division.
If that wasn’t enough, Rea also unofficially surpassed former teammate Nate Rodriguez (2010-13) for the program’s career wins mark with 212.
“We’ve had some great guys, some All-Americans come through, and (Rea) ranks up there with the very best we’ve had,” said Neosho coach Jeremy Phillips.
In a matchup of undefeated wrestlers and defending state champions, Rea was in control from start to finish against Oak Park’s Hunter Shelton, who entered 29-0.
“I was a little slow yesterday in my semifinals match, but I knew my best performance would be today,” Rea said. “That’s what I planned on. And I got this all done.”
Rea won, 7-2, after a pair of first-period reversals and an escape in the second period gave him a 5-0 lead going into the final two minutes.
“I knew he was going to be aggressive and want to put me into his ties,” Rea said. “I just kind of worked my ties out of his and I was able to get the job done.”
Rea said he had trained with Shelton over the summer in preparation for the prestigious Fargo National Wrestling Championships.
““We’re pretty good buddies,” Rea said. “He’s a tough kid and a very good opponent. I’m sure he’ll be on top next year.”
Rea was a state champ last year (138), took 3rd as a sophomore (126), and 3rd as a freshman (106).
“It was just fun,” Rea said. “This was my last high school match. I can’t believe I’ll never be here again.”
Musselman takes 220 title
No need to ask Brandon Musselman any more questions about wrestling this season. He’s answered the biggest one.
Yes, the Webb City junior can beat Neosho’s Adrian Hitchcock a fourth time (4-3). Yes, he is now the state’s 220 champ in Class 3.
“People were saying, ‘Hey, can you beat this guy a fourth time?’” Musselman said. “What kind of freaking question is that? I mean, duh. Come on, I’m in the state finals. Let’s go.
“Let it fly, man. God got me through that match, no doubt.”
With 30 seconds remaining and the match tied 2-2, Musselman scored two points on a reversal.
Hitchcock made it 4-3 on an escape, but Musselman managed to hang on – literally – as time expired and Hitchcock attempted a final comeback.
“We’ve wrestled like 11 times in two years,” Musselman said. “We know each other’s styles like the back of our hands. It’s a grind every match. The crowd is amazing. Just the atmosphere here… it’s freaking fun, man.
“I can only think of about three of four other better things than (being a state champ). God, my family, my girlfriend… Just knowing I can do anything with God on my side, it’s an amazing feeling.”
It was Musselman’s fourth win over Hitchcock this season and the fifth meeting between the two. Hitchcock won the first match, but Musselman got a decision win in the first rematch then pin fall victories at conference and districts the past two weeks.
“You’re never going to wrestle a perfect match,” Musselman said. “What’s tougher, you or the workout? That’s what my coaches always tell me. What’s tougher, you or the match? You have to tough it out sometimes and take the challenge, man.”
In other Class 3 COC-Large action, Carthage's Markkel Moore (37-11 overall) suffered a second-period pin fall loss to Ethan Karsten (51-1 overall) in the 145 title match.
Chavez wins first title, Yeargan’s repeat bid denied
For a second straight night, Niko Chavez saved his best for last, just before the clock expired on his state title aspirations.
The Willard junior scored a reversal in the final seconds of his tiebreaker against Belton’s Robert Weber, with the decisive move giving Chavez two points and a 4-3 victory in the Class 3 138-pound title match.
Weber got an escape point in the first tiebreaker session and looked to be riding out a victory in the ensuing one, leading Chavez 3-2 as time ticked away. That’s when practice paid off for Chavez.
“Once I felt (Weber) throw his leg in, coach (Justin Wisdom) has been working a lot with me on leg defense so I’m pretty good with that,” Chavez said. “When he threw his leg in, I knew I was going to get the reversal, not just get away.”
It was the second straight match Chavez (51-3 overall) won in thrilling fashion. In Friday night’s semifinal victory, he trailed Grain Valley’s Wolfgang Clapper 2-1 with 25 seconds remaining. A stall call on Clapper and an escape by Chavez before regulation expired sent Chavez into Saturday’s finals.
“I like to stay calm and I guess that really helps me with my style of wrestling,” Chavez said. “It does scare all my family and stuff, they told me. But it’s been working, so I like it.”
Weber, a freshman, entered the finals match 40-9 overall.
Chavez placed fifth at state as a freshman and sixth last year.
“This feels awesome,” Chavez said. “It’s probably the best feeling I’ve had since the time I medaled at state my freshman year, which is my first time medaling any time, even in my youth events.”
Willard was not as fortunate in a similar ending later in the night. Senior Hunter Yeargan, who was seeking to defend his 195 state championship, suffered a late takedown in his finals match with Washington senior Jared Rennick (52-3 overall).
Leading 3-2 at the time, Yeargan found himself trailing 4-3 with under 30 seconds remaining. He was unable to escape before time expired.
“I was up and I looked at the clock and there were about 30 seconds left,” Yeargan said. “Somehow, I tripped and next thing I knew he had scored two on me. It happened so fast that I don’t really know what happened still. I’ll go back and watch film and see exactly what happened.
“I just lost my footing for a second and he capitalized on it, scrambled and scored.”
Yeargan had defeated Rennick in two close decisions earlier this season, including in a district final last week.
“I was planning on just wrestling out the rest of the match when I was up and leading 3-2,” Yeargan said. “Then, I figured I could have got away when I was on bottom, but he held me down pretty good.”
Yeargan will continue wrestling in college and plans to announce his school decision soon.
“I’m never really satisfied with anything I do,” Yeargan said. “I think this is just God’s plan to keep me hungry.”
Rolla grabs 4 medals, already eager for next season
Saturday didn’t end as planned for the Rolla Bulldogs, but coach Marty Hauck hopes it leaves his returning medalists motivated come next season.
Rolla went 1-3 in medal placement matches Saturday afternoon, with Rolla sophomore Coleman Brainard grabbing the lone win in the Class 3 120-pound 3rd place match.
Among Rolla’s junior trio: Tristan Barr (127) and Gage Maxwell (138) placed fourth for the Bulldogs, with Seth Veatch (170) taking sixth place.
“We came up a little short of our goals but the beautiful thing about it is we have all four of them back next year,” Hauck said. “We’re going to get a little hungrier.”
Brainard scored a 3-1 decision win over McDonald County senior Daniel De Santiago (36-13 overall) in his final bout Saturday.
Barr suffered a 3-1 loss in sudden victory to Ft. Zumwalt South senior Drew Ditter (43-4 overall). With the match tied 1-1 near the end of regulation, Hauck pleaded to the officials for points as Barr went for a takedown. Ditter then executed his own takedown in the sudden victory session.
“The call didn’t go our way and we can’t leave it up to the officials,” Hauck said. “We have to take care of it ourselves.”
Brainard and Barr were state finalists last season.
Maxwell lost by decision, 2-1, to Grain Valley junior Wolfgang Clapper (47-2 overall) in his third-place match.
Veatch took a 3-1 loss to Warrensburg’s Dayton Brown (42-16 overall) in the 170 5th place match.
After leaving Columbia, Hauck said his group was scheduled to compete at the Liberty (Mo.) Nationals on Sunday.
“We’ve already started our offseason,” Hauck said. “We finished on the mat about 20 seconds ago and I can tell you we’re already planning on what we’re going to do next year. That starts tomorrow.”
Powerful Keys takes 3rd in final career match
It was an unlucky bracket draw for Josh Keys this weekend, but the Camdenton senior made the most of it by winning his final career match.
Keys closed his CHS career with a pin fall victory in just 30 seconds against Carl Junction sophomore Zeke Wall (35-12 overall) in the Class 3 285-pound match.
Keys went 40-10 overall this season, after posting a record of around 10-20 as a freshman.
“If I was on the other side of the bracket, I know I definitely would’ve made it to the finals,” Keys said. “I wrestled my best and that’s all I can ask for. I just have to thank my coaches for training me this well.”
Keys lost 1-0 Friday in the semifinals to Farmington senior Devin Savage. Keys pointed to the fact that he pinned Savage’s finals opponent, Raytown South senior William Samuels, in less than a minute at last weekend’s Class 3, District 4 tournament.
“Overall, I think I wrestled the best out of this entire season,” Keys said. “My match vs. (50-3 overall Farmington senior Devin) Savage probably should’ve been the finals. But (Savage and Samuels) are both amazingly good and I tried my hardest. I just couldn’t step up to the plate with Savage.”
Keys credited weightlifting for his improvement on the mat and football field. He currently squats over 600 pounds and plans to become involved in competitive power lifting post-high school.
“I want to do (competitive power lifting) because I love to compete. In anything,” he said.
