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Running down the notable local outcomes from the Class 1 state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, which were highlighted by another strong performance from Seneca while Buffalo crowned its first individual state champion.
Seneca takes 2nd, Hembree repeats as champ
Dalton Hembree wants to become Seneca’s first four-time state champion.
He’s half way there.
The Seneca sophomore won his second state championship on Saturday, defeating Maysville junior Dalton Wade in a decision, 12-8. Hembree also won state at 120 last year, helping Seneca to the 2016 team title in Class 1.
“To be honest, (repeating) has felt like hell,” Hembree said. “It was hard, practicing all summer and stuff, trying to get better. You have to put the time into it.”
No Seneca wrestler has ever won four state championships. Seneca’s Will Roark, who is currently wrestling for Mizzou and owns the state’s all-time record for high school wins (214), won three state titles during his career at SHS.
PHOTOS: STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
“(Winning four state titles) is something I’m going to try to achieve,” Hembree said. “I have to get after it this summer, practice and work my tail off.”
Hembree had to battle back against Wade to repeat as a state champion. Wade caught Hembree by surprise with an early takedown.
Hembree trailed 4-3 after the first period, but dominated the next four minutes. He had two reversals, a nearfall and a takedown over the final two periods.
“The gameplan was to go in there and get up with some quick points, then keep getting some extra ones every once in a while,” Hembree said. “He got the first takedown, so I couldn’t lay back. I had to go attack.”
Said Seneca coach Jeff Sill: “(Hembree) was coming out looking for the big move instead of earning his points. He had to battle back and win it without trying to hit the home run. I was proud of him.”
Seneca (142) finished second in the team standings, 32.5 points behind champion Whitfield (174.5).
Seneca’s other two finalists on the night – Levi Connelly at 106 and Trey Smith at 152 – fell in their respective title matches. Max Roark (3rd, 113), Dawson Stephens (5th, 120), Dayton Fields (3rd, 132) and Lance Hymer (4th, 160) gave the Indians a total of seven all-state performers.
“Our kids wrestled tough,” Sill said. “Each and every weekend, the kids went out there to win a championship. It may not have been for a state championship, but they had the attitude of wanting to win a tournament championship every weekend. I was proud of the kids’ effort this season.”
Connelly, a 44-8 overall sophomore, fell 6-0 to Lathrop freshman Tanner Dalinghaus (50-3 overall) in the 106 match.
Smith was bested by one of the top wrestlers in the state, in any Class.
Father Tolton Catholic’s Jarrett Jacques handed Smith a 6-2 loss at 152. Jacques led 1-0 after two periods – on a stalling call against Smith – and put the match away with a takedown and a nearfall. He was also awarded a point in the third period after Smith was called for a second stalling penalty.
“I think (Jarrett’s) gameplan was to keep (Trey) on his feet and not wrestle on the mat,” Sill said. “He really controlled the tempo and pacing of the match.”
Jacques, a Mizzou commit, also won state championships at Kirksville and Owensville before transferring to Father Tolton before this school year. He owns a career record of 141-1 and has won 134 straight matches.
Smith becomes Buffalo’s first state champion
Buffalo High School finally has its signature male sport.
Wrestling.
Sophomore Ethan Smith capped off a big weekend for the Bison wrestling program by becoming Buffalo’s first state champion, taking a 4-3 decision against Richmond freshman Rance Waigand in the Class 1 113-pound title bout.
PHOTOS: STATE WRESTLING CELEBRATIONS AND PODIUM
He was cheered on by a few dozen Bison fans – including classmates and family – who counted down the final seconds of his match.
“It felt like forever,” Smith said of the match’s ending. “I’m so tired. It was a hard match. I’ve worked hard for this. Having students come up to support the team, it was great.”
Smith trailed 3-0 late in the second period, but converted a takedown to get within a point heading into the third. He took the lead on an early reversal (4-3) and rode out Waigand to victory.
“It’s amazing,” Smith said. “I worked so hard for this. I just want to thank my practice partners for pushing me every day.”
Smith finishes his sophomore season 48-7 overall. He placed fifth at 106 in Class 2 last season.
“Ethan being (Buffalo)’s first state champion, it’s tremendous,” said Bison coach Nate Kenady “As a coach, I’m truly blessed.”
Buffalo had four more wrestlers earn all-state honors. Shane Sisco (285) won his 3rd place match.
Elsewhere for Buffalo, Floyd Miller (160) and Colten Kenady (220) each placed 6th, while Blake Williamson (195) nabbed a win in his 5th-place match.
Five all-state performances mark the most Buffalo has had in a single state tournament.
Williamson (49-6) is the lone senior of the group.
Nate Kenady hopes Buffalo’s wrestling success can invigorate other sports at the school.
“It’s real emotional. Buffalo’s struggled in a lot of sports across the board for many years and we’ve been having a hard time,” he said. “Wrestling’s starting to pick up these past few years and we want to try to get (successful athletics at Buffalo) going.”
Sisco rallies to take 3rd
Buffalo’s Shane Sisco was mad at himself Thursday afternoon, but motivated. Very, very motivated.
After losing his opening-round match on Thursday, Sisco went on a tear on the backside of the Class 1 285-bracket over the next two-plus days, winning five matches on his way to a third-place finish.
Sisco (48-7 overall) lost a 2-1 tiebreaker to Centralia senior Trey Taft in Thursday’s opener. He saw Taft again on the consolation side Saturday and ended up pinning him to earn a spot in the 3rd place bout.
PHOTOS: 3RD PLACE AND 5TH PLACE MATCHES
Sisco didn’t hold back in critiquing his performance in his opening match. He is, after all, a self-described “bold” person, which is evident from the large tribal tattoo on his right arm and upper chest.
“That (first) match, I wrestled (Taft’s) match instead of mine,” Sisco said. “I don’t know what came over me. Something dumb. After that match, the gears started rolling in my head. Every time I was about to wrestle, I replayed scenarios in my head over and over again about any position possible.
“Come match time, I put them all to the test and threw them into the fire.”
Sisco posted a major-decision win (11-3) against Richmond senior Diaz Elliott in the 3rd place bout for the last of his five victories on the consolation side. Sisco’s five wins are the most any wrestler can have in a single year under the current MSHSSA state tournament format.
“Tremendous amount of heart that he had,” said Bison coach Nate Kenady. “Compared to his first couple of years, he’s matured tremendously as a wrestler.”
The Bison qualified nine individuals for the state tournament this year, the most in program history. Buffalo also left Columbia with five state medalists, the most in program history.
“The program has been crazy good the past few years,” Sisco said. “We have a lot of heart.”
Sisco said he’s going for an individual state championship and an undefeated record next year.
“I’m honored to be part of the program and I’m ready to be a part of it again,” he said.
Local grappler finishes runner-up
Warsaw sophomore Kolby Estes took a tech-fall loss to Father Tolton Catholic’s Brock Mauller in the Class 1 145-pound title match.
The victory marks Mauller’s third state championship. A junior, Mauller went 46-0 this season and possesses a career record of 131-3. He’s ranked 16th nationally.
Estes finishes his season 48-5 overall. He qualified for state as a freshman.
