By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Neosho’s Jeremiah Larson hasn’t lacked for motivation after winning a state championship a year ago.
Larson’s bucket list at the start of his senior season obviously included defending his state title, but also included winning COC and District championships for the first time.
Larson was one of five individual champions for the Wildcats at the COC Tournament on Saturday, leading them to the team title by a 79-point margin over runner-up Ozark.
Larson pinned Webb City’s Jacob Ott in 1:24 for the 195-pound championship. It was a fulfilling victory after he finished second at the conference tourney a year ago. He went on to place third at Districts, before emerging as a state champion.
“I’m trying to cross off the rest of the tournaments I haven’t won, yet,” Larson said. “It’s good to finally win a COC championship. I’m excited about it.”
Larson (36-0) was especially happy to win in dominant fashion. Two weeks ago, he had to go the distance to beat Ott 6-3.
“I haven’t felt like myself for a month,” Larson said. “I haven’t been wrestling my best. I’ve been wrestling sloppy. So, it felt good to finally wrestle how I can. I feel a lot better about myself now and want to keep rolling.”
Neosho also received championships from Raymond Hembree at 106, Hayden Crane at 132, Eli Zar at 145 and Cayden Auch at 160.
Crane displayed a flair for the dramatic in the final round by scoring a takedown with :12 remaining in the third to tie things up at 4 against Ozark’s Elijah Maskrod.
“I wasn’t looking at the clock. I saw an opportunity and took it. Thankfully, it worked out,” Crane said. “I had no idea how much time was left. I’m grateful it was within the time limit.”
Crane and Maskrod were within inches of being ruled out of bounds on the takedown. Action was halted less than two seconds after Crane’s takedown when they rolled out of bounds.
“It was almost like I had to do a toe-drag to stay in bounds,” Crane said.
Crane (31-9) won 4-2 with a takedown less than :05 into the sudden victory round.
“I was figuring it might come down to the last :10, just like it did the third period,” Crane said. “But it happened within the first :05. It was quick.”
Hembree bounced back in a big way by pinning Carl Junction’s Lukas Walker in 2:56 in their title tilt match.
Only two days earlier, Walker handed Hembree a 4-0 loss in a dual.
“I was better at setting up my shots and going from move to move today,” Hembree said. “I wasn’t so slow this time. (The loss) lit a fire under me. I went out to the mat pumped up and ready to wrestle.”
“Seeing him lose like he did (Thursday) shook everyone up,” Crane said. “I’m happy he got the bounce-back win.”
Auch (40-0), who is seeking to be Neosho’s first four-time state champion, became a four-time COC champ by pinning Willard’s Ryder Heimbach in 3:13 in the final round.
Zar (27-6) also won by pin, putting Carthage’s Davion King on his back in 3:05 in their final.
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Third time a charm for Cassatt
Defending state champion Jesse Cassatt, of Carl Junction, could relate to Neosho’s Kyle Larson. He, too, became a state champion last year, while not winning a COC championship.
Cassatt (36-0) added COC champion to his resume by pulling out a 5-3 sudden victory win against Carthage’s Luke Gall (27-5) in the 182 final.
The two had no prior history wrestling each other.
“I knew he was strong. I think he was a bit stronger than me,” Cassatt said. “But I made up for it in conditioning and the hard work I’ve put in at our (practice) room. I knew I had to keep pushing and my time would come.”
Cassatt twice had been a conference tournament runner-up.
“It means a lot to me to be a conference champ,” he said.
Ozark has three champions crowned
Ozark’s Clayton Moison repeated as a conference champion. He took the 152 title, after winning at 138 a year ago.
In between his two COC championships, Moison learned last summer he has scoliosis. It pushed back the debut of his senior season to late December, as he has learned to cope with pain in his spine the best he can.
“I’m starting to feel better,” Moison said. “It seems the more I wrestle, the more I get used to it.”
Moison (15-1) needed just 2:45 to pin Willard’s Timothy Stevens in their title tilt.
“It means a lot to me to come back,” Moison said. “I didn’t think I was going to do as well as I did. I got points for my team. That’s what it’s all about.”
Ozark’s Thomas Rushing and Hunter Tennison also prevailed.
Rushing (34-10) was confident conditioning would be on his side and he was right. Rushing won decisions in the semifinal round and final on his way to the 170 championship.
He beat Neosho’s Eric Holt 9-4 in the final round.
“I truly believe when I step on the mat there is no one who can go as long and as hard as I can,” Rushing said.
Tennison had no trouble with the 285 field. He pinned Branson’s Sam Wood in 1:11 in the final. It’s the first COC title for Tennison (42-0).
Nixa’s champions dominant
Nixa junior John Gholson took both of his matchups with Neosho’s Jacob Fry, including a win by fall in 2:30 in the 220 title tllt
“After I won by decision in our first match, I told myself, ‘I’ve got to come out and get a pin,’” Gholson said.
It’s the first COC championship for Gholson (30-2), a runner-up last year.
“I’ve wanted a COC title since my freshman year. I finally got it,” he said.
Nixa’s Zan Fugitt triumphed at 113 and Peyton Moore was victorious at 120.
Fugitt (32-1) won by technical fall 16-0 opposite Carthage’s Bradyn Tate in the final round.
Moore (33-1) pinned Neosho’s Landon Kivett in 1:12 in their title tilt.
Finley evens things up with Isringhausen
Willard’s Christian Finley and Branson’s Kyshin Isringhausen renewed their rivalry in the 126 final, with Findley emerging with a 6-2 victory.
“He’s who I was expecting to see in the final and I look forward to seeing him again,” Finley said.
They have now split their four matches against each other. Finley improved to 42-3 and Isringhausen fell to 27-2.
“I thought we both wrestled great. I was just a better wrestler today,” Finley said. “Stopping him from scoring on the bottom was how I won it.”
In the semifinal round, Finley downed Nixa two-time state qualifier Deagan Fugitt (28-6) 6-3.
“I really worked hard for this tournament championship,” Finley said. “It was tough wrestling two really good opponents. I’m glad I got to wrestle both of them. This means a new level for my confidence.”
Carthage’s Snead 138 champion
With Ozark’s Braxton Stick out with a groin injury, Carthage’s Eli Snead (30-7) claimed the 138 championship by pinning Willard’s Oscar Martinez in 2:46.
Strick (35-0) is expected to be ready to go for the post-season.
Host Republic was short-handed, with all but a handful of its wrestler out due to being quarantined.
