By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Carl Junction’s wrestling program returned six of seven state qualifiers this season – and two state placers – giving coach Mike Frizzell a lot to look forward to this winter.
His optimism was rewarded on Saturday on the Bulldogs’ home mats.
Carl Junction opened the Class 3 District 3 championship round with three wins in a row and went on to qualify nine for the Class 3 championship tournament.
And the Bulldogs won their first district team title in 25 years in the process.
“It’s been a long time since we put a placard up on that wall and we’re not going to be done yet,” Frizzell said. “It’s going to have to even out so we need to put another one up there next to it.”
With those nine wrestlers finishing in the top four to qualify for state, the Bulldogs amassed 199 points and had a comfortable lead throughout the day Saturday, leaving Bolivar and McDonald County to fight it out for second place.
Carter Foglesong (37-4) was the champion at 106 pounds, Lukas Walker (43-1) won the title at 113 and Sam Melton (40-5) took home first at 120 to highlight Carl Junction’s individual performances.
Foglesong won three times by fall and pinned Glendale’s Bradley Hiteshew in 4:55 in the first-place match. Walker pinned all four of his opponents, including McDonald County’s Robinson Yoshino in 1:03 for the title. And Melton also turned in four falls and bested Rolla’s Brayden Squires in 5:40 for first.
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“We call that our murderers row,” Frizzell said. “We come out with our first three weight classes being studs like that. Those guys put in the work, they put in the time and they come out and do the work. It really keeps the team going. They start it off right, they set the tone for everybody else and it really pays off.”
The Bulldogs were an impressive 7-1 in championship semifinal matches Saturday, with Marcus Lopez-Durman (36-9) finishing second at 150, Tony Stewart (38-11) placing second at 165, Chance Benford (27-10) placing second at 190 and Cayden Bolinger (29-12) earning second at 285.
“We talked a little bit last night before the kids left about how the semifinals are going to be a big money round,” Frizzell said. “That’s where we need to separate ourselves in the pack. It worked out pretty well. I was pretty proud of those guys picking up seven in the semifinals.”
Max Matthews (30-20) took third at 126 for Carl Junction and Dexter Merrell (36-10) took third at 157. Matthews lost in the quarterfinals but battled back with a fall, a 12-3 major decision and a 4-2 win to get to the third-place match. He won 6-4 in a tiebreaker. Merrell’s loss came in the semifinals; he responded with two falls to seal third.
Walker (third at 106), Melton (2nd at 113), Matthews, Stewart, Benford and Bolinger all qualified for state last season.
“We try not to talk about state titles and I think this week it’s going to be on everybody’s mind,” Frizzell said. “We want to push that issue.”
Bolivar matches Carl Junction with three individual champs
Bolivar, which finished 33 points behind the Bulldogs, celebrated district titles at 157, 175 and 190 and is sending seven wrestlers to the state meet.
Riley Beckman (39-3), a returning state qualifier, was the winner at 157 after picking up a 5-3 win against Washington’s Casey Olszowka, who suffered just his second loss in 50 matches. He got there with two falls and a 10-4 win in the semifinal.
Trey Brewer (35-1), a state medalist last season, took first at 175 and made it look easy. He pinned his first two opponents in 1:48 and 2:17, earned an 18-2 technical fall in the semifinal and pinned Willard’s Jase Motlagh in 44 seconds for the championship.
And Blake Goodman (43-2), another returning medalist, pinned all four of his opponents to win the 190-pound title. He defeated Carl Junction’s Benford in 4:51 for first.
Maddux NeSmith (16-21), a state qualifier last year, placed second at 126 after winning by sudden victory in the semifinals. Chance Hensley (31-15) placed fourth at 132. Cooper Moore (28-4) was third at 138 and Toby Bunn (20-17) was third at 150.
“I thought we were firing on all cylinders,” said Bolivar coach Chad Coleman. “I thought our kids were doing the things we’ve been working on in the room. We’ve been working on attacks and these guys were attacking well today. We were doing what we needed to do to get to where we needed to be.”
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“We had a couple losses we weren’t expecting but they’re tough weight classes,” Coleman said. “There’s going to be some upsets. Maddux NeSmith stepped out of an unseeded spot into the finals and he’s flying. And Toby Bunn as well. I think he was seeded sixth coming in and he was able to beat some seeded kids to get up to where he needed to be.”
Three champions for McDonald County
Not to be outdone by the Bulldogs and Liberators, McDonald County put three wrestles at the top of the podium Saturday, as well.
Blaine Ortiz (39-6) grabbed the first title, winning at 138 with a 6-4 sudden victory over Branson’s Kyshin Isringhausen.
Samuel Murphy (40-1) was the winner at 215 after winning in a 3-1 sudden victory against Branson’s Cade Grimm.
And Jayce Hitt (22-0) pinned Carl Junction’s Bolinger in 36 seconds to win first at 285.
The Mustangs qualified five others for state: Eberson Perez (17-14) was fourth at 106, Robinson Yoshino (20-19) was second at 113, Levi Smith (26-3) was second at 144, Colter Vick (33-11) was third at 175 and Malosi Sosef (28-12) was fourth at 190.
Willard matched the Mustangs with eight qualifiers.
The Tigers were led by Gary Walker’s championship run at 165 pounds. Walker (32-3) earned a major decision in the semifinals and beat Carl Junction’s Stewart 5-2 in the finals.
Chris Trudell (15-24) was fourth at 120, Noah Rogers (29-13) was fourth at 138, Caleb Caldwell (36-5) was third at 144, Andrew Keithley (23-21) was fourth at 157, Jase Motlagh (30-9) was second at 175, Alex Nunez (25-9) was fourth at 215 and Brady Griffin (39-3) was third at 285.
Branson was highlighted by Tyler Storment’s title at 150 pounds. Storment (28-9) earned falls in three of four matches, including over Lopez-Durman of Carl Junction in 4:42 for first place.
He won’t be the only Pirate going to state; Kyshin Isringhausen (46-1) took second at 138 after his unbeaten streak ended in a sudden victory for McDonald County’s Ortiz in the finals. And Alejandro Berumen (26-16) was third at 190 and Cade Grim (38-3) was second at 215.
Rolla earned four qualifiers on Saturday. Kayden Kinder (37-7) was the champion at 144 with a fall in 3:45 over McDonald County’s Smith. Carson Mickem (36-12) took third at 106, Brayden Squires (30-15) was second at 120 and Brock Horton-Owens (15-6) was fourth at 285.
Marshfield is also sending four to state, including 132-pound winner Tanner Davidson (41-6). He won by technical fall, by 8-1 decision and by fall in 2:26 against Colt Taylor of Webb City for first. MJ Gritts (38-14) was fourth at 144, Tyce Jones (31-20) was fourth at 175 and Erik Tomanek (44-9) was third at 215.
Camdenton qualifiers are Logan Tibben (30-16), who was fourth at 126; Finnegan McNitt (32-12), who was third at 132; Aidan Neal (28-15), who was fourth at 150; and Jonathan Holt (27-11), who was fourth at 165.
Colt Taylor (28-17) will represent Webb City after earning second at 132.
Bradley Hiteshew (30-3) and Ethan Kelly (31-5) will represent Glendale. Hiteshew was second at 106 and Kelly took third at 113.
Team scores
Carl Junction 199
Bolivar 166
McDonald County 153
Willard 134
Branson 118
Washington 115
Rolla 92
Marshfield 85
Camdenton 67.5
Union 46.5
Webb City 44
Glendale 34
Hillcrest 27
Parkview 23
West Plains 18
106
1st Place – Carter Foglesong of Carl Junction
2nd Place – Bradley Hiteshew of Glendale
3rd Place – Carson Mickem of Rolla
4th Place – Eberson Perez of McDonald County
1st Place Match
Carter Foglesong (Carl Junction) 37-4, So. over Bradley Hiteshew (Glendale) 30-3, So. (Fall 4:55)
3rd Place Match
Carson Mickem (Rolla) 36-12, Fr. over Eberson Perez (McDonald County) 17-14, Fr. (Dec 8-4)
113
1st Place – Lukas Walker of Carl Junction
2nd Place – Robinson Yoshino of McDonald County
3rd Place – Ethan Kelly of Glendale
4th Place – Parker Kelpe of Washington
1st Place Match
Lukas Walker (Carl Junction) 43-1, Sr. over Robinson Yoshino (McDonald County) 20-19, Fr. (Fall 1:03)
3rd Place Match
Ethan Kelly (Glendale) 31-5, Fr. over Parker Kelpe (Washington) 31-18, Sr. (Fall 2:53)
120
1st Place – Sam Melton of Carl Junction
2nd Place – Brayden Squires of Rolla
3rd Place – Couper Deckard of Washington
4th Place – Chris Trudell of Willard
1st Place Match
Sam Melton (Carl Junction) 40-5, Jr. over Brayden Squires (Rolla) 30-15, Sr. (Fall 5:40)
3rd Place Match
Couper Deckard (Washington) 38-12, Jr. over Chris Trudell (Willard) 15-24, Jr. (Dec 12-5)
126
1st Place – Devon Deckelman of Washington
2nd Place – Maddux NeSmith of Bolivar
3rd Place – Max Matthews of Carl Junction
4th Place – Logan Tibben of Camdenton
1st Place Match
Devon Deckelman (Washington) 39-10, Sr. over Maddux NeSmith (Bolivar) 16-21, So. (Dec 5-0)
3rd Place Match
Max Matthews (Carl Junction) 30-20, Jr. over Logan Tibben (Camdenton) 30-16, Sr. (TB-1 6-4)
132
1st Place – Tanner Davidson of Marshfield
2nd Place – Colt Taylor of Webb City
3rd Place – Finnegan McNitt of Camdenton
4th Place – Chance Hensley of Bolivar
1st Place Match
Tanner Davidson (Marshfield) 41-6, So. over Colt Taylor (Webb City) 28-17, Jr. (Fall 2:26)
3rd Place Match
Finnegan McNitt (Camdenton) 32-12, So. over Chance Hensley (Bolivar) 31-15, So. (Dec 5-0)
138
1st Place – Blaine Ortiz of McDonald County
2nd Place – Kyshin Isringhausen of Branson
3rd Place – Cooper Moore of Bolivar
4th Place – Noah Rogers of Willard
1st Place Match
Blaine Ortiz (McDonald County) 39-6, Sr. over Kyshin Isringhausen (Branson) 46-1, Sr. (SV-1 6-4)
3rd Place Match
Cooper Moore (Bolivar) 28-4, So. over Noah Rogers (Willard) 29-13, So. (Dec 7-2)
144
1st Place – Kayden Kinder of Rolla
2nd Place – Levi Smith of McDonald County
3rd Place – Caleb Caldwell of Willard
4th Place – MJ Gritts of Marshfield
1st Place Match
Kayden Kinder (Rolla) 37-7, So. over Levi Smith (McDonald County) 26-3, Sr. (Fall 3:45)
3rd Place Match
Caleb Caldwell (Willard) 36-5, So. over MJ Gritts (Marshfield) 38-14, Jr. (Dec 7-0)
150
1st Place – Tyler Storment of Branson
2nd Place – Marcus Lopez-Durman of Carl Junction
3rd Place – Toby Bunn of Bolivar
4th Place – Aidan Neal of Camdenton
1st Place Match
Tyler Storment (Branson) 28-9, Jr. over Marcus Lopez-Durman (Carl Junction) 36-9, Fr. (Fall 4:42)
3rd Place Match
Toby Bunn (Bolivar) 20-17, Sr. over Aidan Neal (Camdenton) 28-15, Sr. (Fall 2:16)
157
1st Place – Riley Beckman of Bolivar
2nd Place – Casey Olszowka of Washington
3rd Place – Dexter Merrell of Carl Junction
4th Place – Andrew Keithley of Willard
1st Place Match
Riley Beckman (Bolivar) 39-3, Sr. over Casey Olszowka (Washington) 48-2, Jr. (Dec 5-3)
3rd Place Match
Dexter Merrell (Carl Junction) 36-10, Jr. over Andrew Keithley (Willard) 23-21, Sr. (Fall 2:38)
165
1st Place – Gary Walker of Willard
2nd Place – Tony Stewart of Carl Junction
3rd Place – Trey Ladymon of Union
4th Place – Jonathan Holt of Camdenton
1st Place Match
Gary Walker (Willard) 32-3, Jr. over Tony Stewart (Carl Junction) 38-11, So. (Dec 5-2)
3rd Place Match
Trey Ladymon (Union) 40-7, So. over Jonathan Holt (Camdenton) 27-11, Jr. (Fall 3:39)
175
1st Place – Trey Brewer of Bolivar
2nd Place – Jase Motlagh of Willard
3rd Place – Colter Vick of McDonald County
4th Place – Tyce Jones of Marshfield
1st Place Match
Trey Brewer (Bolivar) 35-1, Sr. over Jase Motlagh (Willard) 30-9, Jr. (Fall 0:44)
3rd Place Match
Colter Vick (McDonald County) 33-11, Sr. over Tyce Jones (Marshfield) 31-20, So. (Fall 1:56)
190
1st Place – Blake Goodman of Bolivar
2nd Place – Chance Benford of Carl Junction
3rd Place – Alejandro Berumen of Branson
4th Place – Malosi Sosef of McDonald County
1st Place Match
Blake Goodman (Bolivar) 43-2, Sr. over Chance Benford (Carl Junction) 27-10, Sr. (Fall 4:51)
3rd Place Match
Alejandro Berumen (Branson) 26-16, Sr. over Malosi Sosef (McDonald County) 28-12, So. (Dec 7-4)
215
1st Place – Samuel Murphy of McDonald County
2nd Place – Cade Grimm of Branson
3rd Place – Erik Tomanek of Marshfield
4th Place – Alex Nunez of Willard
1st Place Match
Samuel Murphy (McDonald County) 40-1, Jr. over Cade Grimm (Branson) 38-3, Sr. (SV-1 3-1)
3rd Place Match
Erik Tomanek (Marshfield) 44-9, Sr. over Alex Nunez (Willard) 25-9, So. (Dec 4-3)
285
1st Place – Jayce Hitt of McDonald County
2nd Place – Cayden Bolinger of Carl Junction
3rd Place – Brady Griffin of Willard
4th Place – Brock Horton-Owens of Rolla
1st Place Match
Jayce Hitt (McDonald County) 22-0, Jr. over Cayden Bolinger (Carl Junction) 29-12, Sr. (Fall 0:36)
3rd Place Match
Brady Griffin (Willard) 39-3, So. over Brock Horton-Owens (Rolla) 15-6, Sr. (Dec 9-2)
