By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Host Ozark endured six losses in the semifinal round, but still won the Class 4 District 3 team championship Saturday by a 45-point margin while totaling 191 points and qualifying 10 wrestlers for the Class 4 State Tournament.
The Tigers three-peated as district champions.
“We had a rough semifinal round. But we came back on the back side through the bubble matches and dominated,” 157-pound champion Brock Sundlie said. “It was inspiring to watch all of us fight. That carried us to victory.”
“I care about each and every one of these guys,” 150 champion Braxton Strick said of his teammates. “I’m glad we were able to pull through as many as we did (to state) and do it in dominating fashion.”
In addition to titles of Sundlie and Strick, Ozark’s Damien Moseley won the 113 championship. The Tigers had two second-place finishers, two third and three fourths.
Neosho was runner-up with 146 points and Lebanon third with 143.
Strick claims fourth district championship
Competing at home for the final time, Strick (47-2) put a capper on one of the more storied careers in Ozark history by capturing his fourth district championship. He pinned Carthage’s Grey Petticrew (29-9) in :19 in the 157 final.
Strick’s career record of 182-12 includes only one loss to a SWMO opponent.
“There’s nothing left to prove in this district — four titles four years into it,” Strick said.
Sundlie (35-10) scored a takedown with :20 remaining to pull ahead and lock down the 157 championship with a 2-1 triumph against Ray-Pec’s Gaven Birkett (38-10).
“I like to make it fun, nah just kidding,” Sundlie said.
Sundlie was trailing 1-0 and had been seeking an escape for more than a minute, before he got a takedown instead.
“I wanted to get one (point), but two is better,” he said.
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Moseley (39-8) repeated as a district champ and did so in the same manner he did a year ago. In the 113 final, he pinned Lee’s Summit’s Gabe Hawkins (27-15) in 1:43.
Moseley posted first-period pins in all four of his matches. Last year at districts, he had three matches and pinned all three opponents on his way to the 106 championship.
Fugitt ties Nixa’s career wins record
Nixa two-time state champion Zan Fugitt (46-1) tied the Eagles’ career wins record while pinning Lebanon’s Canon Roark (33-6) in the 132 title tilt.
Fugitt shares the record with 2014 Nixa grad Joe Velliquette. Fugitt’s career win-loss record is 180-8, while Velliquette was 180-16.
“It’s important having my name up there in the legacy of wrestling at Nixa,” Fugitt said. “It’s pretty cool to match (Velliquette) now and hopefully take over his record next week.”
Fugitt’s district title is his fourth. He’s lost to just one SWMO opponent, Seneca’s Brady Roark, during his career.
Nixa’s Brennan Carey (42-6) posted a 7-0 victory versus Joplin’s Draven VanGilder for the 215 championship.
VanGilder transferred to Joplin from Nixa four years ago and Carey transferred to Nixa from Carl Junction two year ago, but only recently have the two become friends.
“I started talking to him and we became friends,” Carey said. “We’ve wrestled each other three times this year. When I pinned him in the first period at the COC Tournament, I could tell he wanted something back. Both of us know it’s all business on the mat. We don’t take anything onto the mat or off the mat. We’re respectful to each other. But when we’re wrestling, I’m going to try to beat him and he’s going to try to beat me.”
Nixa freshman Curtis Glossip (31-11) responded to his first taste of the post-season by doubling up Lee’s Summit’s Michael Foley (38-14) 6-3 in the 144 final.
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“I’ve been waiting for this since I was little, to represent Nixa,” Glossip said. “I treated it just like any other match. I treat every match the same, to be honest. If you don’t treat it as just a regular match, you’re going to psych yourself out.
“I keep myself calm before the match by controlling my breathing and thinking how I’m going to score and continue to score off my defense,” he added.
Neosho’s Zar, Howard, Olivares claim championships
Neosho’s Eli Zar (45-2) beat a familiar foe while downing Carthage’s Davion King (26-2) 5-1 in the 165 final.
King has a history of enduring a bloody nose during matches and twice his match with Zar was halted due to a bloody nose. Zar was mindful not to let the breaks affect his concentration.
“It’s a good chance to talk to your coaches,” he said. “They can catch you up on everything and let you know what you can do better.”
Zar wished he had been more aggressive.
“I held onto leads in some spots,” he said. “I could have opened up and showed everybody here what I am about. You never want to sit there and watch the clock. Sometimes, you do that out of habit. But you really want to push yourself.”
Zar will be looking to repeat as a state champion.
“I’m going to stay in my own lane and do what I need to do to get to the top of the podium,” he said.
Zar was pleased to see teammate Carter Howard (18-5) beat Lebanon’s Jonathan Perryman (21-16) 8-3 in the 138 title tilt. Howard is one of a handful of talented freshmen for the Wildcats.
“It’s cool having young guys on the team who know how to compete,” Zar said. “It’s been fun taking those guys in after a match they’ve won or lost and show them what they can do better.”
Neosho’s Nico Olivares (33-4) faced a very familiar foe in Ozark’s Peyton Greer (37-14) in the 285 final and won by fall in 2:31.
Going back to last summer, Olivares and Greer have met each other in six matches.
“I love wrestling Greer,” Olivares said. “There’s not anybody that gives me the challenge he does. It’s never a quick, easy pin. He makes me hone my skills.”
Pair of Yellowjackets crowned champs
Lebanon’s Davis Joiner (41-4) exhibited an obvious strength advantage on Lee’s Summit’s Cooper Nally (38-10) while winning a major decision 10-1 in the 132 final.
Joiner figured his experience and intelligence factored as much as his physicality, if not more so.
“Strength does help, but it all comes down to brain power to figure it all out,” Joiner said. “I used my biggest muscle, my brain, to be smart and not make any mistakes. I usually have an edge in strength. But to be honest, it doesn’t help as much as people think because if you can outsmart someone, you can beat them. That (mindset) comes from a lot of losing to weaker kids who were smarter than me. I’ve had to grow mentally to get to where they are.”
Joiner is happy the Missouri State High Schools Activities Association opted to hold the Girls State Tournament simultaneously as the Boys State Tournament at Mizzou Arena. Initially, MSHSAA planned to have the girls wrestle at a separate site.
Joiner has two sisters, Bailey and Jessa, who both also won district titles and will compete at State.
“It’s going to be a huge family rivalry to see who can outdo who,” he said.
Lebanon’s Cade Muscia (29-8), who last month committed to Southwest Baptist to play football, defeated Ozark’s Johnny Williams (36-11) 8-5 in the 190 final.
Republic’s Sandridge gains revenge, title
Republic’s Connor Sandridge (28-3) bounced back from a loss to Nixa’s Nate Brower (39-10) at the COC Tournament to beat Brower 5-2 in their 175 title tilt.
“Three weeks ago, I didn’t wrestle my best and he wrestled very well,” Sandridge said. “I had no answer to him. This time, it was a lot more balanced and I happened to come out on top.
“Losing at COC was an eye-opener for me and turned a gear in my head,” he added. “At the beginning of the season, I didn’t have a whole lot of competition and I got a little ahead of myself. The past month and a half put me in my place and COC fueled the fire.”
Sandridge suspects the 175 field at State will be ultra-competitive.
“The weight class is stacked,” he said. “There are 10 kids who can all medal and about six of us could win it.”
106
1st Place – Kamdon VonHolten of Raymore-Peculiar
2nd Place – Tanner Putt of Carthage
3rd Place – Adarein Hawkins of Smith-Cotton
4th Place – Luke Nally of Lee`s Summit
1st Place Match
Kamdon VonHolten (Raymore-Peculiar) 30-10, Fr. over Tanner Putt (Carthage) 30-13, So. (TB-1 1-0)
3rd Place Match
Adarein Hawkins (Smith-Cotton) 31-11, Fr. over Luke Nally (Lee`s Summit) 23-28, Fr. (Dec 8-4)
113
1st Place – Damien Moseley of Ozark
2nd Place – Gabe Hawkins of Lee`s Summit
3rd Place – Henry Cole of Lee`s Summit North
4th Place – Brice Helmig of Lebanon
1st Place Match
Damien Moseley (Ozark) 39-8, So. over Gabe Hawkins (Lee`s Summit) 27-15, Jr. (Fall 1:43)
3rd Place Match
Henry Cole (Lee`s Summit North) 27-19, Fr. over Brice Helmig (Lebanon) 28-13, Jr. (Fall 2:49)
120
1st Place – Charlie Dykes of Lee`s Summit North
2nd Place – Fisher Butler of Neosho
3rd Place – Keaton Hurst of Ozark
4th Place – Keaton Overcast of Republic
1st Place Match
Charlie Dykes (Lee`s Summit North) 45-2, Jr. over Fisher Butler (Neosho) 28-9, So. (MD 11-2)
3rd Place Match
Keaton Hurst (Ozark) 27-14, So. over Keaton Overcast (Republic) 36-10, Fr. (Dec 3-2)
126
1st Place – Davis Joiner of Lebanon
2nd Place – Cooper Nally of Lee`s Summit
3rd Place – Jaxton Fetters of Lee`s Summit West
4th Place – Caden Harrington of Ozark
1st Place Match
Davis Joiner (Lebanon) 41-4, Sr. over Cooper Nally (Lee`s Summit) 38-10, Jr. (MD 10-1)
3rd Place Match
Jaxton Fetters (Lee`s Summit West) 33-11, Fr. over Caden Harrington (Ozark) 32-13, So. (Dec 3-2)
132
1st Place – Zan Fugitt of Nixa
2nd Place – Canon Roark of Lebanon
3rd Place – Bradyn Tate of Carthage
4th Place – Tobias Collins of Kickapoo
1st Place Match
Zan Fugitt (Nixa) 46-1, Sr. over Canon Roark (Lebanon) 33-6, Jr. (Fall 2:26)
3rd Place Match
Bradyn Tate (Carthage) 45-5, Jr. over Tobias Collins (Kickapoo) 24-16, Sr. (Fall 4:23)
138
1st Place – Carter Howard of Neosho
2nd Place – Jonathon Perryman of Lebanon
3rd Place – Aidan Ward of Nixa
4th Place – Levi Maskrod of Ozark
1st Place Match
Carter Howard (Neosho) 18-5, Fr. over Jonathon Perryman (Lebanon) 21-16, Sr. (Dec 8-3)
3rd Place Match
Aidan Ward (Nixa) 38-13, Jr. over Levi Maskrod (Ozark) 25-17, Sr. (Dec 6-0)
144
1st Place – Curtis Glossip of Nixa
2nd Place – Michael Foley of Lee`s Summit
3rd Place – Andrew Bowling of Lebanon
4th Place – Daniel Laney of Ozark
1st Place Match
Curtis Glossip (Nixa) 31-11, Fr. over Michael Foley (Lee`s Summit) 38-14, Jr. (Dec 6-3)
3rd Place Match
Andrew Bowling (Lebanon) 33-8, Jr. over Daniel Laney (Ozark) 35-15, Jr. (Dec 7-2)
150
1st Place – Braxton Strick of Ozark
2nd Place – Grey Petticrew of Carthage
3rd Place – Luke Steinbrugge of Lee`s Summit North
4th Place – Avery Starnes of Lebanon
1st Place Match
Braxton Strick (Ozark) 47-2, Sr. over Grey Petticrew (Carthage) 29-9, Sr. (Fall 0:19)
3rd Place Match
Luke Steinbrugge (Lee`s Summit North) 39-6, Jr. over Avery Starnes (Lebanon) 31-11, So. (Dec 4-2)
157
1st Place – Brock Sundlie of Ozark
2nd Place – Gavin Birkett of Raymore-Peculiar
3rd Place – Gaven Bremenkamp of Central (Springfield)
4th Place – Collyn Kivett of Neosho
1st Place Match
Brock Sundlie (Ozark) 35-10, Sr. over Gavin Birkett (Raymore-Peculiar) 38-10, Jr. (Dec 2-1)
3rd Place Match
Gaven Bremenkamp (Central (Springfield)) 37-5, Sr. over Collyn Kivett (Neosho) 34-7, Sr. (Dec 7-0)
165
1st Place – Eli Zar of Neosho
2nd Place – Davion King of Carthage
3rd Place – Lucas Campbell of Ozark
4th Place – Jackson Jones of Lee`s Summit
1st Place Match
Eli Zar (Neosho) 45-2, Sr. over Davion King (Carthage) 26-2, Sr. (Dec 5-1)
3rd Place Match
Lucas Campbell (Ozark) 28-15, Sr. over Jackson Jones (Lee`s Summit) 39-7, Jr. (Dec 6-3)
175
1st Place – Connor Sandridge of Republic
2nd Place – Nate Brower of Nixa
3rd Place – Zackary Coetzee of Lee`s Summit North
4th Place – Roan McCarthy of Lee`s Summit
1st Place Match
Connor Sandridge (Republic) 28-3, Sr. over Nate Brower (Nixa) 39-10, Sr. (Dec 5-2)
3rd Place Match
Zackary Coetzee (Lee`s Summit North) 40-7, Sr. over Roan McCarthy (Lee`s Summit) 27-23, Jr. (Dec 6-3)
190
1st Place – Cade Muscia of Lebanon
2nd Place – Johnny Williams of Ozark
3rd Place – Ulysses DeLeon of Neosho
4th Place – Nate Moore of Lee`s Summit West
1st Place Match
Cade Muscia (Lebanon) 29-8, Sr. over Johnny Williams (Ozark) 36-11, Jr. (Dec 8-5)
3rd Place Match
Ulysses DeLeon (Neosho) 40-8, Sr. over Nate Moore (Lee`s Summit West) 29-16, Sr. (Fall 1:58)
215
1st Place – Brennan Carey of Nixa
2nd Place – Draven VanGilder of Joplin
3rd Place – Hank Natali of Lee`s Summit North
4th Place – Joshua Bess of Waynesville
1st Place Match
Brennan Carey (Nixa) 42-6, Jr. over Draven VanGilder (Joplin) 26-8, Sr. (Dec 7-0)
3rd Place Match
Hank Natali (Lee`s Summit North) 39-10, Jr. over Joshua Bess (Waynesville) 19-7, Sr. (Fall 1:47)
285
1st Place – Nico Olivares of Neosho
2nd Place – Peyton Greer of Ozark
3rd Place – Jacob Forshey of Waynesville
4th Place – Kwan Watkins of Smith-Cotton
1st Place Match
Nico Olivares (Neosho) 33-4, Sr. over Peyton Greer (Ozark) 37-14, Sr. (Fall 2:31)
3rd Place Match
Jacob Forshey (Waynesville) 30-8, Sr. over Kwan Watkins (Smith-Cotton) 19-3, Sr. (Fall 0:55)
