By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When he took the job five years ago, Carl Junction wrestling coach Mike Frizzell said he wanted to get the program back to where it used to be.
Last winter the Bulldogs won their first district title in 25 years, and on Saturday on their home mats they went back-to-back and finished more than 40 points ahead of their nearest challenger in the Class 3 District 3 tournament.
“We’re back on the map,” Frizzell said. “Hopefully we stay there for quite a while.”
The Bulldogs qualified eight wrestlers for the state tournament in Columbia and came away with four individual champions in Carter Foglesong (113 pounds), Sam Melton (120), Marcus Lopez-Durman (165) and Tony Stewart (175). They’re all returning qualifiers.
Foglesong, who improved to 42-1 on the season, wrestled for a grand total of about three minutes. He dispatched his three opponents by fall, and pinned Jefferson City’s Makoa Castillo in just 15 seconds in the first-place match.
Melton, 28-3, also made quick work of his opponents with pins in 25 seconds, 56 seconds and in 1:17 in the finals. He added a technical fall (18-3) in the semifinal round.
Lopez-Durman, 33-6, won twice by fall and then earned a 9-6 win in the semifinals before winning the title by injury default over Marshfield’s Levi Fuller.
And Stewart, 44-3, notched two falls and a 5-3 decision over Bolivar’s Mason McCurry in the championship.
Foglesong was fourth at state at 106 pounds last year, Melton was second at 120 and Stewart was second at 165.
“They’ve all been there before so that’s what we’re excited about,” Frizzell said. “They know the experience, they know the schedule, they know what they’re getting into.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TOURNAMENT
Max Matthews (29-13) placed third at 126 to qualify for the third time; Brenden Berry (30-13) earned third at 138 for his first qualification; freshman Aaron Dillingham (34-16) was third at 150 and Dexter Merrell (35-9), another returning qualifier, finished second at 157.
“We knew coming into this year we were going to be just as strong if not stronger than we were last year, so a district championship was always on the table for us,” Frizzell said. “We’re not done yet, we want to continue our roll.”
“We scored 24 pins in the tournament which was more than anybody else,” he said. “We came in and did our job, what we asked of our boys. There’s nothing we can do to glorify them more than how they come out and glorify themselves by winning the tournament.”
McDonald County makes late push for 3rd
The Mustangs finished Saturday with a pair of impressive championship bouts to jump three spots in the team scores, with Samuel Murphy (44-3) winning the title at 215 and Jayce Hitt (39-3) the winner at 285.
Murphy, who won by fall over his first three opponents, knocked off Jefferson City’s Alex Holloway by technical fall (24-9) in the finale to claim his third district crown.
And Hitt pinned all four of his opponents – the championship match against Union’s Killian Cordia was the longest, at two minutes and 16 seconds – and left the mat as a four-time district champ. Both are also defending state champions.
“They’ve both had a heck of a career,” McDonald County coach Josh Factor said. “We’re just looking forward to taking these guys up to the state tournament again. They’re all healthy so that’s a big plus.”
The Mustangs are sending six wrestlers to state in all. Adam Bogart (26-21) earned fourth at 106, Eberson Perez (20-17) took third at 113, Robinson Yoshino (26-21) was third at 120, and Malosi Sosef (20-8) finished third at 190.
“We started off the day rough,” Factor said. “We had 14 wrestlers and after that second consolation round we were down to seven. We had some guys advance all the way to the blood round; Alex Bogart fell a little short but the rest of those guys did a great job. A couple of them had some close matches in the semifinals and we managed to get two into the finals and four in the third-place matches and won three out of the four. Not a bad start. We’ve definitely got work ahead of us. I keep trying to motivate our guys saying hey, we’re one place short of bringing home a trophy. I’m hoping those kinds of talks sink in with them and maybe we’ll have a good state tournament and put ourselves in trophy contention.”
Bolivar, Branson, Camdenton, Marshfield each boast a district champion
Bolivar qualified three wrestlers for state, including 144-pound champion Cooper Moore (39-3). He won by fall in his first two matches and then picked up a 5-0 win in the semifinals and a 10-3 win against Marshfield’s Tanner Davidson in the finals. Maddux NeSmith (30-9) took fourth at 138 and Mason McCurry (36-3) was the runner up at 175.
Branson also earned three qualifiers, including Ryzen Isringhausen (43-1) who took the title at 106 pounds with three falls. He pinned Rolla’s Tristan Ace in 2:26 for first place. Tyler Storment (22-9) was the runner up at 150, and Sy Rosipal (23-20) was fourth at 157.
For Camdenton, Nathaniel Beeson (41-3) won the title at 190 pounds with a fall and two decisions; he won 7-4 in the first-place match against Hillcrest’s Levi Morris. Finnegan McNitt (37-7) was the runner up at 132 and John Holt (43-2) placed third at 165.
Levi Morris is the only state qualifier for Hillcrest. Now 26-11, he finished as the runner up at 190 pounds.
Marshfield qualified five wrestlers for state and had one winner in MJ Gritts (49-4) at 138 pounds. He got to the top of the podium with a 4-3 win in the semi’s and a 5-1 win against Rolla’s Jack Mrozowicz in the finals. Mac Mohnen (35-20) placed fourth at 126, Tanner Davidson (44-7) was the runner up at 144, Levi Fuller (36-8) was second at 165 and Tyce Jones (38-15) took fourth at 175.
Webb City came away with two qualifiers in Colt Taylor (35-9), who was third at 132; and Louden Bolinger (20-19) who was fourth at 215.
Team standings
1. Carl Junction 188.5
2. Jefferson City 147
3. McDonald County 126.5
4. Marshfield 118
4. Washington 118
6. Rolla 103
7. Pacific 98
8. Branson 91
9. Bolivar 77.5
10. Camdenton 72
11. Union 50
12. Webb City 42
13. Hillcrest 28
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
106
1st Place – Ryzen Isringhausen of Branson
2nd Place – Tristan Ace of Rolla
3rd Place – Gable Ohm of Washington
4th Place – Adam Bogart of McDonald County
1st Place Match
Ryzen Isringhausen (Branson) 43-1, Fr. over Tristan Ace (Rolla) 31-12, Fr. (Fall 2:26)
3rd Place Match
Gable Ohm (Washington) 43-3, Fr. over Adam Bogart (McDonald County) 26-21, Fr. (MD 10-0)
113
1st Place – Carter Foglesong of Carl Junction
2nd Place – Makoa Castillo of Jefferson City
3rd Place – Eberson Perez of McDonald County
4th Place – Caleb Parker of Rolla
1st Place Match
Carter Foglesong (Carl Junction) 42-1, Jr. over Makoa Castillo (Jefferson City) 32-12, Jr. (Fall 0:15)
3rd Place Match
Eberson Perez (McDonald County) 20-17, So. over Caleb Parker (Rolla) 22-21, Jr. (Dec 3-2)
120
1st Place – Sam Melton of Carl Junction
2nd Place – Caden Browning of Pacific
3rd Place – Robinson Yoshino of McDonald County
4th Place – Carson Mickem of Rolla
1st Place Match
Sam Melton (Carl Junction) 28-3, Sr. over Caden Browning (Pacific) 31-11, Sr. (Fall 1:17)
3rd Place Match
Robinson Yoshino (McDonald County) 26-21, So. over Carson Mickem (Rolla) 32-17, So. (Dec 7-3)
126
1st Place – Timothy Link of Pacific
2nd Place – Couper Deckard of Washington
3rd Place – Max Matthews of Carl Junction
4th Place – Mac Mohnen of Marshfield
1st Place Match
Timothy Link (Pacific) 29-7, Jr. over Couper Deckard (Washington) 39-5, Sr. (Dec 16-10)
3rd Place Match
Max Matthews (Carl Junction) 29-13, Sr. over Mac Mohnen (Marshfield) 35-20, Fr. (Fall 4:07)
132
1st Place – Braden Werdehausen of Jefferson City
2nd Place – Finnegan McNitt of Camdenton
3rd Place – Colt Taylor of Webb City
4th Place – Brock Webb of Pacific
1st Place Match
Braden Werdehausen (Jefferson City) 42-5, Sr. over Finnegan McNitt (Camdenton) 37-7, Jr. (Dec 8-2)
3rd Place Match
Colt Taylor (Webb City) 35-9, Sr. over Brock Webb (Pacific) 31-17, So. (Fall 4:37)
138
1st Place – MJ Gritts of Marshfield
2nd Place – Jack Mrozowicz of Rolla
3rd Place – Brenden Berry of Carl Junction
4th Place – Maddux NeSmith of Bolivar
1st Place Match
MJ Gritts (Marshfield) 49-4, Sr. over Jack Mrozowicz (Rolla) 31-19, So. (Dec 5-1)
3rd Place Match
Brenden Berry (Carl Junction) 30-13, Sr. over Maddux NeSmith (Bolivar) 30-9, Jr. (Fall 4:48)
144
1st Place – Cooper Moore of Bolivar
2nd Place – Tanner Davidson of Marshfield
3rd Place – Deegan Mitchell of Jefferson City
4th Place – Sawyer Black of Rolla
1st Place Match
Cooper Moore (Bolivar) 39-3, Jr. over Tanner Davidson (Marshfield) 44-7, Jr. (Dec 10-3)
3rd Place Match
Deegan Mitchell (Jefferson City) 34-4, So. over Sawyer Black (Rolla) 33-17, Jr. (Dec 4-1)
150
1st Place – Kayden Kinder of Rolla
2nd Place – Tyler Storment of Branson
3rd Place – Aaron Dillingham of Carl Junction
4th Place – Mikel Carver of Jefferson City
1st Place Match
Kayden Kinder (Rolla) 30-3, Jr. over Tyler Storment (Branson) 22-9, Sr. (Dec 6-1)
3rd Place Match
Aaron Dillingham (Carl Junction) 34-16, Fr. over Mikel Carver (Jefferson City) 37-14, Fr. (Fall 1:27)
157
1st Place – Casey Olszowka of Washington
2nd Place – Dexter Merrell of Carl Junction
3rd Place – Anthony Seneker of Jefferson City
4th Place – Sy Rosipal of Branson
1st Place Match
Casey Olszowka (Washington) 47-0, Sr. over Dexter Merrell (Carl Junction) 35-9, Sr. (Fall 3:13)
3rd Place Match
Anthony Seneker (Jefferson City) 31-13, Sr. over Sy Rosipal (Branson) 23-20, Sr. (Fall 1:47)
165
1st Place – Marcus Lopez-Durman of Carl Junction
2nd Place – Levi Fuller of Marshfield
3rd Place – John Holt of Camdenton
4th Place – Lucas Tennyson of Pacific
1st Place Match
Marcus Lopez-Durman (Carl Junction) 33-6, So. over Levi Fuller (Marshfield) 36-8, Sr. (Inj. 0:01)
3rd Place Match
John Holt (Camdenton) 43-2, Sr. over Lucas Tennyson (Pacific) 35-12, So. (Dec 1-0)
175
1st Place – Tony Stewart of Carl Junction
2nd Place – Mason McCurry of Bolivar
3rd Place – Trey Ladymon of Union
4th Place – Tyce Jones of Marshfield
1st Place Match
Tony Stewart (Carl Junction) 44-3, Jr. over Mason McCurry (Bolivar) 36-3, Jr. (Dec 5-3)
3rd Place Match
Trey Ladymon (Union) 41-6, Jr. over Tyce Jones (Marshfield) 38-15, Jr. (Dec 6-4)
190
1st Place – Nathaniel Beeson of Camdenton
2nd Place – Levi Morris of Hillcrest
3rd Place – Malosi Sosef of McDonald County
4th Place – Nolan Hendrix of Washington
1st Place Match
Nathaniel Beeson (Camdenton) 41-3, Sr. over Levi Morris (Hillcrest) 26-11, Sr. (Dec 7-4)
3rd Place Match
Malosi Sosef (McDonald County) 20-8, Jr. over Nolan Hendrix (Washington) 29-21, Jr. (Dec 9-3)
215
1st Place – Samuel Murphy of McDonald County
2nd Place – Alex Holloway of Jefferson City
3rd Place – Tyrese Thurmon of Washington
4th Place – Louden Bolinger of Webb City
1st Place Match
Samuel Murphy (McDonald County) 44-3, Sr. over Alex Holloway (Jefferson City) 27-22, Sr. (TF-1.5 5:41 (24-9))
3rd Place Match
Tyrese Thurmon (Washington) 39-13, Sr. over Louden Bolinger (Webb City) 20-19, Fr. (Fall 3:25)
285
1st Place – Jayce Hitt of McDonald County
2nd Place – Killian Cordia of Union
3rd Place – Luke Jenkins of Jefferson City
4th Place – Nathaniel Knaff of Pacific
1st Place Match
Jayce Hitt (McDonald County) 39-3, Sr. over Killian Cordia (Union) 35-12, Sr. (Fall 2:16)
3rd Place Match
Luke Jenkins (Jefferson City) 28-16, So. over Nathaniel Knaff (Pacific) 29-3, Sr. (Fall 2:37)
