By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
COLUMBIA — Nixa’s Malachi Rider completed his Nixa career with a Class 4 157-pound state championship and a rare distinction of never losing to a Missouri opponent.
Rider (33-2) won by major decision 20-7 against Seckman’s Drake Jenkins (36-8) in their title tilt Saturday.
It’s Rider’s third state championship. His previous two titles came as a sophomore and junior at Paducah Tilghman in Kentucky.
“I moved (to Nixa) because I wanted to wrestle someone new and tougher opponents,” Rider said. “I wanted to prove to myself that I could win anywhere than Kentucky. No offense to Kentucky. But I wanted to prove myself and I did. Hard work paid off.”
Rider’s only two losses this season came at the Walsh Ironman in Ohio against opponents from Illinois and Indiana.
Rider upped his family’s number of state championships to eight. His older brothers, Josiah and Isaac, combined for four state titles in their native Colorado and their father, Trevor, had one state title in Colorado.
Willard’s Talbot, Griffin both finish second
Willard’s Porter Talbot and Brady Griffin found themselves in championship matches simultaneously and with a similar result.
Talbot (41-5) lost 1-0 to Liberty’s Isaiah Hung (25-8) in the 215 title tilt, while Griffin (44-4) fell 5-1 to Liberty North’s Elmotie Williams (40-3) in the 285 final.
Willard made the jump from Class 3 a year ago to Class 4 this season.
“It was a big jump, but we adapted well, even though we didn’t get the end goal we wanted,” Griffin said.
Griffin, a junior and Talbot, a sophomore, are practice partners.
“We’re going to be able to push each other and get better together,” Griffin said. “I’m very motivated. A couple weeks off and right back to work.”
Neosho’s Stotts, Howard runners-up
Neosho’s Anthony Stotts and Carter Howard both finished second.
Stotts (41-10) was pinned by Columbia Hickman’s Hank Benter in 3:05 in the 113 final. Benter (47-0) is a three-time state champion.
Howard (42-5) lost 11-2 to Staley’s David Gleason (32-4) in the 144 final.
Class 4 Medal Round Results
106 – Fifth Place – Mason Brayfield (Park Hill) 30-7, So. over Tanner Putt (Carthage) 41-8, Jr. (Dec 4-0)
113 – First Place – Hank Benter (Hickman) 47-0, Jr. over Anthony Stotts (Neosho) 41-10, Fr. (Fall 3:05)
132 – Fifth Place – Caden Harrington (Ozark) 35-14, Jr. over Magnus Hoenshell (Park Hill South) 35-17, Fr. (Dec 5-1)
144 – First Place – David Gleason (Staley) 32-4, Jr. over Carter Howard (Neosho) 42-5, So. (MD 11-2)
144 – Fifth Place – Reed Wilson (Nixa) 36-14, Fr. over Noah Richardson (Eureka) 47-11, Sr. (Dec 6-4)
150 – Third Place – Noah Rogers (Willard) 41-11, Jr. over Greg Dillon (Blue Springs) 39-13, Sr. (Dec 7-2)
150 – Fifth Place – Grady Mortensen (Lee`s Summit West) 45-5, So. over Andrew Bowling (Lebanon) 42-10, Sr. (Dec 5-0)
157 – First Place – Malachi Rider (Nixa) 33-2, Sr. over Drake Jenkins (Seckman) 36-8, Sr. (MD 20-7)
157 – Third Place – Dayton Moison (Ozark) 40-13, Jr. over Luke Steinbrugge (Lee`s Summit North) 45-9, Sr. (Dec 11-10)
165 – First Place – Gary Walker (Willard) 26-3, Sr. over Caden Gousetis (Eureka) 48-6, Sr. (MD 9-1)
175 – Third Place – Carter Brown (Lafayette (Wildwood)) 41-10, Fr. over Jase Motlagh (Willard) 42-9, Sr. (Fall 1:20)
190 – Fifth Place – Johnny Williams (Ozark) 43-11, Sr. over Donovan Hodges (Liberty) 22-16, So. (Fall 1:34)
215 – First Place – Isaiah Hung (Liberty) 25-8, Jr. over Porter Talbot (Willard) 41-5, So. (Dec 1-0)
215 – Third Place – Gavin Gallman (Fort Osage) 38-5, Sr. over Ruben Arvizu (Ozark) 33-13, Jr. (Fall 2:37)
285 – First Place – Elmotie Williams (Liberty North) 40-3, Jr. over Brady Griffin (Willard) 44-4, Jr. (Dec 5-1)
