By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Returning to the Kinloch Classic after a year’s absence, Ozark dominated the 26-team field Saturday. The Tigers collected 13 medals, six individual championships and ran away with the team title.
With no team within 100 points of Ozark’s total of 390.5 points, the Tigers are looking forward to competing for more championships.
“We expected this,” 126 champion Keaton Hurst said. “Every day we grow. Every day we get better. Every person grows because of the person next to him. We all push each other. I can’t wait to see what we do at the end of the season.
“We did what Ozark does,” 144 champion Teagon Patterson said.
Ozark returned to the Kinloch after competing in the Diamond State Duals at Springdale, Arkansas, last season.
“We always like coming here and they’re always good hosts,” Tigers coach Tod Sundlie said. “We’re glad to be here and to see some teams we don’t see as much anymore with conferences changing.”
The Tigers made it a sweep for Ozark at Parkview this week. On Thursday, the Lady Tigers took the Lady Viking Holiday Tournament title.
Moison leads list of Tigers champions
Ozark’s Dayton Moison (16-1) put together one of the most dominating performances in the finals by recording a 16-0 win by technical fall against Carl Junction’s Tony Stewart (18-3).
Stewart was a defending Kinloch champ and is a two-time state medalist. He was the Class 3 165 state runner-up two years ago.
“I found out after beating him he is a multiple state (medalist),” said Moison, who was third at 157 in Class 4 last year. “This helps my confidence.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM THE SECOND DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT
Moison was a contender for the tourney’s Most Outstanding Wrestler award. His seven pins tied him for the tourney lead in falls with Carl Junction’s Aaron Dillingham.
Ozark was 6-of-7 in the finals.
Winning championships with a pin for the Tigers were Hurst (15-4), Colton Wilson (19-7) at 132 and Isaiah Collins (19-7) at 285.
Wilson and Collins are freshmen.
In addition to Moison, Patterson (21-5) won a 9-6 decision in the 144 final against Branson’s Carson Ruda (20-7) and Ruben Arvizu (19-5) won 7-1 in the 215 final against McDonald County’s Malosi Sosef (12-4).
Isringhausen tabbed Most Outstanding Wrestler
Branson sophomore Ryzen Isringhausen captured the 120 championship and stayed undefeated on the season, while upping his record to 26-0. He edged Glendale’s Shawn Lang 1-0 in their title tilt.
Coaches voted Isringhausen the tourney’s Most Outstanding Wrestler. As a freshman last winter, he won the Class 3 106 state championship.
Isringhausen denied repeated attempts for an escape by Lang (17-3) in the third period.
“I like to think so,” Isringhausen said when asked if defending escape attempts is one of his strengths. “I like being on top. I feel comfortable there.”
Hensley thrilled to win a title as a Falcon
Glendale’s Chance Hensley claimed the 138 championship by posting a 7-0 victory versus Ozark’s Caden Harrington (7-3).
This was Hensley’s first Kinloch appearance as a Falcon. He transferred to Glendale from Bolivar a year ago during the Christmas break. No one’s happier to be wearing a Glendale singlet than Hensley.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM THE FIRST DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT
“Coach (Bud) Donnell has gone above and beyond for me,” Hensley said. “He’s helped me on and off the mat. He’s kept me out of trouble and helped me with schoolwork and college recruiting. He’s been absolutely great. I’ve also made great friendships at Glendale. Coming to Glendale was exactly what I needed.”
Hensley was surprisingly strong to the finish in the final.
“I thought going into it my conditioning might be a problem,” he said. “I felt kind of tired and weak at some points (earlier) in the tournament. I felt fatigued in my arms.”
Hensley and Harrington are former club teammates. In their most previous meeting, Harrington beat Hensley at the Adidas Nationals last April.
“He kicked my butt,” Hensley said. “Usually, I have the upper hand. I was really surprised when he beat me in April. Eight months later, I’m happy to avenge that loss. It was a highly anticipated matchup. I looked at the brackets and I knew it would be him and me in the finals.”
Trio of Bulldogs crowned champions
Rolla’s Kayden Kinder was the other reigning state champion in the field. He improved to 15-1 and cruised to the 157 title by recording a 10-1 triumph against Carl Junction’s Aaron Dillingham (18-5).
“I knew he was going to be a tough kid,” Kinder said of Dillingham, who was fifth at state last season. “I had to wrestle smart and stay under control.”
Kinder won’t have the chance to repeat as the Class 3 157 championship, after MSHSAA bumped Rolla up from Class 3 to Class 4 for the first time.
“I was excited,” Kinder said of his initial reaction to the Bulldogs being in Class 4. “I want to be our first-ever Class 4 state champ. It’s going to be tougher (than Class 3). I know I’ve got to get better than last year.”
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE FINALS
Rolla’s Tristan Ace and Jack Mrozowicz also claimed Kinloch championships. Both won by technical fall by identical 17-2 scores.
Ace (14-2) beat Cape Central’s Dane Armstrong (21-2). Mrozowicz (14-1) downed St. Clair’s Logan Bartz (22-7).
“I felt confident coming in and feel even more confident leaving,” said Ace, who repeated as a Kinloch champ. “I was a little slow on my feet when he got to my legs. Other than that, I dominated.”
Ace is thrilled to be back at 106, after spending the first half of this season at 113.
“I feel pretty good (at 106),” Ace said. “At 113, I was a little undersized. I’m way bigger than everyone at 106 and able to use my strength.”
Branch, Wilson and Lopez-Durman take titles
Lebanon’s Kaleb Branch (20-3) downed Nixa’s Gavin McAtee (8-8) 14-8 in the 113 title tilt. Branch rallied from a 6-1 deficit by reeling off 13 unanswered points.
Nixa’s Reed Wilson(12-2) posted an 11-2 victory in the 150 final while handing Marshfield’s Tanner Davidson (22-1) his first loss.
Carl Junction’s Marcus Lopez-Durman (17-2) pinned Rolla’s Jason Stallworth (10-3) in 3:50 for the 190 title.
