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WRESTLING ROUNDUP: Joplin squads fare well at Republic, Neosho takes 2nd at Branson

 

JOPLIN SEES SUCCESS AT REPUBLIC

REPUBLIC, Mo. — The Joplin High School boys wrestling team finished third in the team standings at the Republic Invitational on Saturday.

The top five teams were Jefferson City (336), Republic (271), Joplin (181), Rogers (174) and Camdenton (169). There were 15 teams competing.

Joplin’s Draven VanGilder was the champion at 215 pounds. In the title bout, VanGilder earned a major decision, 9-1, over Camdenton’s Gunner Morris. VanGilder won his first four matches by fall.

Also for the Eagles, Ethan Bentz finished third at 165, Freddy Cerrato Martinez was fourth at 132, Josiah Hazelwood was fourth at 190, Juan Morales took fifth at 157 and Brennan Washington was fifth at 285.

Alex Short (138) and Johnathen Burke (144) both finished seventh in their respective brackets, while Toryn Jones was ninth at 126.

The Joplin girls finished fifth in the team standings at Republic. 

Joplin’s Coryanna Mueller was the champion at 110 pounds, while Erika Washom was the runner-up at 135.

Amy Kessler (145) and Mya Ndedi Ntepe (155) both won third-place matches.

Olivia Higdon finished sixth at 140.

Carl Junction also had girls competing at Republic.

Bryanna McCabe took third at 120 and Sarah Tyler was sixth at 155.

 

NEOSHO TAKES SECOND AT BRANSON, CARL JUNCTION FOURTH  

BRANSON, Mo. — Neosho was the runner-up and Carl Junction finished fourth at the Branson Invitational on Saturday.

The top five teams were Ozark (210.5), Neosho (180.5), Helias Catholic (165.5), Carl Junction (139) and Bolivar (138.5). 

Neosho had two individual champions, as Eli Zar took first at 165 pounds and Nico Olivares won the heavyweight bracket.

Finishing third for the Wildcats were Sam Fryar (106), Fisher Butler (120), Ulysses DeLeon (190) and Everson Tomlinson (215).

Brody Mitchell (113), Hunter Butler (132) and Josh Scheuerman (138) all placed fifth, while Chase Kivett was sixth at 150.

Carl Junction’s Lukas Walker was the champion at 113, while Sam Melton (126), Tony Stewart (165) and Chance Benford (190) all finished second in their brackets.

Also for the Bulldogs, Marcus Lopez-Durman (157) and Cayden Bollinger (285) finished fourth, while Brenden Berry (138) and Blake Starks (215) both placed seventh.

CJ’s Cole Beezley (113) and Max Matthews (132) each took eighth.

Also, McDonald County’s Samuel Murphy was the champion at 215, while teammate Blaine Ortiz placed third at 138, Colter Vick took third at 175 and Malosi Sosef was fourth at 190.

Monett’s Simon Hartline was the champ at 120 and Cassville’s Colton Roark took first at 144.

WRESTLING: Area athletes advance to state tourney; Neosho wins district title

 

A large number of Joplin area high school wrestlers secured trips to state with their performances at district tournaments on Saturday. 

The top four wrestlers in each of the 14 weight classes advanced to next week’s state tournament at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.  

 

CLASS 4 DISTRICT 3

NIXA, Mo. — Competing at the Class 4 District 3 tourney at Nixa High School, Carthage had four athletes advance to state, while Joplin had two wrestlers advance.

Carthage’s Davion King was the district champion at 160 pounds, while Eli Sneed was the runner-up at 138.

Winning third place matches for the Tigers were Grey Petticrew (145) and Braxdon Tate (152).

Joplin is sending two athletes to state—Gunner Price and Draven VanGilder.

VanGilder won the third-place match at 195, while Price finished fourth at heavyweight.

Ozark (176), Nixa (160), Lebanon (155.5) and Carthage (117.5) were the top four teams.

State wrestling tournaments will be held from Feb. 17-19 in Columbia. There are four classes for boys wrestling and one class for girls.

 

FULL RESULTS: MSHSAA Class 4 District 3 (trackwrestling.com)

 

CLASS 3 DISTRICT 3

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Class 3 District 3 tournament was held at Carl Junction High School.

Neosho was the team champion with 211.5 points, with Bolivar (174) second and Carl Junction (144) third. 

The Wildcats had 10 wrestlers advance to state. 

Neosho’s individual district champions were Trent Neece (152 pounds) and Eli Zar (170). 

The Wildcats had five runners-up. Taking second in their brackets were Fisher Butler (113), Wyatt Black (120), Johnny Chrisco (126), Hayden Crane (132) and Nate Copeland (138).

Collyn Kivett placed third at 160, while Bostyn Patterson (145) and Ulysses DeLeon (195) finished fourth. 

Carl Junction had seven athletes advance to state. 

Lukas Walker (106) and Sam Melton (113) captured district championships for the Bulldogs.  

Finishing third in their brackets were Max Matthews (120), Tony Stewart (170) and Kameron Bennett (285), while Chance Benford (182) and Cayden Bollinger (220) both finished fourth.

McDonald County had five athletes advance.

The Mustangs had three champions—Blaine Oritz (126), Samuel Murphy (220) and Jayce Hitt (285). Levi Smith took third at 152 and Jose Mendoza-Garcia was fourth at 113. 

 

FULL RESULTS: MSHSAA Class 3 District 3 (trackwrestling.com)

 

CLASS 2 DISTRICT 3

SENECA, Mo. — Helias Catholic (242.5) and Seneca (174.5) were the top two teams.

Seneca’s district champions were Brady Roark (120), Andrew Manley (138) and Gabriel Commons (170). 

Finishing third for the Indians were Caden Thompson (106), Keatin Burleson (113), Brayden Thiel (132) and Dane Napier (182), while Nick Stephens was fourth at 220. 

Monett’s Simon Hartline (106) and Harrison Merriman (285) were district champions, with teammate Corbin McCully fourth at 170.

Cassville’s Akhilleus Arguelles was the champ at 132, while teammate Jake Anthonysz was the runner-up at 160. Cassville’s Kurt Deaver (113) finished fourth.

Nevada’s Mokey Dawn took fourth at 126 and Kenneth Johnson was fourth at 195.

Aurora’s Ian Jackson placed third at 220.

 

FULL RESULTS: MSHSAA Class 2 District 3 (trackwrestling.com)

 

CLASS 1 DISTRICT 2

Diamond had five qualifiers.

Landon Clement was the district champ at 195 pounds and Brayden Clement was the runner-up at 152.

Finishing third were Breydon Pelt (106), Ty Douglas (182) and Tyler May (220).

 

FULL RESULTS: MSHSAA Class 1 District 2 (trackwrestling.com)

 

LOCAL GIRLS ADVANCE TO STATE

Area girls recently competed at the District 3 meet.

Seneca’s Isabella Renfro was the district champion at 174 pounds. Seneca’s Louzella Graham was the runner-up at 115 and teammate Kirsten Bruegel was second at 141.

Cassville’s Annie Moore won a district championship at 115 pounds, while teammates Kelsey Harris (110) and Kailey Artherton (120) placed third and Faith James was fourth at 135.

Diamond’s Josey Crisp finished fourth at 110.

 

FULL RESULTS: MSHSAA Girls District 3 (trackwrestling.com)

 

PREP WRESTLING ROUNDUP: Neosho tops Joplin; Carl Junction, Carthage, McDonald County earn wins

 

JOPLIN HOSTS NEOSHO, NIXA IN TRIANGULAR 

 

Neosho (2-0) finished with a 72-12 win over Joplin and a 40-32 win over Nixa to highlight a triangular match hosted by Joplin on Tuesday.

In the win over Nixa, the Wildcats saw Fisher Butler (113 pounds) earn a fall 1:08 into the first round over Nixa’s Sam Mayes, while Wyatt Black (120) earned a fall 1:02 into the first round over Nixa’s Bradyen Villarreal.

Hayden Crane defeated Nixa’s Aidan Ward by an 11-2 major decision at 138, while Nate Copeland (145) defeated Dylan Webster by fall 29 seconds into the third period. At 152, Bostyn Patterson won a 10-8 decision over Nixa’s Nate Brower, while Neosho’s Trent Neece needed just 37 seconds to win by fall over Alexander Bewley in the first period. 

Eli Zar earned a fall 31 seconds into the second period over Nixa’s Cole Crahan at 170, and Neosho’s Eric Renner earned a 6-5 decision over Nixa’s Charles Speake at 220 pounds.

Against Joplin, Raymond Hembree (120), Johnny Chrisco (126) and Butler (113) all earned wins by forfeit, while Braden White (106) earned a win by forfeit for the Eagles.

Neosho’s Jack Lankford (132) defeated Joplin’s Alex Short by fall 1:38 into the second period, while Crane earned a win by fall over Orion Norris 1:06 into the second period.

Patterson defeated Joplin’s Ethan Bentz by fall, while Neece earned a win by fall over Jack Stanley. 

Zar defeated Drew VanGilder by fall, with Collyn Kivett defeating Brayden Thomas by fall at 182 pounds. Rener added a win by fall over Travis Shofler, with Nico Olivares pinning Joplin’s Gunner Price at 285 pounds.

Joplin’s Draven VanGilder was the brightspot for the Eagles, defeating Neosho’s DeLeon Ulysses by fall at 182 pounds.

Joplin fell to Nixa 70-0.

 

CARL JUNCTION BEATS SENECA, IMPROVES TO 3-0

 

Carl Junction improved its dual record to 3-0 with a 45-27 win over the Seneca Indians on Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs won by forfeit at 106 pounds and Lukas Walker won by fall over Seneca’s Elyas Potts at 113.

Seneca’s Keatin Burleson earned an 11-6 decision over Drake Richardson at 120, while Brady Roark pinned Max Matthews at 126.

Carl Junction won by forfeit at 132, Seneca’s Brayden Thiel won by fall at 138 and Andrew Manley picked up an 8-3 decision over CJ’s Dexter Merrell at 145.

The Bulldogs won the next three matches by fall, as Arlen Wakefield pinned Landen Commons at 152, Tony Stewart won by fall over Jeremy Williams at 160 and Lucas Watkins pinned Austin Stephens at 170.

At 182, Seneca’s Gabriel Commons earned a 5-2 decision over Chance Benford, while teammate Dane Napier won by forfeit at 195.

Carl Junction’s Cayden Bollinger pinned Nash Crane at 220, while Kameron Bennett won the heavyweight matchup 4-1 over Jacob Gravner. 

Carl Junction will host the CJ Classic on Saturday, with Seneca among the teams competing. 

 

CARTHAGE EARNS TWO DUAL WINS

 

The Carthage Tigers recorded their first dual wins of the season. 

Carthage beat Cassville 54-18. 

The Tigers won by forfeit at 106, but Cassville’s Kurt Deaver won by fall over Wyatt Hole at 113.

Carthage won by forfeit at 120 and 132, while Bradyn Tate pinned Jaret Hinson at 126.

Cassville’s Akhileus Arguelles pinned Byron Lopez at 138 and the Tigers won by forfeit at 145 and 152. 

Carthage’s Davion King won by fall over Jake Anthonysz at 160 and teammate Gabe Lambeth pinned Hunter Morris at 170. 

There was a double forfeit at 182 and 220, while Cassville won by forfeit at 195.

At 285, Carthage’s Jesua Coquij pinned Bryson Hendrix.

The Tigers also defeated Miami (Okla.) 60-21. 

Carthage won by forfeit at 106.

Hole (113), Christian Brown (120), Bradyn Tate (126), Kip Castor (132), Lopez (138), Eli Sneed (145), Braxdon Tate (152), King (160) and Lambeth (170) all won by fall for the Tigers. 

Miami won by forfeit at 195 and 220. 

At 285, Miami’s Hayden Miller earned a 4-2 decision over Coquij. 

Carthage (2-1) will compete at the Farmington Invitational on Saturday. 

 

MCDONALD COUNTY 54, AURORA 24

 

The Mustangs took care of business against the Houn’ Dawgs. 

There was a double forfeit at 106 before the Mustangs won by forfeit at 113 and 120.

At 132, McDonald County’s Dominic Cervantes pinned Caymen Cornelison. Aurora’s Shaun Finnegan won by fall over Ayden Ball at 138. 

McDonald County’s Cross Spencer won by fall over Luke Miller at 145 and the Mustangs won by forfeit at 152.

John Clemons pinned Aurora’s Dalton Brisco at 160 before the Mustangs won by forfeit at both 170 and 182. 

Aurora’s Kyle Anderson pinned Cole Thomas at 195 and teammate Ian Jackson won by fall over Mac County’s Dwayne Tihpen at 220. The Mustangs were open at 285. 

McDonald County will compete at the CJ Classic on Saturday.