2018-19 Winter Preview: Monett Wrestling

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Few wrestling teams in the state of Missouri will have higher expectations that the Monett Cubs.

They finished second place to Mexico at the Class 2 State Tournament by just 6.5 points last year. The good news for Monett is two champions along with another state finalist and placer return to the team.

Leading that group is two-time state champion Joseph Semerad. Semerad won the 106-pound title with a 47-5 record as a sophomore. He will move up a weight class or two this year after two seasons at 106 pounds.

“He knows what is ahead of him. He definitely is focused,” Monett head coach Daryl Bradley said. “He may take some losses going up to a different weight class and getting adjusted. Joey is smart and works hard and really adjusts to what people throw at him. He knows that it is going to be tough, but if anyone can get that third one it is going to be him.”

Karter Brink is Monett’s second returning state champion at 120 pounds. He posted a 52-1 record on the season. He beat Austin Coons 3-2 in the state championship match to avenge his only loss of the season.

“He (Brink) hasn’t lost to anybody twice. He makes good adjustments. He knows what he has to do and is hard-nosed and hates to lose. I think he will continue to that,” Bradley said. “He works very hard. He is tough and out-works anybody he wrestles. His hand-fighting is great, always pressuring and looking to score the next point. That makes him dangerous. I think he is capable of beating just about anybody.”

He will wrestle around 126 pounds this year.

Matthew Bahl had a strong freshman season that saw him finish as state runner-up at 113 pounds with a 43-6 record. He will be around 132 pounds this season.

Gunnar Bradley posted a 35-13 record last year and finished fourth at 138 pounds. Bradley also battled a meniscus injury. He was a state runner-up as a freshman and will look to get back to the final in his junior year.

“He (Bradley) has had a good training year, been healthy and gotten stronger,” Coach Bradley said. “With the way he has worked and progressed, I think anything less than first will be very disappointing. He has gotten mean. He doesn’t want to go out there to hurt people, but he definitely wants to assert his will and dominance over people.”

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Bradley could slot in at either 145 or 152 pounds.

Elias Barrientos and Wesley Merriman give Monett two more returning state placers.

Barrientos showed several times last year that he can compete for a spot on the podium this year.

“He (Barrientos) is capable of beating anybody. He beat a couple state champs last year,” Bradley said. “He is very talented, strong and quick. He is not afraid to go out there and put it on the line and try to score some points. I really think he will be competing up there in that top three.”

Expect Barrientos to wrestle in the 138 to 145-pound range.

Merriman will be back at 195 pounds this season.

“He (Merriman) is very strong and quick with great technique. He has the ability to pin anybody. He will be fun to watch,” Bradley said.

Seniors Josh Bahl and Jordan Withnell will also be factors on varsity. Withnell is a three-year starter for Monett.

In addition to all of the returning state qualifiers, Monett has a pair of freshmen that will compete for state medals right away.

Ethan Umfleet is a three-time Missouri Youth Champion. He will wrestle at 160 or 170 pounds this year, which is a weight class typically dominated by upperclassmen.

“At that weight, those guys (who can compete as freshmen) are special. I have been doing this for a while and I have never had one, but I really think that you will see (Umfleet) on the podium (at state). He is that dominant and that good,” Bradley said. “He is ready to compete at the high school level. You will hear a lot about him this year.”

Harrison Merriman will give Monett a second freshman who has won championships at the youth level. He will hold down the 220-pound weight class this year.

Both freshman also started for the football team this fall.

Monett will have a target on its back this year as a favorite every time it hits the mats. Bradley will work to keep his team focused on what they can control.

“I think we need that same kind of mental preparedness (as last year) that this is just another match and just another tournament. Just go out and relax and have fun,” Bradley said. “We are just going to worry about ourselves and our training and not worry about what anybody else is doing.”

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