Likely the greatest sequence for Reeds Spring’s wrestling program occurred in less than two minutes.
The Wolves got consecutive first-period pins from Tyler Miller (195) and Zack Kearney (220) in the Class 2 semifinals on Friday night. Both will wrestle for state championships tomorrow at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF CLASS 1 & 2 SEMIFINALS
Miller pinned St. Clair’s Matt Gordon late in the first period. Just moments later, Kearney came onto the same mat for his bout. He didn’t need long, pinning Nevada’s Colby Smith in 40 seconds.
Watching and coaching Kearney nearby was his dad, who’s an assistant coach for the team.
“For us to watch those two kids get back-to-back pins to advance to the state finals, it was pretty special,” said Wolves head coach Kevin Huck. “To have two guys in the finals, that’s a new thing for us.”
Miller faces Fulton’s Paul Books in the 195 finals Saturday. Kearney will take on Boonville’s Kyle Cook in 220.
The Wolves had three in the semifinals Friday, but freshman Broden LeMaster lost to by major decision (12-2) to Excelsior Springs’ Brennan Johnson.
Reeds Spring has only had one state champion in its history – Tony White won the 152 title in 2011.
Elsewhere in Class 2, Monett’s Chase Brennan will battle Cameron’s Trevor Burkhart for the 113 championship. Brennan beat Kirksville’s Ethan Rentschler 12-2 in the semifinals Friday night.
“My coaches remind me all the time, ‘Don’t overlook anybody,’” Brennan said. “That’s what I’ve been doing – staying mentally strong, eating the right things and keeping my body strong. I’ll be ready to go Saturday.”
The Seneca Indians will have Will Roark going for the 120 title in Class 1. Roark edged Brookfield’s Garrett Zahner, who was a state champ at 103 last season, 6-1 in the semifinals.
“Roark did a good job of scoring on the edge of the mat,” said Seneca coach Jeff Sill. “He had a guy that was backing away from us a lot, and (Roark) was still able to control the match.”
The state finals are nothing new for Roark, a sophomore who entered this year’s state tournament with a record of 50-1. He lost in overtime in the Class 2 113 title bout last season.
Seneca saw Cole Lankford (126) and Jalen Skaggs (160) come up short in the semifinals Friday.
“Cole just ran into an opponent that… he couldn’t get away from,” Sill said. “(Cole) took his opponent down late in the first period and just kind of rode him out. Then, he rode us out the rest of the way.”
Other local Class 1 and 2 wrestlers losing in the winner’s semifinals Friday night were:
• Marshall Wilson, 113, Warsaw (Class 1)
• Dayton Miller, 106, Nevada (Class 2)
• Slade Stiles, 120, Nevada
• Jacob Miles, 138, Bolivar (Class 2)
• Sam Ellifrits, 285, Nevada
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SEMIFINAL AND THIRD ROUND WRESTLE-BACK RESULTS
Class 1 team scores
1. Whitfield 93.0 2. Brookfield 81.5 3. Herculaneum 76.0 3. Lawson 76.0 5. Seneca 74.0 6. Plattsburg 73.0 7. Trenton 67.5 8. Blair Oaks 67.0 9. Mid-Buchanan 64.5 10. Knob Noster 61.5
Class 2 team scores
1. Oak Grove 143.5 2. Fulton 92.5 3. Odessa 90.0 4. Cameron 85.5 5. St. Charles West 71.5 6. Kirksville 68.5 7. Reeds Springs 66.0 8. Smithville 65.0 9. Ste. Genevieve 64.0 10. Monett 49.5 11. Excelsior Springs 49.0 12. Moberly 41.0 13. Mexico 40.0 13. Pleasant Hill 40.0 15. Nevada 39.5 16. Clinton 37.5 17. Center 32.0 18. Logan-Rogersville 30.0 19. McCluer South-Berkeley 27.0 20. Boonville 26.0
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