By Chris Parker & Zach Mason
Monett came into the Class 2 State Tournament with high expectations.
The Cubs met those expectations on Friday by going four-for-four in the semifinals.
Defending state champion Joesph Semrad got things started at 106 pounds. Semerad knows that his designation as a defending state champion will put a target on his back.
“I know I have a target on my back but it’s something I just have to look past,” Semerad said. “It’s great to be back (at state), I knew what to expect this time around.”
The sophomore controlled his match throughout with a 6-0 win over Fulton’s Jackson Caswell.
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He will face Benton’s Tyler Murphy (45-9) for the Class 2 106-pound championship.
Freshman Matthew Bahl was up next for the Cubs at 113 pounds and also pitched a shutout with a 4-0 win over Christian’s Jonathan Cochrum. Bahl will face 41-0 Sam Hrabovsky from Fulton in the state championship bout.
Karter Brink kept things rolling at 120 pounds with an 11-2 major decision over Eldon’s Isaiah Simmons.
“I’ve been good on my feet all year, so I knew if I was staying heavy on his head, I knew I could get into my shots and finish them. I rode good on top and it worked out for me,” Brink said.
Brink is now 51-1 and will get a chance to avenge that lone loss on Saturday against Odessa’s Austin Coons in the Class 2 120-pound final. Coons beat Brink 4-3 in a tiebreaker in the district title match last week.
“I’ve studied him (Coons) and I think I have what I was missing last match,” Brink said.
Monett’s second defending state champion Joel Barrientos made it a semifinals sweep for the Cubs with a 1-0 win over Dexter’s Travis Waldner. He will face Benton’s Cristian Dixon (44-7) for the Class 2 – 126-pound championship.
Strausbaugh, Campbell to represent Rogersville in finals
Jay Strausbaugh advanced to the state championship last year, but ran into a buzzsaw in the form of four-time state champion Connor Brown in the final round.
He is returning to the state championship round at 132 pounds this year after beating St. James’ Mikey Crocker 6-2.
“His style was to come out aggressive at the beginning, but the first takedown doesn’t mean anything,” Strausbaugh said. “It is about how you finish. It’s about stamina. I do cross country, and stamina helps a lot.”
Strausbaugh gave up a takedown just six seconds into the match, but that would be the last points that Crocker would score.
Now he will focus on resting up for Saturday.
“I need to get some rest. I keep waking up in the middle of the night due to stress,” Strausbaugh said.
“I have had great matches already this year with both of my potential opponents, so I can’t wait for a rematch either way.”
He will face St. Clair’s Jason Landing (45-3) on Saturday for the Class 2 – 132-pound championship. Landing beat Strausbaugh 3-2 at the Kinloch Wrestling Tournament Championship in late December.
Teammate Lucas Campbell also had to pull off a comeback to advance to the 145-pound championship bout.
Campbell found himself down 6-4 after the first period, but didn’t panic.
“At this stage, anything can happen and you just have to believe in yourself,” Campbell said. “I kept on grinding and to get what I’ve been working all year for.”
He would go on to beat Owensville’s Dustin Jahnsen 11-9 to advance to the Class 2 – 145-pound title match.
“I finished sixth last year, I’ve always had the mindset to get better each year and the four years of hard work are paying off and that’s why I’m here today,” Campbell said.
He will face Boonville’s Brant Whitaker (45-4) in the championship bout.
Bolivar’s Burks gets shot at redemption
Bolivar sophomore Hayden Burks came into his Class 2 160-pound semifinal against Odessa’s Jake Evinger with one goal: points.
“I knew he (Evinger) was good going in. I knew not to go for the pin because he’s strong. I had to go for points,” Burks said. “I stayed heavy on the head and waited for him to take his shots and capitalize on that.”
Burks would score three takedowns and an escape on his way to a 7-0 victory.
He will get a rematch of last week’s district championship against Eldon’s Trenton Dillon (24-0). Dillon won by a 10-2 major decision in the district championship last week.
“He beat me last week but I’m excited to get him again this week,” Burks said.
