Monett & Rogersville wrestling bring home Class 2 trophies

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By Chris Parker & Zach Mason

Some of the toughest matches Monett wrestlers face throughout the season come each day in practice.

That was evidenced by the Cubs winning state titles 106, 120 and 126 pounds and finishing runner-up at 113 pounds in the Class 2 State Tournament on Saturday.

“My practice partners are the best in the state, I couldn’t be here without them,” 106 pound champion Joseph Semerad said. “Such a tough group to go in to practice every day and battle it out with, but that’s what makes us better.”

120-pound champion Karter Brink echoed the sentiment.

“We push each other in practice all of the time. We get frustrated with each other, but that’s good,” Brink said. “Pushing each other is a great thing. Getting mad at each other isn’t a bad thing either. You have to have that grit and keep pushing. We are all young.”

Semerad started things off for the Cubs at 106 pounds. He came into the meet as the defending state champion. That experience gained last year served him well in his sophomore season.

“Just knowing what to expect and knowing how to take care of your body knowing the ins and outs of the tournament really helps,” Semerad said. “I had to go in and treat it like any other match, just have fun and remember the reason put so much work into this sport. Go out and wrestle hard, and that’s what I did.”

Semerad controlled the match against Benton’s Tyler Murphy on his way to an 8-4 win and his second state title in as many tries.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE SEMIFINALS

After freshman Matthew Bahl finished runner-up to Fulton’s Sam Hrabovsky in the 113-pound final, it was Brink’s turn.

Brink was 51-1 coming into the 120-pound final against Odessa’s Austin Coons, but that one loss came against Coons last week in the district title bout.

“I knew what I did wrong the last time we met. I just kept pushing it,” Brink said. “I was heavier on his head than I was the last match.”

The sophomore would hold on late for a 3-2 decision win over Coons.

The final Monett finalist was the veteran of the group in senior defending state champion Joel Barrientos.

Barrientos has taken on a big leadership role this year with many of the Monett stars being underclassmen.

“We have to help the underclassmen,” Barrientos said. “You have to push them to get to this level, to be at the top of the podium one day.”

He proved to be a good example as he took a 3-2 decision over Benton’s Cristian Dixon.

The final few seconds were a flurry of activity that saw Dixon almost get the upper-hand at the buzzer.

“Basically just (had to) ride him,” Barrientos said. “I knew there was a few seconds, I had to stall and do what I could to keep him down and not give up the takedown.”

The three state champions helped the Cubs finish second in Class 2. Things could be even better for the Cubs next year with three state finalists returning.

“We’re young,” Monett head coach Daryl Bradley said. “We lose a state champ but we’ve got a lot of guys coming back. I’ve got three freshman that are going to really help me next year. The future is bright.”

Rogersville makes history

Rogersville made history this weekend with a third place finish in Class 2 to bring home the program’s first state trophy.

“It’s just the direction that the program is going in. It’s the accumulation of hard work over many years. There’s been a lot of great people involved. It’s a great community and great school district. We’re lucky to have such great support to get where we are now,” head coach Jason Carter said.

The Wildcats had six state placers which included two state champions in Jay Strausbaugh at 132 pounds and Lucas Campbell at 145 pounds.

Strausbaugh finished second as a freshman last year to four-time state champion Connor Brown.

On Saturday, he wrestled a controlled championship bout on his way to a 3-1 decision over St. Clair’s Jason Landing. Landing had beaten Strausbaugh in a regular season tournament earlier this season.

Now the sophomore will have to transition into a junior season as a state champion that will get everyone’s best shot each match.

“It’s great. I love the competition. I want more of it,” Strausbaugh said. “Anyone can come and challenge me, and I’ll keep going as hard as I can.”

If Strausbaugh’s match was controlled, then the only way to describe Campbell’s final at 145 pounds against Boonville’s Brant Whitaker as chaotic.

“I’ve wrestled him before so we knew the game plan coming in,” Campbell said. “We knew he’d like to throw and get into funky positions. So I knew my game plan was to stay strong and keep a solid base and never get out of position and that’s what helped me win the match.”

In the first period alone, Campbell turned a Whitaker attack into a takedown of his own before Whitaker reversed it to tie the match at two. Campbell returned the favor with his own reversal and upped the ante with a two-point nearfall to make it 6-2 after one period.

Whitaker scored a reversal for the second period’s only score.

Campbell would essentially put the match out of reach in the third period with a reversal and three point nearfall less than 40 seconds into the final period on his way to a 12-6 decision.

“It means a lot, to finally be on top after four years means the world for me,” Campbell said. “It just shows how I’ve grown and become a man.”

Barrett Beaird (3rd at 195 pounds), Gabriel Brandenburg (4th at 113 pounds), Jonah Gann (sixth at 126 pounds) and Preston Sleeth (6th at 106 pounds) also placed for the Wildcats.

Campbell is the only state placer that will graduate from that group. He knows that he is leaving the program in great hands.

“The whole team has been putting in hard work,” Campbell said. It (a team trophy) means a lot because this team is just going to keep on growing and keep showing up in these big events.”

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE 3RD & 5TH PLACE MATCHES

Bolivar Burks finishes second

Bolivar sophomore Hayden Burks came up just short in the 160-pound final in a 3-2 loss to Eldon senior Trenton Dillon. He finished his second high school season with a record of 50-6.

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