Monett wrestling wins first team title since 2008

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By Chris Parker & Zach Mason

Monett was the favorite to win the team championship coming into the Class 2 State Wrestling Tournament.

The Cubs did not disappoint by taking the drama out of the team race and locking up the title before the championship matches even began.

“I’m happy for our kids and parents and there’s a lot of people to thank. Just happy to bring it home to southwest Missouri,” Monett head coach Daryl Bradley said.

It is the first team title for the Cubs since 2008.

“There’s a culture. I am just happy to be a part of it. Great coaches, great support from administrators, great parents, it’s just a blessing. The whole community, the history that we have, it makes it all special,” Bradley said.

The Cubs placed three wrestlers in the finals win Karter Brink, Matthew Bahl and Joseph Semerad representing the Cubs in consecutive weight classes.

Brink, who came in as a defending state champion, drew defending unbeaten state champion Sam Hrabovsky from Fulton in the 120-pound finals.

The two wrestled to a 0-0 tie in the first period. In the second period, Hrabovsky scored an escape to take a 1-0 lead. Brink answered with a takedown at the 1:18 mark to get his own lead before Hrabovsky promptly tied it back up. The score stood 2-2 into the final period.

Brink elected to go neutral in the final period. It paid off in the form of a takedown 41 seconds into the period. Hrabosky quickly escaped to get back within one point.

From there, Brink just had to hold off a charging Hrabovsky looking for a takedown.

“I had to circle, don’t let him get to his offense. When he got to my leg I knew I had to stay defensive and stay tough,” Brink said of the closing second of the match.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TITLE BOUTS

Brink would successfully hold off Hrabovsky and with the 120-pound championship via a 4-3 decision.

Matt Bahl stepped up next at 126 pounds. Bahl was seeking his first title after finishing runner-up to Hrabovsky last season. He drew unbeaten Kade Willis from Central Park Hills as his opponent.

Bahl would trail early after Willis scored a quick takedown. It forced him to adjust his strategy a bit.

“I didn’t want to tie it up with him. I know he’s good in the tie so I wanted to keep space. He took me down first with the tie, so after that I kind of sat back and keeping to my stuff,” Bahl said.

From there, Bahl did not get taken down again. He worked his way back from the deficit with a second period escape to tie the match. Willis would escape off bottom to start the third meaning Bahl needed to make something happen if he wanted to win a state title.

That something would be a takedown and 25-second ride to win the match 4-3 and claim a state title.

Two-time defending state champion Joey Semerad came up next at 132 pounds to try and help the Cubs go three-for-three in title matches. Standing in his way was two-time finalist and defending state champion Jay Strausbaugh from Rogersville.

Strausbaugh beat Semerad for a district title the week prior. He came into the rematch with Semerad hoping to control the action.

“It (my strategy) was not to let him get any easy shots because he takes quick shots. So I just stayed away from that while working my own stuff. I wanted to lead it and keep coming at him because I knew he’d get tired eventually,” Strausbaugh said.

The strategy worked as Semerad didn’t record any takedowns while Strausbaugh scored two on his way to a 5-2 decision and a second consecutive state championship.

Gunnar Bradley (6th at 152 pounds), Ethan Umfleet (3rd at 160 pounds), Wesley Merriman (4th at 195 pounds and Harrison Merriman (6th at 220 pounds) also were state placers for the Cubs.

Monett will return its full state lineup next season.

The team chasing Monett was Bolivar. While the Liberators would come up short they still were able to snag a team trophy in second place.

Three wrestlers represented Bolivar in state champions with Hayden Burks coming away with the lone title at 160 pounds.

Burks completed a perfect 52-0 season with a 9-5 win over Winfield’s Clark Rogers in the championship match.

“It’s probably one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life. We’ve only had one other state champ, and that was back in 2012, so it’s awesome to be the second one in the history of Bolivar,” Burks said.

Teammates Austin Coons and Drayton Hutcheman finished second place at 145 and 220 pounds, respectively. Granite Cunningham (3rd at 106) and Canyon Cunningham (6th at 113) also earned all-state finishes for Bolivar.

Buffalo’s Floyd Miller was the final area champion in Class 2. He capped off his record-setting career with a 36-second pin of Reeds Spring senior Clayton Johnson.

“It was crazy. I don’t even know how to explain (the feeling). I lack the vocabulary to explain it,” Miller said.

Miller finished tied with teammate Ethan Smith for the record for career wins at Buffalo with 201. He is also the only four-time all-state finisher for the Bison. Smith finished as the runner-up in the 152-pound weight class.

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