By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
CASSVILLE — Just like last year’s seniors at Seneca, Brady Roark and the Indians’ seniors this year are four-time Big Eight Conference Tournament champions.
Seneca breezed to its fifth Big Eight championship Friday in the five years the conference has held a tournament. Coach Jeff Sill’s bunch totaled 402.5 points, while McDonald County was second with 368 points.
“The coaches have been telling us all week that we had never lost this tournament since they started it, so we better wrestle good and get another win,” said Roark, who added Seneca’s streak may not end anytime soon. “We’ve got a good group (of freshmen) and they’re going to get better. I’m excited to watch them as they get older.”
Seneca’s individual champions were Roark at 132, Paxton Bruegal at 106, Eli Manley at 126, Andrew Manley at 144 and Jace Renfro at 190.
“We came over here knowing we needed to keep that title,” Bruegal said. “But we weren’t saying we were going to win or being overly confident.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE TOURNAMENT
Roak keeps his streak alive
Roark (38-0) won his fourth straight Big Eight Tournament individual championship by pinning Marshfield’s Tanner Davidson (30-6) in the 138 final in 2:00.
Roark collected four takedowns prior to his pin.
“I always want to score a lot of points in my matches. For that match, though, I didn’t plan on getting that many takedowns,” Roark said. “It was just kind of something I felt and my coaches said to go ahead to get takedowns. We hadn’t wrestled in about a week and a lot of us haven’t got a lot of mat time. So, it was good to get back in action today.”
Roark’s three pins Friday upped his winning streak to 118 matches dating back to a loss to Nixa’s Zan Fugitt their sophomore seasons two years ago.
“I haven’t kept too close a track of it,” Roark said of his winning streak. “(Seneca coaches) didn’t make too big of a deal of it when I got (his 100th straight win), which I was glad about. I just got little congrats from everyone.”
The South Dakota State signee will begin his quest for a third straight state championship at districts next month.
Trio of Seneca freshmen claim titles
Bruegal, Eli Manley and Renfro headline Seneca’s freshman class. Bruegal and Manley won championship as No. 1 seeds, while Renfro was a No. 2 seed.
Bruegal (32-6) pinned McDonald County’s Eberson Perez (12-9) in 5:26.
“That was a very physical match,” Bruegal said. “It came down to who had the better technique. I’ve been wrestling since as long as I can remember. Most of the time my technique is what allows me to get the upper hand.”
Eli Manley (33-5) also pointed to his technique as being the difference after picking up a pin in 1:39 versus Rogersville’s Greyson Ritter (14-22) in the 126 final.
“I think the kid was stronger than me, but Seneca is more technical than everyone else and that’s why we win,” Manley said.
Renfro (18-7) edged McDonald County’s Malosi Sosef (21-8) 3-2 in the 190 final.
Andrew Manley (34-4) gained a major decision against Cassville’s Colton Roark (33-6) in the 144 title tilt.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE TOURNAMENT
McDonald County foursome shine
McDonald County heavyweight Jayce Hitt (10-0) pinned Reeds Spring’s Eben Crain (28-3) in :53 in their title tilt.
Hitt’s number of matches have been restricted due to an injury to his right foot. He aggravated the injury Friday.
“At practice one day, we were drilling and (a teammate’s) knee landed on the center of my foot,” Hitt said. “It’s never been the same since. We got it X-rayed to make sure there are no fractures. We’re going to try to get to a doctor, especially now that I re-injured it, and see what’s going on. I’m having trouble planting on it with full confidence. I shot in (during the final) and it kind of went out on me. I had to fight through the pain.
“It’s a pretty bad deal,” Hitt added. “It’s going to be a tough finish to the season. But I think I’m going to be able to manage and have a good finish.”
The Mustangs’ Sam Murphy (29-1) showed a flair for the dramatic in the 215 final by recording a takedown with :05 remaining to win 3-1 against Marshfield’s Erik Tomanek (33-6).
A year ago, Murphy edged Tomanek 2-1, with a takedown with :15 remaining.
“With the way our styles clash, I think it throws both of us off,” Murphy said of their low-scoring matches.
McDonald County’s Blaine Ortiz (28-4) repeatedly ran the length of Cassville’s gym following his 11-2 major decision against Rogersville’s Jackson Snider (29-8) in the 144 final.
“We always put in five minutes (of running), win or lose, at the end of a tournament for our self-esteem and to think about what we did during our matches and how we can improve,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz is looking to join his older brother, Oscar, as McDonald County state champions.
“I’m looking to put my name up on our wall and be our second state champion for McDonald County,” Ortiz said. “I’m looking to get what I want.”
McDonald County’s Colter Vick (24-7) won the 175 championship as a second seed. He pinned top-seeded Tyler Longobardi (26-6).
Pair of Wildcats win on home mat
Riley James became Cassville’s first freshman to be crowned a Big Eight Tournament champion by capturing the 150 title. He recorded an 8-0 victory in the final against Marshfield’s Joseph Martin (27-11).
James took most of the past week off while visiting family in Bakersfield, California.
“I just got back yesterday and got my workout in,” James said. “My first match today, I wrestled terrible and was out of breath. But these last couple matches, I got warmed up and was breathing better. I got better on my feet.”
Cassville had two other freshmen, 144-pounder Colton Roark (33-6) and 157-pounder Tristan Thompson (32-8), finish as runners-up.
Wildcats senior Jake Anthonysz (29-4) posted a 7-3 victory against Rogersville’s Griffin Swearengin (25-11) in the 165 final.
“It’s a great feeling and an honor to win this tournament in front of a Cassville crowd,” he said. “It was more pressure (being at home). Since Cassville’s wrestling program has been getting more popular, a lot more people are coming to our matches. I had to show them what I can do.”
Anthonysz avenged a loss to Swearengin from the Monett Tournament two weeks ago, despite dealing with sciatic nerve leg pain. It’s been an ongoing issue for him since midway through football season.
“I was dead-lifting and felt a shot to my leg. I was out for the rest of the season,” Anthonysz said. “Slowly but surely, it’s been getting better. I felt (some pain) my last two matches tonight, but nothing too extreme.”
Fulfilling title for Rogersville’s Thomspon
Rogersville’s Beau Thompson (29-5) was pleased with his conditioning during his title run at 157. He downed Cassville’s Tristan Thompson 6-2 in their title tilt.
“I’ve got the stamina to go four or five periods,” Beau Thompson said. “I usually run 10 miles a day. There are some back roads by my house so I run those. Usually, I run after practice.”
Cubs’ Hartline, Wolves’ Pearson prevail
Monett junior Simon Hartline (24-2) won 2-0 as a No. 1 seed at 120 against Seneca’s Keatin Burleson (23-5) in their title tilt.
Reeds Spring’s Shane Pearson (30-7), a No. 1 seed at 113, pinned McDonald County’s Robinson Yoshino (12-15) in 1:00 in their title tilt.
