By Michael Smith (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Ozark freshman Parker Hansen was just a few seconds away from a state championship.
Hansen took on Seckman sophomore Kaemen Orine in the title bout of the Class 4, 106-pound weight division. He seemed to be in good shape after a single-leg takedown led to him taking a 4-3 lead with just 1:17 left in the match.
From there, Hansen rode Orine for 59 seconds before the Seckman sophomore found a way to get a reversal and hang on for a 6-5 win Saturday at Mizzou Arena.
Hansen finished his season with a 42-3 record.
“It sucks to lose in the finals, but I am just a freshman and have three more years,” Hansen said. “I did the best I could. I am going to work to improve for next year.
“I think I shouldn’t have been so scambly and used more fundamentals, and make sure my positions are solid.
Overall, Hansen said he is happy with the season he had.
“It was a good freshman year,” Hansen said. “I am looking for more to come.
Hansen’s teammate Colton Wilson finished in fifth place in the 138-pound division as he earned a 3-2 decision over Neosho junior Kelton Shaffer. Ozark Taiga Kwon finished in sixth place at 113 pounds after he fell to Park Hill junior Cade Brayfield 9-1.
Neosho had the best team score among teams from the Southwest Missouri Area in the Class 4 tournament as it finished in sixth place with 87.5 points. The Wildcats saw four wrestlers take fourth place, including Carter Howard (157), Lincoln Howard (165) and Chase Kivett (190).
Neosho’s Marztian Ioanis (106) took fifth and Kaymon Rhone (175) finished in sixth.
Class 4 state medalists
2nd – 106 – Parker Hansen, Ozark (42-3)
4th – 157 – Carter Howard, Neosho (45-5)
4th – 165 – Lincoln Howard, Neosho (45-6)
4th – 190 – Chase Kivett, Neosho (46-6)
5th – 106 – Marztian Ioanis, Neosho (42-9)
5th – 138 – Colton Wilson, Ozark (33-4)
5th – 144 – Keaton Overcast, Republic (35-3)
5th – 215 – Joseph Camelin, Waynesville (45-7)
6th – 113 – Taiga Kwon, Ozark (37-14)
6th – 138 – Kelton Shaffer, Neosho (37-11)
6th – 144 – Lincoln Stearns, Waynesville (41-5)
6th – 175 – Kaymon Rhone, Neosho (31-7)
