Five Qualifiers Locked In
MCHS SENDING QUINTET TO STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The disappointment of not having a district champion for the coaching staff at McDonald County High School was offset by having five wrestlers qualify for state by finishing in the top four at the Missouri Class 3 District Wrestling Tournament held Feb. 9-10 at Camdenton High School.
The five state qualifiers ties the most at MCHS since McDonald County was bumped up to Class 3 about 10 years ago.
The disappointment of not having a district champion for the coaching staff at McDonald County High School was offset by having five wrestlers qualify for state by finishing in the top four at the Missouri Class 3 District Wrestling Tournament held Feb. 9-10 at Camdenton High School.
The five state qualifiers ties the most at MCHS since McDonald County was bumped up to Class 3 about 10 years ago.
Leading the way were second place finishes by Oscar Ortiz (106) and Jakob Gerow (120). Also advancing with third place finishes were Truman Craig (160), Kammron Barnes (220) and Tinker Kinser (285).
Ortiz received a bye in the first round before claiming a 5-4 decision over fellow freshman Kaden Lorenz of Branson to advance to the semifinals. Facing neighboring rival Kolton Sanders of Neosho, Ortiz took an early lead and maintained an advantage throughout the match to win a 7-5 decision and assure a state berth.
In the finals, Ortiz, 44-7 for the season, faced top-seeded sophomore Evan Winder of Jefferson City Helias. Winder scored an escape in the second period to take a 1-0 lead before Ortiz recorded a take down for a 2-1 lead. But Winder answered in the third period with two back points to claim a 3-2 win.
Gerow, who f inished fourth in state at 113 pounds last year, pinned his first two opponents, Talon Randazzo of Camdenton and Kelly Henson of Branson to reach the semifinals.
In the semifinals Gerow claimed a 15-7 decision over Randy Salaz of Jefferson
City Helias to advance to the finals where he faced Dalen Moore of Carthage. Moore recorded a second period escape for the only point of the match in a 1-0 victory.
Also advancing to the semifinals for the Mustangs were Barnes and Kinser. Barnes claimed a 9-0 win over Alex Jimenez of Camdenton in his opening round match and then pinned Austin Hymer of Willard in the quarterfinals.
But in the semifinals, Barnes and Christian Nutz of Neosho were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation to force overtime. With six seconds left in the first period of sudden death, Barnes was called for stalling, giving a point and the match to Nutz.
Barnes rebounded with a pin over Travin Plemmons of Marshfield to assure himself a state berth and then added a second win over Hymer for third place.
Kinser, the Mustangs’ other returning state qualifier, recorded pins over Tristen Burton of Marshfield and Brenen Ocana of Carthage to advance to the semifinals where he faced Zeke Wall of Carl Junction. Kinser, who defeated the Carl Junction junior twice this season, dropped a 5-4 decision to fall to the consolation bracket.
Kinser pinned Alton Heyer of Rolla in less than minute to advance to the third placed match where he pinned David Stacey of Branson for third place.
Craig opened the tournament with a pin over Marcus Reimnonenq of Springfield Glendale but was then upset by Jesus Ramirez of Camdenton in the quarterfinals.
The McDonald County senior was now three matches away from qualifying for state for the first time in his last opportunity to do so. But Craig responded with three consecutive pins to reach the third place match where he pinned Clay Wilson of Marshfield.
“I was the most nervous about Truman being able to advance,” said coach Josh Factor. “He has been close in the past and I was so happy to see him make it.”
McDonald County had four other wrestlers make it to the do-or-die match — only to lose and be denied a state qualifying berth. David Lazalde (113), Johann Dela Cruz (126), Christian Willman (138) and Timber Bowers (170) all came within one win of making it to state.
Other McDonald County wrestlers to compete at districts were Jared Weaver ( 132), Jack Bowers ( 145), Nathaniel Johnny ( 152), Wilson Menas ( 182) and Brandon Andrew (195).
McDonald Co un t y finished fifth in the team standings with 123 points. Neosho won the team title with 251.5 points followed by Willard with 168.5, Carthage 143.5, Rolla 134.5, McDonald County 123, Branson 114, Helias 95.5, Carl Junction 77, Republic 70.5, Webb City 57.5, Marshfield 38, Camdenton 28, Hillcrest 19, Parkview 19 and Glendale 7.
The state tournament will be held at Mizzou Arena on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia from Feb. 16-18.