The first-ever Carthage Dual Tournament was not the success that the team had hoped for. With hopes of filling the extended break and eliminating travel to another destination, Coach Kenny Brown started this year’s inaugural tournament with high hopes.
“Honestly, the team dynamic was just not there. We were sluggish and unmotivated and not the team that has stepped on the mat before break,” Brown said. While this year has posed a number of obstacles with Covid-19 and its restrictions and concessions, it was clear that this bump in the road was just what the team needed to regroup. “We changed some things around in practice and talked with the guys to re-evaluate what we needed to as a team, and frankly, as coaches, to help all of us reach our goals,” said Brown.
That effort was evident the following week as the Tigers hosted Ozark in their last home dual of the season.
“The difference was night and day,” Coach Brown stated. “I think you get to a point in the season where you have to regroup and remember why you love the sport when the grind starts to get too tough. We won some tough matches and I feel that a lot of it was due to the guys wrestling with heart. Dagan Sappington had a tough match with a high caliber kid from Ozark that he won with a 4-3 decision. Sometimes the difference is just who wants it more and he showed us that he was that guy.”
Overall, Brown was extremely pleased with the level of competition he and his assistants observed.
“Our 106 and 113 set the tone for the dual with two big pins to start us off and things rolled from there. Up and down the line, if we’re healthy, we are solid. I count on my more experienced guys to take the lead and set us up for the win. There are also several guys that are just on the cusp of claiming more wins. Eli Sneed has made huge improvements this year, as has Grey Petticrew and Alexis Vasquez. These are the kind of fundamentals that we’re looking for to sustain the team when another class graduates.”
The team continued its success in the Excelsior Springs Tournament four days later with four wrestlers placing first in the A pool.
“The enthusiasm and quality of wrestling we saw this weekend was great. When our coaches talk at the end of each night and struggle to find things to work on in practice, you know that the guys are working things out on the mat and finding success. Sometimes the frustration is there when you’ve got a kid on the edge that is doing everything you ask of him and still can’t get the wins, he’s working so hard for. Many times, it is just a question of developing that muscle memory needed for one move to flow into the next without having to stop and think. Other times a kid may just need to develop his strength. Either way, we’re happy with what we’re seeing,” Coach Brown commented.
While the varsity team competed in Excelsior Springs, the junior varsity was competing in Seneca.
“We originally thought we would be able to take more guys and get more competition for some of the wrestlers that haven’t seen the mat much this year. Unfortunately, we were forced to cut down our numbers and only able to bring two wrestlers at each weight class. I was very pleased with the results. Coaches Kelly, Bounous and Spencer did a great job with the guys and we walked away with nine first placers, three second place medalists and five third placers. That’s a great option for us since COVID-19 has hamstrung our lineup so many times this season. It’s great to know that we can substitute in someone from the jv lineup during a varsity dual and still get the W. Depth and quality of practice partners makes that possible, and sometimes the difference between a varsity and jv spot is the littlest factor,” Coach Brown said.
Here are the results from the Carthage Duals held on 12/30/20. Carthage finished 1-3 on the day in duals. Individual dual results will be in this order: Monett, Hickman, Ray-Pec, Nixa.
1st—Nixa—(4-0)—186 pts
2nd—Hickman—(3-1)—164 pts
3rd—Ray-Pec—(2-2)—147 pts
4th—Carthage—(1-3)—128 pts
5th—Monett—(0-4)—115 pts
Carthage—39
Monett—24
Carthage—33
Hickman—47
Carthage—30
Ray-Pec—36
Carthage—26
Nixa—48
Individual Results
Weight—Name—Grade—Tournament Record—Season Record
106—Joshua Griffith—9—(3-1)—(13-3)
Lost by fall in 4:54 to Simon Hartline
Won by fall in 2:46 over Omari Simmons
Won by fall in 1:01 over Michael Daily
Won by fall in 0:51 over Devin Shadden
113—Kip Castor—10—(2-2)—(7-7)
Won by fall in 3:09 over Karey Anderson
Lost by fall in 2:36 to Jacob Huggans
Won by decision 4-2 over Bryce Gatlin
Lost by technical fall 0-15 to Zan Fugitt
120—Carlos Reyes—12—(3-1)—(14-2)
Won by forfeit
Won by fall in 2:57 over Mark Harrell
Won by fall in 1:01 over Isaac Scott
Lost by fall in 1:26 to Peyton Moore
126—OPEN
132—Dagan Sappington—12—(2-2)—(9-3)
Won by decision 9-2 over Ben Bluel
Lost by fall in 1:43 to Ethan Barr
Won by decision 10-3 over Eli Van Trump
Lost by decision 2-7 to Deagan Fugitt
138—Eli Sneed—11—(2-2)—(12-4)
Lost by decision 0-3 to Matthew Bahl
Won by fall in 1:37 over Takyan Allen
Lost by decision 4-6 to Jacob Quest
Won by fall in 3:25 over Cole Crahan
145—Davion King—10—(4-0)—(14-2)
Won by forfeit
Won by fall in 0:42 over Thomas Hancock
Won by decision 6-1 over Gavin Birkett
Won by fall in 0:33 over Cody Gardner
152—Brayden Benefiel—12—(1-3)—(2-3)
Won by forfeit
Lost by fall in 3:14 to Jake Waldron
Lost by fall in 0:54 to Kanen Huff
Lost by major decision 1-10 to Dylan Carter
160—Brett Rockers—11—(2-2)—(6-3)
Won by forfeit
Lost by technical fall 3-18 to Cole Harrell
Won by decision 5-1 over Patrick Martin
Lost by fall in 1:54 to Alex Bewley
170—OPEN
182—Luke Gall—10—(1-3)—(8-4)
Lost by fall in 4:40 to Ethan Umfleet
Lost by fall in 1:13 to Cameron Cornman
Lost by fall in 5:05 to Coleton McElliott
Won by technical fall 21-4 over Avry Rutherford
195—Obed Gonzalez—12—(0-4)—(2-6)
Lost by fall in 1:46 to Josh Harvey
Lost by fall in 2:49 to Derrick Bechtold
Lost by decision 5-7 to Jacob Edmondson
Lost by fall in 1:42 to Michael Turner
220—Kanen Vogt—(3-1)—(12-4)
Won by fall in 1:37 over Joe Korasick
Won by forfeit
Won by forfeit
Lost by fall in 1:57 to John Gholson
285—Alexis Vasquez—(2-2)—(7-5)
Lost by decision 3-10 to Harrison Merriman
Won by decision 3-2 over Carrig Irelan
Lost by fall in 2:32 to Tyson King
Won by overtime decision 4-2 over Charles Speake
Here are the Carthage Wrestling results from the Ozark dual at home on 01/05/21. Carthage moves to 5-0 on the dual season.
Carthage—44
Ozark—25
Individual Results
Weight—Name—Grade—Season Record
106—Dylan Huntley—9—(1-0)
Won by fall in 0:40 over Eian McCracken
113—Joshua Griffith—9—(14-3)
Won by fall in 2:26 over Jovanni Balsamo
120—Carlos Reyes—12—(15-2)
Won by major decision 12-3 over Daniel Laney
126—Kip Castor—10—(7-8)
Lost by fall in 3:28 to Levi Maskrod
132—Dagan Sappington—12—(10-3)
Won by decision 4-3 over Elijah Maskrod
138—Eli Sneed—11—(12-5)
Lost by fall in 0:38 to Braxton Strick
145—Davion King—10—(15-2)
Won by major decision 11-1 over Brock Sundlie
152—Braxdon Tate—11—(7-1)
Won by decision 6-2 over Clayton Moison
160—Grey Petticrew—10—(9-3)
Lost by decision 0-5 to Riley Newman
170—Brett Rockers—11—(6-3)
Won by fall in 3:16 over Johnny Williams
182—Luke Gall—10—(9-4)
Won by fall in 3:29 over Thomas Rushing
195—Obed Gonzalez—12—(2-7)
Lost by major decision 7-21 to Peyton Greer
220—Kanen Vogt—11—(13-4)
Won by fall in 1:49 over Luke Hulse
285—Alexis Vasquez—12—(7-6)
Lost by fall in 3:40 to Hunter Tennison
JV Results
120—Christian Brown—11—(9-1)
Won by fall in 1:55 over Hagan Hodges
145—Mark Hernandez—10—(1-4)
Lost by fall in 1:25 to Lucas Campbell
145—Trey Nye—10—(2-3)
Lost by fall in 1:13 to Lucas Campbell
160—D.J. Witt—12—(5-0)
Won by major decision 15-7 over Steven Heise
160—Grant Lasley—11—(4-1)
Won by fall in 3:48 over Steven Heise
170—Ben Rogers—9—(1-3)
Lost by fall in 0:45 to Jason Burge
182—James Chuta—12—(5-3)
Lost by fall in 3:25 to Jason Burge
220—Rafael Lopez—11—(2-1)
Lost by fall in 2:31 to Caleb Hays
285—Garrett Lilienkamp—11—(1-3)
Lost by fall in 4:59 to Trent Elkins
285—Malachi Housh—9—(3-2)
Won by decision 6-2 over Trent Elkins
Here are the Carthage Wrestling results from the varsity wrestling tournament in Excelsior Springs on 01/09/21. The best kids were put into a pool/bracket that is the A pool. The rest were put into the B pool. No team scores are kept for this tournament.
Individual Results
Weight–Name–Grade–Tournament Record–Season Record–Tournament Placement
106–Joshua Griffith–9–(2-1)–(16-4)–DNP A pool
won by fall in 0:40 over Elliot Copeland–St. Joe Benton
won by fall in 0:27 over Jayden Welch–Warrensburg
lost by fall in 5:53 to Gavin Parks–Grain Valley
Withdrew from tournament due to injury
113–OPEN
120–Carlos Reyes–12–(5-0)–(20-2)–1st A pool
won by fall in 1:25 over Ben Hayles–Lee’s Summit West
won by fall in 3:18 over Mason Fritsch–Warrensburg
won by fall in 1:08 over Lane Brooks–Nevada
won by fall in 1:26 over Trevor Gondran–Lawson
won by fall in 2:22 over Lane Brooks–Nevada
126–Kip Castor–10–(2-3)–(9-11)–DNP A pool
lost by fall in 3:09 to Joshua Arceo–Grandview
won by decision 5-1 over Tucker Tracy–Lawson
lost by decision 0-2 to Ethan Nash–St. Joe Benton
lost by fall in 1:12 to Andrew Smith–Lee’s Summit West
won by decision 3-2 over Gabe O’Neal–Fulton
132–OPEN
138–Eli Sneed–11–(3-2)–(15-7)–3rd A pool
won by fall in 2:49 over Elijah Lafleur–Lawson
lost by fall in 1:37 to Owen Uhls–Fulton
won by fall in 1:31 to Kevin Norton–Warrensburg
lost by decision 3-8 to Tanner Barker–Grain Valley
won by major decision 18-8 over L.J. Davenport
145–Davion King–10–(4-1)–(19-3)–2nd A pool
won by fall in 3:02 over Bishop Rush–St. Joe Benton
won by fall in 2:55 over Caleb San Nicolas–Grandview
won by fall in 3:06 over Brock Donnelly–Lee’s Summit West
won by fall in 1:33 over Tyler Longobardi–Nevada
lost by technical fall 3-20 to Ayden Dolt–Excelsior Springs
152–Braxdon Tate–11–(5-0)–(12-1)–1st A pool
won by fall in 2:22 over Clinton McCauley–Excelsior Springs
won by fall in 6:00 over Norman Sizemore–Lawson
won by fall in 5:15 over Isaiah Watson–Grandview
won by decision 5-1 over Ruben Miller–Lee’s Summit West
won by fall in 1:22 over Nick Ash–Fulton
160–Grey Petticrew–10–(2-3)–(11-6)–DNP A pool
won by fall in 3:40 over Jeramiah Smith–Summit Christian
lost by decision 2-3 to Elijah Brocksmith–Fulton
won by fall in 1:14 over Chandler Seevers–Van Horn
lost by decision 3-5 t o Darrell Grimmett–Grandview
lost by decision 3-5 to Chandler Seevers–Van Horn
170–Brett Rockers–11–(3-1)–(9-4)–2nd A pool
won by fall in 1:47 over Jonathan Kirkpatrick–Lee’s Summit West
won by fall in 5:31 over Jayden Ayers–Fulton
won by fall in 2:40 over Josh Peek–St. Joe Benton
lost by fall in 1:24 to Carrett Caughern–Warrensburg
182–Luke Gall–10–(4-0)–(13-4)–1st A pool
won by technical fall 20-5 over Shane Duckworth–Grain Valley
won by fall in 0:10 over Ethan Sinclair–Lawson
won by fall in 0:53 over C.J. Nelson–Van Horn
won by fall in 0:22 over J.B. Prestia–Excelsior Springs
Set a new Carthage Individual Weight Class Record for Fastest fall by a 182, breaking the previous record of 0:18 set by Gage Bloomer in the 2016-17 season
195–Obed Gonzalez–12–(0-4)–(2-11)–DNP A pool
lost by decision 3-5 to O’thaniel Frederick–Grain Valley
lost by fall in 0:33 to Garrett Pair–Lawson
lost by fall in 3:38 to Keanu Sua–Van Horn
lost by fall in 5:35 to Trystan Gilbert–Excelsior Springs
220–Kanen Vogt–11–(3-1)–(16-5)–1st A pool
won by fall in 2:23 over Xander Mavel–Lawson
lost by fall in 1:02 to Roman Juarez–Lee’s Summit West
won by fall in 1:16 over Logan Smith–Nevada
won by decision 9-4 over Roman Juarez–Lee’s Summit West
285–Alexis Vasquez–12–(4-0)–(11-6)–1st B pool
won by fall in 1:47 over Carlos Melchert–Van Horn
won by fall in 3:53 over Steven Randall–Grandview
won by fall in 2:00 over Daniel Lee–Summit Christian
won by decision 7-4 over Aidan Davis–Lawson
Here are the Carthage JV Wrestling results from the Seneca JV Tournament on 01/09/21:
Individual Results
Weight–Name–Grade–Tournament Record–Season Record–Placement
106–Dylan Huntley–9–(3-0)–(10-0)–1st
won by fall in 0:34 over Xander McClelland–Republic
won by decision 8-5 over Keatin Burleson–Seneca
won by fall in 0:41 over Drake Richardson–Carl Junction
106–Alberton Sales–9–(2-0)–(5-1)–1st
won by decision 4-3 over Race Clements–Bolivar
won by fall in 0:46 over Micah Crosby–Republic
113–Christofer Gonzalez–9–(0-4)–(4-8)–DNP
lost by fall in 1:50 to Jabin Brown–Joplin
lost by fall in 2:58 to Micheal Owens–McDonald County
lost by tech fall 1-16 to Logan Parker–Republic
lost by fall in 0:58 to Alex Mejia-Jerez–Seneca
120–Christian Brown–11–(4-0)–(13-1)–1st
won by fall in 3:37 over Austin Phillips–Joplin
won by fall in 3:51 over Blake Maggard–Hillcrest
won by fall in 1:19 over Kamdon Pollard–Seneca
won by fall in 0:50 over Jason Eubanks–Glendale
120–Walter Reyes-Mojica–11–(3-1)–(3-4)–2nd
won by decision 14-10 over Caden Allen–Republic
won by decision 14-8 over Max Chapman–Branson
lost by major decision 2-11 to Freddy Cerrato-Martinez–Joplin
won by major decision over Kenneth Hanafin–Glendale
126–Jose Gomez–10–(3-0)–(3-0)–1st
won by fall in 1:10 over Jackson Williams–Glendale
won by fall in 1:42 over Brian Hill–Kickapoo
won by decision 11-9 over Sam Humphrey–Hillcrest
145–Lucas Jones–10–(2-2)–(4-2)–3rd
won by fall in 1:06 over Logan Barwick–Seneca
lost by decision 4-8 to Hunter England–Webb City
lost by fall in 3:22 to Arlen Wakefield–Carl Junction
won by fall in 2:00 over Jackson Gamet–Kickapoo
138–Byron Lopez–11–(1-3)–(12-2)–2nd
lost by decision 4-7 to Dominic Boles–Webb City
won by fall in 3:43 over Jeremiah Dickson–Republic
won by technical fall 16-1 over Miles Elliott–Kickapoo
won by fall in 1:34 over Dallas Johnson–Cassville
138–Mark Hernandez–10–(2-1)–(3-5)–3rd
won by decision 9-4 over Eli Mosher–Nevada
won by fall in 1:21 over Nathan Deter–Glendale
lost by decision 2-7 to Jack Daughtery–Hillcrest
145–Elmer Reyes–9–(4-0)–(9-4)–1st
won by fall in 3:05 over Sy Rosipal–Branson
won by fall in 1:43 over Houston Collard–Webb City
won by fall in 3:01 over Payton Campbell–Bolivar
won by fall in 3:51 over Bryce Henderson–Marshfield
152–Gabe Lambeth–10–(4-0)–(10-1)–1st
won by decision 7-4 over Jeremy Williams–Seneca
won by fall in 1:19 over Keith Pliler–Republic
won by fall in 0:18 over Alex Spencer–Kickapoo
won by fall in 1:29 over Immanuel Jackson–Hillcrest
152–Grant Lasley–11–(3-0)–(7-1)–1st
won by fall in 1:43 over Ethan Bentz–Joplin
won by fall in 0:18 over Chase Ruda–Branson
won by fall in 3:44 over Nathan Jacks–Webb City
160–Creed Lambeth–12–(4-0)–(7-2)–1st
won by fall in 0:54 over Braxstion Kelly–Marshfield
won by fall in 0:49 over Nathan Thomas–Webb City
won by fall in 3:18 over Johhny Williams–Joplin
won by fall in 0:29 over Dakota Day–Kickapoo
160–Ben Rogers–9–(2-2)–(3-5)–3rd
won by fall in 3:31 over Brad Englund–Kickapoo
lost by fall in 0:43 to Cooper Kowalski–Branson
lost by fall in 0:30 to Eli Neville–Joplin
won by fall in 3:06 over Duncan Young–Marshfield
182–James Chuta–12–(3-2)–(8-5)–3rd
won by fall in 4:12 over Alex Ayon–Webb City
won by decision 6-5 over Roman Hart–Webb City
won by fall in 3:18 over Kayden Huchteman–Bolivar
lost by fall in 1:54 to Skyler Denton–Webb City
lost by fall in 1:35 to Caden White–Republic
195–Diego Morales–10–(1-3)–(3-9)–DNP
lost by fall in 0:43 to Landon Brockman–Joplin
won by fall in 0:33 over Jack Viehland–Kickapoo
lost by fall in 4:30 to Elijah Norman–Republic
lost by fall in 0:34 to Robby Hollis–Webb City
220–Cristian Salas–11–(1-2)–(11-2)–3rd
lost by fall in 2:16 to Erik Tomanek–Kickapoo
won by fall in 1:49 over TJ Hearod–Marshfield
lost by major decision 6-14 to Cael McCullah–Bolivar
220–Rafaell Lopez–11–(1-3)–(3-4)–DNP
lost by fall in 5:50 to Luke Gunn–Joplin
lost by decision 2-8 to Jagger Robinson–Marshfield
lost by decision 2-5 to Nash Crain–Seneca
won by fall in 3:14 over Jacob Lomosi–Kickapoo
285–Malachi Housh–9–(4-0)–(7-2)–1st
won by fall in 2:00 over Hayden McBroom–Webb City
won by overtime decision 4-1 over Jacob Gravner–Seneca
won by fall in 1:21 over Nathaniel Peters–Marshfield
won by fall in 2:12 over Alfredo Flores–Joplin
285–Garrett Lilienkamp–11–(2-1)–(3-4)–2nd
lost by fall in 0:29 to Garret Babbitt–Senecas
won by fall in 0:35 over Elijah Hathcock–Republic
won by fall in 2:44 over Liam McGrath–Nevada
