The term “Holiday Break” means something a little different to a wrestler. Maintaining a specific weight, staying in shape and always adding to your ever-growing collection of vintage wrestling shoes tends to top their wish list. This year’s Carthage team got a little something extra from Santa this year, as they added a shutout win over district opponent Joplin, a first place finish by over 100 points at the Harrisonville Christmas Tournament and several dominant finishes at the MacDonald County JV Tournament.
Since Carthage remains in the largest wrestling class in the state this year, Class 4, a resounding win over a district opponent like Joplin is a definite plus in preparing for the second half of the season, according to Head Coach Kenny Brown.
“We were able to see some small things that need to be fixed before we see tougher opponents.”
Brown also mentioned one of his evening’s highlights was “with Gabe Lambeth being able to come in and get the win in his first varsity match. There was a lot of pressure for him to be able to get the win and preserve the chance for the shutout.”
Lambeth, a freshman, filled in for senior, Anderson Ixcol, who was out of town for the holidays. Brown feels that this depth amongst his junior varsity wrestlers is one of the biggest factors to this year’s team success.
“Our JV has progressed tremendously this season. With the JV, you are able to see their progress much easier than the experienced wrestlers. They are running the fundamentals that we preach, and it is paying off in wins for them.”
That momentum carried over to the varsity team the very next day, as they traveled north to the Harrisonville Christmas Tournament, where they secured their first ever championship.
“It was definitely a tough tournament with a talented field of wrestlers. We were able to knock off several ranked wrestlers and lost close decisions to others. Hopefully this tournament helped prepare the boys for the grind of tough tournaments (Excelsior Springs, Platte County, and the COC) coming up in January,” said Coach Brown. Striving for excellence has always been a delicate balance for any team Brown has coached, especially when that potential for success is just within reach.
“I feel that the boys know that this team has the potential to be something special, but I doubt at this point they think too much about it, which is good. For the most part, their job is to focus on the next match. It is the coaching staff’s job to worry about what we need to do to prepare them for farther down the road. We just hope that the boys enjoy the ride. Appreciation of it can come later,” Brown stated.
That perspective has always served Coach Brown and his team well. But there’s no denying the utter fulfillment of doing what you love, everyday.
“This season has been a blast to coach. We’ve got solid wrestlers up and down the lineup, strong leadership from the upperclassmen, and a coaching staff that enjoys not only what we are doing, but who we are doing it with. The next major goal has to be continuing our undefeated dual season. We have several tough duals coming up. We will face Ozark on Jan. 7th and Class 2 3rd ranked Bolivar on Jan. 16th. Hopefully those two duals will help us prepare for the Black and Blue Brawl with Class 3 1st ranked Neosho on Jan. 21st. We’ve been winning every dual by a wide margin so far this year, and it will be good to have a couple of tighter duals leading up to our confrontation with Neosho. We haven’t beaten Neosho since 2007.”
While the Carthage Wrestling Tigers continue to set records and break boundaries, the support of the kids and the program remains first and foremost in Coach Kenny Brown’s mind. “The thing that I most want to see is a full gymnasium for the Black and Blue Brawl with Neosho on Jan. 21st. We are going to be hosting a dual in the main gym of the high school for I believe the first time. We need to fill the stands to create a loud, fun atmosphere that these boys will remember forever.”
Carthage next wrestles a double dual versus Reeds Spring and Ozark at Reeds Spring on January 7th.
Here are the results from the Carthage wrestling dual with Joplin on 12/19/19 at Joplin. Carthage is now 4-0 on the season.
Carthage—81
Joplin—0
Varsity Individual Results
Weight—Name—grade—Season Record
106—Kip Castor—9—(6-0)
Won by fall in 3:04 over Alex Short
113—Carlos Reyes—11—(9-0)
Won by fall in 1:00 over Aton Wilfred
120—Tanner Russow—12—(7-1)
Won by fall in 1:10 over Rocky Walker
126—Selvin Estrada—12—(7-2)
Won by fall in 3:26 over Trace Sargent
132—Dagan Sappington—11—(7-0)
Won by fall in 2:52 over Josiah Vaughn
138—Davion King—9—(8-1)
Won by forfeit
145—Gabe Lambeth—9—(1-0)
Won by decision 7-3 over Jack Stanley
152—Eli Sneed—10—(4-2)
Won by forfeit
160—Kelten Campbell—12—(8-1)
Won by fall in 1:20 over Brenden Mynatt
170—Luke Gall—9—(8-0)
Won by forfeit
182—Brandon Crow—12—(6-2)
Won by fall in 1:57 over Aiden Short
195—Kanen Vogt—10—(8-1)
Won by forfeit
220—Kale Schrader—12—(1-0)
Won by fall in 1:11 over Gunner Price
285—Brener Ocana—12—(8-0)
Won by forfeit
Junior Varsity Individual Results
113—Lucas Jones—9—(2-1)
Won by technical fall 17-1 over Orion Norris
113—Christian Brown—10—(4-0)
Won by major decision 10-1 over Orion Norris
145—D.J. Witt—11—(1-0)
Won by fall in 1:17 over Malachi Porter
145—Grey Petticrew—9—(3-0)
Won by fall in 0:56 over Devin Lawson
145—Kanon Williams—9—(1-0)
Won by fall in 3:44 over Malachi Porter
145—Jonathan Coreas Perez—10—(1-3)
Won by fall in 0:59 over Devin Lawson
152—Brett Rockers—10—(0-1)
Lost by injury default to Drew VanGilder
170—Gustavo Rodriguez—11—(1-4)
Lost by fall in 0:53 to Draven VanGilder
195—Isaac Saba—10—(0-1)
Lost by fall in 2:55 to Mataou James
195—Brian Zuniga—9—(3-1)
Won by fall in 1:24 over Aiden Luckey
195—Cristian Salas—10—(1-0)
Won by fall in 2:55 over Aiden Lucky
220—Rafael Lopez—10—(4-0)
Won by fall in 2:30 over Scott Lowe
220—Alexis Vasquez—11—(3-1)
Won by fall in 3:28 over Scott Lowe
285—Chastin Utter—11—(1-3)
Won by fall in 1:52 over Michael Schultz
Here are the results from the Harrisonville Holiday tournament on 12/20-21/19.
Team Results
1–Carthage–943–ranked 9th in Class 4
2–Willard–821–ranked 7th in Class 3
3–Marlow OK–820–ranked 2nd in 3A
4–Seneca–726.5–ranked 3rd in Class 2
5–Carl Junction–663.5
6–St. Charles West–614
7–Camdenton–594.5
8–Grain Valley–590
9–Helias–574
10–Mexico–517.5
11–Rolla–504–ranked 2nd in Class 3
12–St. Charles–494–ranked 8th in Class 3
13–Belton–467
14–Republic–445
15–Smith-Cotton–429
16–St. Joe Benton–409
17–Olathe West–391
18–Webb City–366.5
19–Harrisonville–364
20–Ruskin–323
21–Warrenton–289
22–William Chrisman–256.5
23–Winnetonka–147
24–Warrensburg–119
Individual Results
Weight–Name–Grade–Tournament Record–Season Record–Placement–Ranking
106–Kip Castor–9–(5-2)–(11-2)–4th
won by fall in 5:48 over Gavin Sydnor–St. Charles West
won by medical forfeit over Noah Agcaoili–Willard
won by decision 6-4 over Gehrig Furr–Marlow
won by forfeit over Ruskin
won by decision 3-2 over Lukas Walker–Carl Junction
lost by technical fall 0-16 to Keith Ransom–Mexico–ranked 1st in Class 2
lost by fall in 2:50 to Wyatt George–Republic
113–Carlos Reyes–11–(6-3)–(15-3)–3rd
won by fall in 1:43 over Gavin Adams–Helias–ranked 5th in Class 3
won by fall in 1:38 over Brayan Juarez–Mexico–ranked 3rd in Class 2
won by major decision 16-2 over Dalton Duley–Seneca–ranked 5th in Class 2
lost by decision 0-2 to Christian Finley–Willard–ranked 2nd in Class 3
lost by decision 7-9 to Case Rich–Marlow
won by fall in 5:43 over Bryce Edison–Warrenton
won by fall in 1:35 over Morgan Oser–St. Charles West
lost by decision 5-8 to Dru Azcona–Grain Valley
won by decision 2-1 over Antonio Rizzi–Belton
120–Tanner Russow–12–(6-1)–(13-2)–3rd
won by fall in 2:51 over David Thorne–St. Charles
won by fall in 0:29 over Nick Ripperger–Harrisonville
won by fall in 0:49 over Dymand Watson–St. Charles West
won by fall in 1:52 over Angelo Barron–St. Joe Benton
won by fall in 2:56 over Josh Ferrel–St. Charles West
lost by decision 0-4 to Kyler Carter–Webb City–ranked 3rd in Class 3
won by decision 3-0 over Tyler Lawson–Marlow
126–Selvin Estrada–12–(4-3)–(11-5)–6th
won by fall in 1:24 over Alex Moore–Harrisonville
won by decision 10-8 over Aidan Neal–Camdenton
won by fall in 2:00 over Reese Russman–Olathe West
lost by decision 0-5 to Josh Copher–Webb City
lost by technical fall 4-19 to Kendon Pollard–Seneca
won by decision 9-3 over Carson Hayes–Helias
lost by decision 6-8 to Dylan Mosley–Mexico–ranked 4th in Class 2
132–Dagan Sappington–11–(5-2)–(12-2)–4th
won by fall in 3:43 over Andrew Keithley–Willard
won by major decision 10-0 over Drake Keele–Smith-Cotton
won by major decision 11-0 over Connor Timmons–St. Joe Benton
won by fall in 1:19 over Clint Rhodes–Harrisonville
won by decision 4-0 over Clayton Swadley–Seneca
lost by decision to 0-3 to Kyle Davis–Marlow
lost by decision 0-3 to Jacob Schrimpf–Helias
132–Braxdon Tate–10–(6-2)–(6-2)–DNP
lost by fall in 1:09 to Kyle Davis–Marlow
lost by decision 2-7 to Ronald Watson–St. Charles West
won by fall in 2:45 over Cale Bentley–Camdenton
won by fallin 1:05 over Ben Shannon–Olathe West
won by decision 8-2 over Gabe Hesington–Republic
won by fall in 2:41 over Chance Benford–Carl Junction
won by fall in 3:40 over Connor Timmons–St. Joe Benton
won by decision 4-2 over Brady Littleton–Belton
138–Davion King–9–(5-3)–(13-4)–DNP
won by fall in 1:23 over Lincoln Renfro–Seneca
won by fall in 1:09 over Caleb Bush–Smith-Cotton
won by fall in 1:19 over Isaiah Madson–Republic
lost by fall in 1:25 to Grant Garrett–Camdenton–ranked 3rd in Class 3
won by fall in 0:20 over Jerome Tyler–Ruskin
lost by fall in 2:41 to Alexsey Salaz–Helias–ranked 4th in Class 3
lost by decision 0-7 to Dathan Mickem–Rolla–ranked 6th in Class 3
won by major decision 16-7 over Brantley Carter–Webb City
145–Eli Sneed–10–(0-2)–(4-4)–DNP
lost by fall in 3:54 to Wyatt Forck–Helias
lost by fall in 5:13 to Jonathan O’Connell–Republic
withdrew from tournament due to injury
152–Brett Rockers–10–(3-3)–(3-3)–6th
won by fall in 1:40 over Isaac Collyott–Republic
lost by fall in 1:34 to Cameron Mickelson–Grain Valley
won by fall in 1:09 over Grant Findley–Olathe West
lost by decision 4-7 to Dane Napier–Seneca
won by decision 9-4 over Mason Gaddie–Harrisonville
lost by fall in 3:52 to Trent Busby–St. Charles West
160–Kelten Campbell–12–(6-1)–(14-2)–3rd
won by fall in 1:50 over Alex Tesreau–Helias
won by fall in 2:50 over Tony Tinoco–Winnetonka
won by fall in 3:59 oer Jaren Foster–St. Charles West
won by fall in 0:38 over Terrell Williams–Mexico
won by fall in 0:25 over Cole Hayes–Marlow
lost by fall in 3:18 to Connor Sandridge–Republic
won by fall in 1:28 over Jaren Foster–St. Charles West
170–Luke Gall–9–(7-0)–(15-0)–1st
won by fall in 1:30 over Kenderal Webber–Ruskin
won by fall in 1:21 over Bryce Leuenberger–Camdenton
won by decision 5-2 over Kale Hunt–Marlow
won by fall in 3:39 over Rylan Dixon–Willard
won by fall in 1:02 over David Redding–Rolla
won by fall in 3:39 over Rico Alaniz–William Chrisman
won by decision 5-2 over Drake Tipton–Grain Valley–ranked 2nd in Class 3
182–Brandon Crow–12–(4-4)–(10-6)–DNP
won by fall in 1:49 over Tyler Soendker–Smith-Cotton
lost by decision 2-6 to Andrew Jones–Warrenton
won by fall in 0:59 over Chance Mickem–Rolla
lost by fall in 0:47 to Jackson White–Carl Junction–ranked 1st in Class 3 @ 195
won by fall in 1:43 over John Hickman–Republic
won by decision 9-4 over Ethan Weber–Olathe West
lost by decision 1-3 to Roger Carranco–Webb City
lost by fall in 3:45 to Ethan Weber–Olathe West
195–Kanen Vogt–10–(3-3)–(11-4)–4th
won by fall in 3:34 over John Starkey–Warrenton
won by fall in 5:04 over Kaiden Davis–Camdenton
lost by decision 4-7 to Carson Moore–Marlow
won by decision 8-3 over Carson Miller–Harrisonville
lost by fall in 0:22 to Jed Brandon–Willard–ranked 4th in Class 3
lost by decision 2-7 to Carson Moore–Marlow
220–Kale Schrader–12–(7-0)–(8-0)–1st–ranked 1st in Class 4
won by fall in 0:53 over Landon Hinton–Grain Valley
won by fall in 1:03 over Cody Patton–St. Charles West
won by fall in 0:47 over Michael Smith–St. Charles
won by fall in 1:59 over Brody German–Webb City
won by fall in 0:34 over Jackson Hazel–Smith-Cotton
won by fall in 1:40 over Zach Griffith–Marlow
won by major decision 10-2 over Skyleer Commons–Seneca
285–Brener Ocana–12–(4-1)–(12-1)–4th–ranked 5th in Class 4
won by fall in 1:13 over Eric Bautistalemus–Smith-Cotton
won by fall in 0:56 over Josh Napier–Warrenton
won by fall in 1:32 over Jimmy Hensel–St. Charles West
won by decision 3-2 over Carson Gehring–Willard
lost by injury default to Dakota Davis–Camdenton–ranked 5th in Class 3
