When Carthage hosts a wrestling dual in front of a hometown crowd, you can bet that it will be a packed house. Thursday’s meet versus Class 2 number 3 ranked Bolivar was no exception. In a decisive 52-19 victory over the Liberators, the Tigers showed why they are the number 7 ranked team in Class 4.
With some recent lineup changes, Coach Kenny Brown was pleased with the overall performance of his team, especially after having so recently faced many of the same matchups at the Monett Tournament. Led by a talented group of individuals, the Press sat down with two more of this year’s seniors, Kelten Campbell and Brener Ocana, to find what makes them tick and fuels their love for the sport. Speaking first with Campbell, a recent transfer from Utah, and youngest of five children, we learned a little bit about this quiet, hard-working athlete.
The Carthage Press: Your family moved from Utah last year before your junior year in high school – how difficult was the transition?
Kelten Campbell: It was rough at first, but I was welcomed very quickly into the Carthage family, so it made it easier. Everyone made me feel like I was a part of things and I’m very lucky that my family is also so supportive of each of our goals.
The Press: How does wrestling in Missouri compare to the programs you grew up with?
Campbell: It’s a lot more diverse wrestling style. I felt like before I focused more on basic moves and now, I’m really expanding what I take to the mat each time I wrestle.
The Press: Your wrestling coach in Utah was the father of Cael Sanderson, Olympic gold medalist, undefeated college champion and current head of Penn State Wrestling – did you ever have the opportunity to work with Cael on the mat?
Campbell: No, but I did meet him and work with his brother at practice. He’s a great guy but didn’t have a lot of extra time outside of his own team’s commitments.
The Press: What have you enjoyed most about being part of the Carthage Wrestling team?
Campbell: Meeting new teams and building relationships. Making new friends and realizing that you can still maintain those friendships off the mat.
The Press: What is something that very few people know about you personally?
Campbell: I hated wrestling when I was little! Then I found a passion for the sport again when my brother started wrestling and it became something that we shared together and could do together.
The Press: Talk about your fondest memory since moving to Carthage?
Campbell: When we got snowed in at state and got to stay an extra night at the hotel. Wrestling was over and we could just hang out, relax, eat as much as we wanted and enjoy ourselves.
The Press: How did you get started with wrestling?
Campbell: My brother’s wrestling coach came and talked to me and convinced me to wrestle at like 4 years old.
The Press: What are your plans after you graduate?
Campbell: Go on a mission for church for two years and then go to school, hopefully at Utah Valley.
The Press: Who do you most admire on the team?
Campbell: Brener Ocana. He respects everyone and tries to pull everyone in and make them feel like part of the team.
The Press: What goals do you have for the rest of the season?
Campbell: Have fun and work hard and place at state.
Campbell’s teammate, fellow senior Brener Ocana, sat down with us next. Following an injury at this year’s Harrisonville Tournament in mid-December, Ocana has served as a leader to other wrestlers on the team – even while sidelined.
The Press: What has been the most important thing that wrestling has taught you?
Ocana: Dealing with adversity. Freshman year I didn’t have a good year at all, and I could’ve chosen not to come out as a sophomore. I decided to make myself better and work harder and go out for the team again. The next year I qualified for state.
The Press: What would you say is your fondest memory from high school wrestling?
Ocana: Sophomore year messing around with the seniors on the team and having a good time. It was my first year making it to state and they made it so much fun for me.
The Press: Who do you most admire on the team?
Ocana: It’s a tie between Coach Brown and Petticrew. They both worked with me and believed in my potential and helped me to place at state last year and make Academic All-State.
The Press: What are your plans after you graduate?
Ocana: I want to go to college and get a degree in architecture.
The Press: You placed at state last year and were an Academic All State Wrestler – what goals have you set for the rest of the season?
Ocana: Definitely to make it to the finals at state for my last year. (Ocana was part of this year’s state champion football team and placed 5th last year with wrestling)
The Press: What kind of potential do you feel like this year’s team has?
Ocana: I feel like we have a lot of potential. I feel like we could be district champs for the first time since 2003-2004. I think we can place high at state, too.
The Press: Tell me something that very few people know about you.
Ocana: I’m very involved with the Nazarene Church. It’s a priority for me to set an example and I enjoy our youth group and ministers.
The Press: What advice would you give a young wrestler starting out in the program?
Ocana: Learn from the older wrestlers. Really observe how they go into a match and what their mindset is. Be willing to listen to their advice and make yourself a part of the team – not just a member of it.
The Press: Who would you consider to be your mentor?
Ocana: My coaches. There are so many that have helped me to get to where I am today and helped me understand what my priorities should be.
The Press: Do you have any regrets about your high school wrestling career?
Ocana: My first year I wish I would’ve tried harder after my first loss at state wrestling. Same with my junior year – I wish I wouldn’t have been content just medaling and focused more on how far I could go.
Congratulations to the Carthage Wrestling team on their most recent success and stay tuned for more results and Senior Spotlight interviews. Carthage next wrestles Webb City for Senior Night on Tuesday, January 28th at 6pm at the CHS auxiliary gym.
Here are the results from our dual with Bolivar on 01/15/20 at Carthage. Carthage is now 7-0 on the season in duals.
Carthage—52—ranked 7th in Class 4
Bolivar—19—ranked #3 in Class 2
Individual Results
Weight—Name—Grade—Season Record—State Ranking
106—Kip Castor—9— (16-4)
Won by forfeit
113—Carlos Reyes—11— (21-4)
Won by fall in 2:16 over Toby Bunn
120—Tanner Russow—12— (20-3)
Won by fall in :16 over Canyon Cunningham—ranked 3rd @ 120 in Class 2
126—Selvin Estrada—12— (17-7)
Won by fall in 1:46 over Thomas Pennington
132—Braxdon Tate—10— (10-4)
Won by decision 6-0 over Ryan West
138—Dagan Sappington—11— (16-6)—ranked 6th @ 132 in Class 4
Lost by fall in 1:42 to Riley Hawk—ranked 6th @ 132 in Class 2
145—Anderson Ixcol—12— (10-4)
Lost by decision 0-5 to Jacob Matlock
152—Andrew Holden—11— (2-3)
Won by fall in 1:10 over Trey Brewer
160—Kelten Campbell—12— (20-3)
Won by fall in 0:19 over Jesse Fields
170—Luke Gall—9— (21-2)
Lost by fall in 5:30 to Hayden Burks—ranked 1st at 170 in Class 2
182—Obed Gonzalez—11— (5-3)
Won by decision 7-2 over Cael McCullah
195—Kanen Vogt—10— (17-6)
Won by fall in 1:03 over Gared Engle
220—Kale Schrader—12— (16-0)—ranked 1st @ 220 in Class 4
Won by major decision 14-1 over Drayton Huchteman—ranked 2nd @ 220 in Class 2
285—Alexis Vasquez—11— (7-6)
Lost by major decision 2-11 to James Miller
Junior Varsity Results
113—Christian Brown—10— (7-1)
Won by decision 4-1 over Adrian Contreas
120—Lucas Jones—9— (6-2)
Lost by decision 4-6 to Braidyn Spiegel
120—Walter Reyes-Mojica—10— (1-7)
Won by major decision 9-1 over Nathan Anthony
120—Jose Gomez—9— (3-6)
Won by fall in 3:14 over Adrian Contreas
126—Santos Guzman Gomez—9— (2-7)
Lost by fall in 2:54 to Issac Anthony
132—Brayden Benefiel—11— (4-4)
Lost by decision 2-4 to Logan Rice
132—Cody Reeves—10— (6-5
Lost by fall in 3:08 to Logan Rice
132—Esvin Gonzalez—9— (1-8)
Lost by major decision 3-12 to Kahl Berry
132—Trey Nye—9— (4-5)
Lost by fall in 3:36 to Jake Banner
132—Grant Geter—11— (0-6)
Lost by decision 6-10 to Kahl Berry
138—Emanuel Chavez—12— (4-4)
Won by fall in 1:03 over Aaron Henderson
138—Robin Hernandez—10— (2-0)
Won by decision 5-1 over Aaron Henderson
138—Byron Lopez—10— (5-5)
Lost by decision 5-7 to Aaron Henderson
138—Selvin Garcia—9— (1-9)
Won by decision 4-1 over Jake Banner
145—Jonathan Coreas Perez—10— (2-3)
Won by fall in 3:31 over Steven Ruesch
145—Gabe Lambeth—9— (8-1)
Won by fall in 0:12 over Steven Ruesch
145—D.J. Witt—11— (5-2)
Won by fall in 5:54 over Steven Ruesch
145—Grey Petticrew—9— (9-0)
Won by fall in 1:10 over Malaki Wilson
145—Kanon Williams—9— (7-1)
Won by fall in 0:35 over Malaki Wilson
152—Fernando Lopez—11— (6-3)
Won by fall in 1:29 over Malaki Wilson
160—Brett Rockers—10— (1-1)
Won by fall in 4:30 over Logan Rowley
160—Levi White—12— (5-2)
Won by decision 7-2 over Hunter Davis
160—Wessly Estes—11— (6-0)
Won by fall in 4:38 over Hunter Davis
195—Brian Zuniga—9— (8-1)
Won by fall in 1:50 over Kyler Henderson
160—Gustavo Rodriguez—11— (2-9)
Lost by fall in 1:13 to Logan Rowley
160—Lucas Lund—9— (8-3)
Won by fall in 1:05 over Hunter Davis
195—Cristian Salas—10— (3-2)
Won by fall in 2:20 over Kyler Henderson
195—Isaac Saba—10— (4-1)
Won by fall in 1:40 over Kyler Henderson
220—Chastin Utter—11— (4-6)
Lost by fall in 1:26 to Cory Cantrell
220—Rafael Lopez—10— (6-4)
Lost by fall in 2:44 to Cory Cantrell
220—Antony DeLeon—9— (1-3)
Lost by fall in 1:57 to Preston Campbell
Won by fall in 1:38 over Cory Cantrell
