Saturday’s Central Ozark Conference Tournament highlighted an incredible amount of wrestling talent. Ozark, who has been the clear conference leader this year, took a commanding hold on 1st place and never looked back. The battle for second place was on, with the leaders changing at least seven separate times throughout the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final matches.
When the dust settled, Carthage brought home one conference champion in Eli Sneed, four runners up with David Recinos, Braxdon Tate, Bradyn Tate, and Davion King, and two third place finishers in Dylan Huntley and Christian Brown. Finishing fifth overall, the Tigers came up against some key district opponents and wrestled well, according to head coach, Kenny Brown.
“I was pleased with how they looked for the most part today. It was everything I expected from today’s competition. When only 21 points separate second through fifth place, you know it was a battle,” said Brown.
Eli Sneed’s semifinals win against Copeland from Neosho was sweet vindication after the home loss just a week and a half ago. Losing 7-2 with approximately 9 seconds left in the match, Sneed dug deep and threw and pinned him for the win.
“I remember looking at the clock as Copeland landed on his back on the mat and reading 7 seconds left. My first thought was that we had enough time to get the five count near fall and tie it up and then Eli took the decision out of it by pinning him,” Brown said.
“Thankfully, his father and I only suffered a mild cardiac episode,” he joked. An eventual 4-3 win over Ozark’s Nolan Moeller earned Sneed top spot on the podium. He previously beat Moeller 2-0 at the Ozark dual – one of only three matches won that evening. Carthage News Online caught up with Sneed following his 1st place finish.
Carthage News Online: This is your second COC Championship in two years – was it more difficult this year or last year?
Sneed: Definitely this year. The competition was a lot better and there were not really any easy matches.
CNO: What was your toughest match of the tournament?
Sneed: My semifinal match for sure. He was whipping my butt until I hit the throw and pinned him. I was happy to have that rematch after the Neosho dual. I was not happy with how I wrestled then.
CNO: You and your dad, Richard, are part of an elite group of father son wrestlers for Carthage including Coach Nate Kelly and his father Richard, Coach John Petticrew and his son Grey and Aaron and Bobby Groom. How has your dad influenced the way that you practice and wrestle?
Sneed: My dad was a lot bigger than me when he wrestled, so he did not really have the same style as me. He never tried to get me to do things like he did – he was mostly focused on making me the best I could be. He is the whole reason I started wrestling and has been my coach since I was in youth. I mean, what is better than having a dad who is also your coach? He taught me everything I knew when I was little. He was one match away from making it to state, and my goal is to keep improving, come out the number one seed in districts and place at State.
Sneed hopes to be joined in his quest by fellow senior, Braxdon Tate, who, with junior, Davion King, both earned their one hundredth career win at this weekend’s COC Tournament.
Carthage News Online: What does reaching 100 wins mean to you both?
Braxdon Tate: It means a lot to me. Multiple wrestlers before me have earned the honor and it has always been my goal to get there.
Davion King: It has always been my goal, as well, but I always had faith I could reach it and it feels good.
CNO: Braxdon, how has your wrestling style changed since your freshman year on the team?
Tate: I am much more aggressive now. I have learned to be more offensive and less defensive by getting my opponents’ feet moving and then hitting the misdirection shot. And then the pin, of course!
CNO: Davion, your brother Dalen wrestled for Carthage before he made the team at Northeastern Oklahoma – which of you reached the 100 wins club quicker?
King: We both got there our junior year, but he got his 100 wins a lot earlier in the season and had like three fewer losses than me.
CNO: Braxdon, your little brother, Bradyn is a sophomore on the team this year – what advice would you give him for next year after you have graduated?
Tate: I would tell him to take it all in – the practices, matches and memories – because it goes by so fast and you will miss it.
CNO: Davion, what keeps you motivated to reach your goals?
King: I don’t like losing…like at all. I’m competitive and it’s embarrassing when I lose. So I guess it’s more ego than anything (laughs).
CNO: So what are the goals each of you have for the rest of the season?
Tate: District finals, make it to State and then place there.
King: I want to be the district champ and place top four at State, since the highest I have gotten is fifth.
District competition begins on Friday, February 11 at 6 p.m. at Nixa High School and continues the next day. Top four placers continue on to the State Tournament at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo., February 17, 18 and 19.
Here are the Carthage Wrestling Results from the COC Tournament on 01/29/22 held in Neosho. Carthage next wrestles on 02/03/22 at Seneca starting at 6 p.m..
1—Ozark—178.5
2—Carl Junction—155.5
3—Nixa—149.5
4—Neosho—138.5
5—Carthage—134.5
6—Willard—117
7—Republic—91.5
8—Branson—84.5
9—Joplin—68
10—Webb City—60
Individual Results
Weight—Name—Grade—Tournament Record—Season Record—Placement
106—Tanner Putt—9—(1-2)—(4-2)—DNP
Lost by fall in 1:38 to Damien Mosely—Ozark
Lost by fall in 1:59 to Phillip George—Republic
Won by fall in 0:19 over Brayden White—Joplin
113—Dylan Huntley—10—(2-2)—(15-4)—3rd
Won by fall in 2:59 over Trenton Ogle—Webb City
Lost by decision 4-6 to Caden Harrington—Ozark
Lost by fall in 2:18 to Sam Melton—Carl Junction
Won by decision 7-6 over Fisher Butler—Neosho
120—Christian Brown—12—(3-2)—(18-12)—3rd
Won by decision 7-2 over Max Matthews—Carl Junction
Won by major decision 22-8 over Thomas Mutarelli—Branson
Lost by fall in 1:51 to Zan Fugitt—Nixa
Lost by decision 3-8 to Keaton Hurst—Ozark
Won by decision 5-0 over Shea Rogers—Republic
126—Bradyn Tate—10—(4-1)—(28-10)—2nd
Won by fall in 1:46 over Dylan Frazier—Carl Junciton
Won by fall in 1:02 over Eli Stein—Branson
Won by fall in 0:43 over Caden Allen—Republic
Won by decision 6-1 over Daniel Laney—Ozark
Lost by fall in 0:58 to Peyton Moore—Nixa
132—Kip Castor—11—(3-2)—(20-11)—DNP
Lost by fall in 2:00 to Kyshin Isringhausen—Branson
Lost by fall in 1:00 to Levi Maskrod—Ozark
Won by fall in 5:26 over Orion Norris—Joplin
Won by fall in 3:00 over Jacob Simpson—Republic
Won by fall in 3:06 over Aiden Moore—Webb City
138—Eli Sneed—12—(4-0)—(31-4)—1st—Eli is a two-time COC Champion
Won by fall in 1:39 over Kyran Addington—Carl Junction
Won by fall in 1:54 over Brennan Coleman—Republic
Won by fall in 5:59 over Nate Copeland—Neosho
Won by decision 4-3 over Nolan Moeller—Ozark
145—Grey Petticrew—11—(0-1)—(21-7)—DNP
Lost by decision 7-10 to Nate Brower—Nixa
Withdrew from the tournament due to injury
152—Braxdon Tate—12—(4-1)—(25-5)—2nd
Won by fall in 1:07 over Chase Ruda—Branson
Won by fall in 1:11 over Porter Osborne—Nixa
Won by fall in 1:54 over Arlen Wakefield—Carl Junction
Won by decision 5-1 over Trent Neece—Neosho—This was Braxdon’s 100th career win
Lost by major decision 1-10 to Braxton Strick—Ozark
160—Davion King—11—(3-1)—(31-4)—2nd
Won by fall in 2:56 over Jack Stanley—Joplin
Won by fall in 0:55 over Logan Elmer—Nixa—This was Davion’s 100th career win
Won by major decision 11-2 over Eric Shepard—Ozark
Lost by decision 2-4 to Gary Walker—Willard
170—Brett Rockers—12—(1-4)—(13-8)—DNP
Won by fall in 1:23 over Aiden Rose—Webb City
Lost by decision 4-5 to Drew VanGilder—Joplin
Lost by fall in 5:13 to Tony Stewart—Carl Junction
Lost by fall in 2:31 to Eli Zar—Neosho
Lost by decision 5-11 to Kody Shephard—Ozark
182—OPEN
195—Landyn Collins—9—(0-4)—(4-12)—DNP
Lost by fall in 1:36 to Cade Grimm-Branson
Lost by fall in 1:20 to Draven VanGilder—Joplin
Lost by fall in 0:45 to Javen White—Webb City
Lost by fall in 1:48 to Caden White—Republic
220—OPEN
285—David Recinos—9—(2-2)—(9-4)—2nd
Won by fall in 3:15 over Alex Villarauz—Branson
Lost by decision 3-9 to Gunner Price—Joplin
Won by decision 5-3 over Kameron Bennett—Carl Junction
Lost by decision 2-4 to Gunner Price–Joplin
