All 11 Wildcats survive first day at state wrestling

It was a solid day at the Class 4 state wrestling tournament in for the Blue Springs wrestling team.

The Wildcats earned seven first-round wins and all 11 qualifiers remained in the tournament as the other four won in the first round of wrestlebacks.

In the hunt for a team title, the Wildcats lead the pack with 34 points. Francis Howell Central is second with 30.5.

Defending state champion Park Hill is fourth with 23.5.

The first day of the state tournament consisted of the first round of wrestling and the first round of wrestlebacks.

The losers in the first round wrestled each other. The winner of that match moves on in the tournament. The loser is eliminated from competition.

Daniel Lewis (103) got his first state tournament off to a good start with a first-period pin of Park Hill South’s Alex Fortuna.

Cullen Buford (125) was pinned by Francis Howell’s Sean O’Leary in the second period. Buford bounced back with a pin over Raymore-Peculiar’s Dustin McElroy.

Derrick Lapaglia (130) pinned Northwest’s Robert Martin in 2:30. Greg Hegarty (135) pinned Oakville’s Matt Jackson in 2:39.

Keenan Hagerty (140) pinned Truman’s Turner Madick in 3:37.

Chris Lattner (152) won a 7-2 decision over Ritenour’s Lamar Welch.

Joey Hutchens fell to Rockhurst’s Chandler Smith 9-2. Hutchens kept his tournament hopes alive with a 6-2 decision over McCluer North’s Conner Linehan.

Derick Sanders (171) fell to Marquette’s Ryan Tulley 3-1. Sanders answered with a 48-second pin over Ritenour’s Ramsey Beale.

Lewis Foutz (189) pinned Lindbergh’s Chris Kew in 3:10.

Donnie Horner (215) won a 13-6 decision over Francis Howell Central’s Cole Anderson.

Austin Reyes (285) fell to Christian Brothers’ Andrew Ness 8-2. Reyes kept the Wildcats’ team intact with a 14-second pin over Lee’s Summit’s Logan Drake.

WILLIAM CHRISMAN: Justin Danforth (125) fell to Seckman’s Denny Kleinscrodt by pin (1:03) in the round of 16. Danforth fell to Parkway North’s Austin Adderley 15-5, eliminating him from the tournament.

Arthur Meyer (135) fell to Harold Ritchie of Francis Howell North 8-1. Meyer stayed alive with an 8-4 decision over Vianney’s Mark Smith.

Lavaughn Fitch (152) fell to Lindbergh’s Michael Slyman in 3:42. Fitch bounced out of the tournament after being pinned by Ritenour’s Lamar Welch in the first period.

Danny Klick (171) defeated Christian Brothers’ Patrick Masterson 18-7.

Cody Olson (215) was pinned by Lafayette’s Will Burgess in 3:57. Olson then fell to Pattonville’s Jesse Farmer by pin (1:58).

BLUE SPRINGS SOUTH: Austin Eads made quick work of Mehlville’s James Brockman with a 41-second pin.

TRUMAN: Turner Madick (140) was eliminated in a 3-1 loss to Francis Howell’s Mat Behr.

LEE’S SUMMIT NORTH: Nick Lepper (112) was pinned by Timberland’s Devan Richter in 0:40. Lepper rebounded with a 12-4 major decision against Parkway North’s Zach Cusumano.

Zach Newman (119) fell by and 18-3 technical fall to Francis Howell Central’s Ben Henson. Newman was eliminated in a 13-1 loss to Hickman’s Alex Shea.

Will Thomas (130) lost a 14-7 decision to Robert Martin of Northwest. He then fell to Fort Zumwalt West’s Travis Callahan by pin in 2:33.

Chad Homan (140) defeated Holt’s Brett Beckman 5-2.

FORT OSAGE: Indians heavyweight Dillon Taff fell to Rockwood Summit’s Abram Reynolds 6-5 in overtime. Taff kept himself in the tournament with a 7-2 decision over Willard’s Christian Adams.

ST. MARY’S: One of two Trojans wrestlers is still alive in the Class 1 state wrestling tournament in Columbia.

David Florido (171) pinned Cleveland NJROTC’s Michael Raic in 2:42 to advance in the winner’s bracket.

Brian Erstad (125) was pinned by Versailles’ Ely Roberts (3:03). He then lost an 8-3 decision to Maplewood-Richmond Heights’ Montel Maggitt, which eliminated him from the tournament.

GRAIN VALLEY: The Eagles fared well in the first day of competition at the Class 2 state wrestling tournament with six of seven qualifiers advancing through the first day.

Cameron Nadeau (125) was eliminated from the state tournament after falling to Affton’s Matthew Arnold and Moberly’s Ladon Loggins.

Brad Sodano (145) is still wrestling after losing by technical fall to Odessa’s Joshua Thomson (17-1), and then pinning Owensville’s Ethan Fernau in 1:14. Michael Bamman (152) is also in the wrestleback rounds. He fell to Ste. Genevieve’s Justin Roth by pin (5:36), before winning a 4-2 decision against Odessa’s Trevor Hazen.

Zac Hoover (160) won his first-round match 6-5 against Osage’s Kyle Christenson. Tucker Pauley (171) won an 18-2 technical fall over John Burroughs’ Christian Bledsoe. Wesley Freeman (189) lost to Moberly’s John Orscheln 13-3. He then defeated St. Clair’s Matt Gordon 3-1.

Heavyweight Chris Parker pinned Owensville’s Jake Hinson in 1:56.

OAK GROVE: The Panthers are all still wrestling after the first day of the Class 2 state wrestling championships at Columbia, Mo.

Drake Hoffman (103) fell to Odessa’s Aaron Lemen by pin in 4:29. He rebounded by pinning Derian Inlow (Moberly) in 2:34 in the first round of wrestlebacks.

Mitchell Bradley (112) won by technical fall over Seneca’s Michael Olsen 16-1. Anthony Barker (119) advanced with a 10-3 decision over Trinity Catholic’s Marquis West.

Logan Cairer (130) won his first match by pin in 2:39 against DeSoto’s Zach Binkinz. Bryce Mercer (135) pinned Westminster Christian Academy’s Brian Yeager in 3:35.

Taylor Brinegar (140) also found success in the first round with a 3:49 pin against Seneca’s Trevor Sill. Dyland Stiegemeye (145) recovered from a second-round pin to Reeds Spring’s Lee White by defeating St. Clair’s Matt Woodcock 5-4.

Chase Wrisinger (152) defeated Henry Hunter (Miller Career Academy) by pin in 1:52.

Caleb Titus (160) defeated Monett’s Clayton Patton 13-1.