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The plan worked.
Grain Valley 160-pounder Zac Hoover took third place at 160 pounds in the Class 2 state wrestling tournament at Mizzou Arena on Saturday. Eagles coach Jarrod Steffens said it’s the next step in his plan for growing success for the Grain Valley wrestling team.
It’s a plan Steffens brought to the Eagles three years ago.
“We talked to this junior class when they were freshmen about being trail blazers, about blazing the trail for the future,” Steffens said. “This is that next step of not just getting qualifiers but medalists.”
Hoover, a junior, took third when he defeated Clinton’s Gabe Suthoff 8-7 in overtime. Steffens said Hoover’s finish was a reward for all the hard work he put in.
“He’s the guy that worked to get here,” Steffens said. “He stuck around after practice. He conditioned his tail off. Hard work pays off, and he’s the epitome of that today.
“We’re so proud of Zac and what he’s done for us.”
Hoover took the final step this year for the Eagles, who took many during the 2010-11 season. The biggest might have been sending seven to state, a new school record.
“We brought seven state qualifiers, which was an awesome step for our program,” Steffens said.
The best part of the Eagles’ success may be their age. Of the seven state qualifiers, one was a senior.
“We look forward to good things to come,” Steffens said.
In Class 1 action, St. Mary's 171-pounder David Florido improved on his sixth-place finish from a year ago. Florido finished fifth with a third-period pin against Maysville's Jake Riggs.
Oak Grove was the Class 2 team champion with a score of 138. Kirksville took second with a score of 111.5. The Panthers had three finalists, with one champion, and four other medalists.
Oak Grove’s Mitchell Bradley didn’t just win a Class 2 state championship. He made a statement.
Bradley defeated Cameron’s Garrett Uthe by technical fall (20-5) in the 112-pound championship.
Oak Groves’ Chase Wrisinger (152) fell in his title try 3-1 to Reeds Spring’s Tyler White.
The Panthers’ Caleb Titus also came up short of first place in a 12-2 loss to Kirksville’s Travis Lang in the 160-pound championship.
Oak Grove's Anthony Barker (119) took third in Class 2 with a 5-1 decision over Benton's Bryson Dixon. His teammate Logan Cairer took fourth at 130 pounds with a 3-0 loss to Odessa's Blake Peek. Panthers' 135-pounder Bryce Mercer also took fourth with a 3-1 loss to Reeds Spring Steven Morey at 135 pounds.
Taylor Brinegar took third for the Panthers at 140 pounds with a pin (4:04) over Benton's Tyler McNutt.
Raytown's Dakota Stanart (145) took sixth place in Class 3 after losing by technical fall (16-1) to Farmington's Ryan Wadlow.
The plan worked.
Grain Valley 160-pounder Zac Hoover took third place at 160 pounds in the Class 2 state wrestling tournament at Mizzou Arena on Saturday. Eagles coach Jarrod Steffens said it’s the next step in his plan for growing success for the Grain Valley wrestling team.
It’s a plan Steffens brought to the Eagles three years ago.
“We talked to this junior class when they were freshmen about being trail blazers, about blazing the trail for the future,” Steffens said. “This is that next step of not just getting qualifiers but medalists.”
Hoover, a junior, took third when he defeated Clinton’s Gabe Suthoff 8-7 in overtime. Steffens said Hoover’s finish was a reward for all the hard work he put in.
“He’s the guy that worked to get here,” Steffens said. “He stuck around after practice. He conditioned his tail off. Hard work pays off, and he’s the epitome of that today.
“We’re so proud of Zac and what he’s done for us.”
Hoover took the final step this year for the Eagles, who took many during the 2010-11 season. The biggest might have been sending seven to state, a new school record.
“We brought seven state qualifiers, which was an awesome step for our program,” Steffens said.
The best part of the Eagles’ success may be their age. Of the seven state qualifiers, one was a senior.
“We look forward to good things to come,” Steffens said.
In Class 1 action, St. Mary's 171-pounder David Florido improved on his sixth-place finish from a year ago. Florido finished fifth with a third-period pin against Maysville's Jake Riggs.
Oak Grove was the Class 2 team champion with a score of 138. Kirksville took second with a score of 111.5. The Panthers had three finalists, with one champion, and four other medalists.
Oak Grove’s Mitchell Bradley didn’t just win a Class 2 state championship. He made a statement.
Bradley defeated Cameron’s Garrett Uthe by technical fall (20-5) in the 112-pound championship.
Oak Groves’ Chase Wrisinger (152) fell in his title try 3-1 to Reeds Spring’s Tyler White.
The Panthers’ Caleb Titus also came up short of first place in a 12-2 loss to Kirksville’s Travis Lang in the 160-pound championship.
Oak Grove's Anthony Barker (119) took third in Class 2 with a 5-1 decision over Benton's Bryson Dixon. His teammate Logan Cairer took fourth at 130 pounds with a 3-0 loss to Odessa's Blake Peek. Panthers' 135-pounder Bryce Mercer also took fourth with a 3-1 loss to Reeds Spring Steven Morey at 135 pounds.
Taylor Brinegar took third for the Panthers at 140 pounds with a pin (4:04) over Benton's Tyler McNutt.
Raytown's Dakota Stanart (145) took sixth place in Class 3 after losing by technical fall (16-1) to Farmington's Ryan Wadlow.
