Wildcats make titles a family affair

Blue Springs was truly a family affair Saturday at the Class 4 Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships.
With their fathers coaching from the chairs, both Keenan Hagerty (125) and Luke Greco (130) won their first state championships for the Wildcats, helping lead Blue Springs to a third-place team finish with 123 points.
Luke Greco, a senior, received his medal and state bracket from his father, Jay Greco, who is serving as a volunteer assistant for the Wildcats this year. Jay Greco also wrestled for Blue Springs in high school.
“This has been my goal forever, just to make the state finals,” Luke Greco said. “I finally won it, and my whole family was here cheering for me.”
And having his father with him every step of the way?
“Makes it even better,” he said.
Greco won a 2-1 decision over Aaron Morgan of Waynesville, giving up an escape with less than 20 seconds left. It was the first point the senior gave up the entire tournament.
“I was thinking, ‘Just win,’” he said. “That’s what’s on my mind always is just get my next win.
“It doesn’t matter what the points are. The only thing that matters is that I’m No. 1. No one goes back to check the score.”
Keenan Hagerty also won a one-point match, beating Taylor Bolin of Fort Zumwalt West, 5-4.
Bolin kept trying to roll out in the final period to earn an escape point, but the sophomore kept him down to earn his first title.
“I wasn’t letting go,” Keenan Hagerty said. “It wasn’t happening. I wasn’t giving that up.”
Growing up around Blue Springs wrestling, as Mike Hagerty has been the head coach for 16 years, Keenan Hagerty has an appreciation for the history surrounding the program. He has said his dream is to be the next three-time state champion for the school, joining Tyler Hubbard, Louis Caputo and Dom Bradley.
“They just inspired me,” he said, as Hubbard gave him a congratulatory hug. “I see them and I just want to do that.”
For his part, Mike Hagerty tried to keep his feelings separate regarding his son.
“To be honest, I haven’t had time to separate myself as father and coach yet,” Mike Hagerty said. “As a coach, I’m proud of him just as I am Luke and all our finalists and placers. In a couple of days, I’ll enjoy it as a dad.”
Two other Wildcats made the finals, but fell just short - Tyler Thompson (135) and Josh Howk (140).
Thompson narrowly missed an escape point at the buzzer, falling to Tony James of Wentzville-Holt, 2-1.
“This was a big deal for me,” Thompson said of getting to the finals. “That was the funnest match I’ve ever had in my career. It was even more fun than (districts) when I beat him.”
Howk struggled early, losing 11-3 to Drake Houdashelt of Fort Zumwalt West, who he saw at districts.
“He’s pretty tough,” Howk said. “He’s a different kid from last week. That was not what I expected.
“But this is good motivation for next year. I’m going to work hard next year and get first place.”
Two other Wildcats earned state medals. Mauricio Garcia (112) was fourth, while Lewis Foutz (189) was fifth. Garcia is a junior and Foutz is a sophomore, so both will be back next year.
WHEELER MAKES HIS MARK: With his final win Saturday, a pin that earned him fifth place at 135 pounds, Truman’s Langdon Wheeler became the career wins leader for the school.
Wheeler has 112 wins, edging Jimmy Brewer, who had 111.
Wheeler was close to making his goal of getting to the third-place match, but lost in triple overtime in a match where he seemed out of energy at the end.
But he rebounded in the fifth-place match, scoring a pin in the second period for the medal.
“I was really tired going in,” he said. “I didn’t get much rest. I knew the other guy was tired. I knew I had to give more than he did. I went out as hard as I could.”
And with the medal, Wheeler ends his career with a win.
“That’s wonderful,” he said. “It shows me how much I’ve improved since my freshman year. I’m really happy with what I did.”
WHEATON PLACES SIXTH: Saturday did not go the way William Chrisman’s Matt Wheaton wanted it to.
The 160-pounder lost both of his matches, finishing sixth.
“I’m proud of what I did,” Wheaton said. “I wrestled as hard as I could. Just work as hard as you can and you have no regrets.
“I met my goal. It’s the same goal I had at the beginning of the season.
Though Wheaton wanted to finish higher, Chrisman coach Mick Cronk said he was proud of how his wrestler fared.
“He goes from being 2-7 his freshman year to a medalist as a senior,” Cronk said. “That’s awesome. His parents should be proud, and we’re proud he wrestled for us and was part of our program."