4:15 p.m. -- The finalists are coming in. It’s one of the best moments of the entire tournament.
Six area wrestlers now fight for state championships.
Here are the matchups.
Class 1: Jace Banner, Van Horn (215) vs. Ross Bain, Lawson.
Class 2: Mitchell Bradley, Oak Grove (103) vs. Austin Roper, Kirksville
Class 4: Keenan Hagerty, Blue Springs (125) vs. Taylor Bolin, Fort Zumwalt West
Luke Greco, Blue Springs (130) vs. Aaron Morgan, Waynesville
Tyler Thompson, Blue Springs (135) vs. Tony James, Wentzville-Holt
Josh Howk, Blue Springs (140) vs. Drake Houdashelt, Fort Zumwalt West.
The last three area finals matches in Class 4 are all rematches from district finals, as is the Class 1 title match.
Also, some other news, Bryce Cupp of Marceline (171) who was carted off after being illegally slammed in the Class 1 semifinals, wanted to wrestle today, despite being taken off on a stretcher last night.
He was cleared by doctors and his parents, but MSHSAA officials would not clear him to wrestle.
I understand making sure a kid is safe, but that has to be tough for that kid to feel like he can go and not be able to wrestle.
What makes it worse is he has to default to his archrival, Brock Wine of Brookfield.
Fifteen minutes until we go.
