Cassville evaluating matches as squad prepares for postseason

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

The Cassville boys wrestling team is enjoying a third-place team finish at the 54th Annual Monett Boys Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, assessing their performances as they begin to look toward the fast-approaching postseason on the mats.

The Wildcats scored 241.5 points to take third place as a team, behind Springdale Har-Ber with 369 and fellow Class 2 powerhouse Oak Grove with 305.5.

Individually, six of the 19 Cassville wrestlers participating finished in the medals, led by Colton Roark and Riley James taking first place at 175 and 190 pounds, respectively. Boni Lopez, at 113 pounds, and Carson Hutchins, at 165 pounds, both took second place. Rounding out medals were two fourth-place finishes from Bradyn Sizemore, at 150 pounds, and Tyler Annecharico at 215 pounds.

“I thought the team competed well at the tournament this weekend,” said Nathan Fortner, Cassville boys wrestling coach. “We’re still focusing on our performance rather than wins and losses. Then, we can reevaluate our matches and get better in certain positions to prepare us for postseason. I’m proud of their effort Saturday.”

Roark, defending state champion at 165 pounds and three-time state medalist in his senior season, is 31-1 so far this year. He earned three straight pins before winning a 7-0 decision in the semifinals and pinning his championship opponent.

“Colt has picked it up in practice this past week which shows me he’s getting ready to try and run back his state championship. He’s got to continue that work the rest of the year to get on top of the podium. He had one of the toughest brackets in the tournament including 4 past state medalist and he dominated his way through it.”

James, a three-time state medalist also in his senior season, made his debut at the Monett event after being ineligible for the first half of the season. He followed the same path as Roark, earning two pins, then a 4-0 decision in the semifinals and a pin in the championship bout.

“I thought he got better as the tournament went on,” Fortner said. “He had to knock some rust off throughout and get back into competition mode.”

While the Wildcats’ most decorated wrestlers took care of business, newcomers to the spotlight also shone well, Fortner said. 

“Boni has had a great year and has been working extremely hard in the practice room, which is showing in his performance,” Fortner said. “He’s getting better every time he steps on the mat, and I’m looking for some big things from him this postseason. Carson is our JV wrestler but is filling in for Tristan Thompson and Mason Rillstone since they couldn’t wrestle at Monett. 

“It shows the depth we have at that weight because he is our third backup at that weight class and still took second place in a varsity tournament. Carson would be a varsity starter at most programs and still works really hard in the room, which will set him up well when he does get his shot.”

Thompson, a two-time state medalist, and Ethan Sizemore, a state qualifier last year, were both out on Saturday, and newcomer Kellen Weldy was 1-1 on the day before medically forfeiting due to sickness.

Full results from the tournament include:

113: Boni Lopez (24-5) placed 2nd and scored 27.5 team points.

• Round 1 – Boni Lopez 24-5 won by fall over Tyler Weibling (Harrisonville) 2-12 (Fall 7:00)

• Round 2 – Boni Lopez 24-5 won by tech fall over Dyson Cutbirth (Monett) 5-6 (TF-1.5 3:12 (17-2))

• Round 3 – Boni Lopez 24-5 won by fall over Jacob O;Dell (DeSoto) 18-5 (Fall 5:27)

• Championship Bracket – Boni Lopez 24-5 won by fall over William Paduch-Lischer (Springdale Har-Ber) 14-10 (Fall 0:56)

• 1st Place Match – Atreyu Whitten (Oak Grove) 23-2 won by fall over Boni Lopez 24-5 (Fall 2:57)

113: Noah Uria (6-15) placed 7th.

• Round 1 – Atreyu Whitten (Oak Grove) 23-2 won by tech fall over Noah Uria 6-15 (TF-1.5 2:00 (16-1))

• Round 2 – William Paduch-Lischer (Springdale Har-Ber) 14-10 won by fall over Noah Uria 6-15 (Fall 3:33)

• Round 3 – Cayden (Cole) Perez (Knob Noster) 10-10 won by tech fall over Noah Uria 6-15 (TF-1.5 5:33 (17-2))

• Consolation Bracket – Jacob O;Dell (DeSoto) 18-5 won by fall over Noah Uria 6-15 (Fall 3:59)

• 7th Place Match – Noah Uria 6-15 won by major decision over Tyler Weibling (Harrisonville) 2-12 (MD 14-4)

120: Trevor Garnett (11-14) placed 7th and scored 7.5 team points.

• Round 1 – Trevor Garnett 11-14 won by tech fall over Braxton Warren (Harrisonville) 8-8 (TF-1.5 4:36 (15-0))

• Round 2 – Denis Velasquez (Carthage) 9-3 won by fall over Trevor Garnett 11-14 (Fall 5:41)

• Quarterfinal – Asher Copeland (Springdale Har-Ber) 19-7 won by tech fall over Trevor Garnett 11-14 (TF-1.5 2:37 (17-2))

• Cons. Round 1 – Collin Montgomery (Bolivar) 12-10 won by decision over Trevor Garnett 11-14 (Dec 9-5)

• 7th Place Match – Trevor Garnett 11-14 won by decision over Mason Lyons (Reeds Spring) 3-8 (Dec 7-1)

126: Rylen Holman (17-6) placed 4th and scored 24.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Rylen Holman 17-6 won by fall over Chase Brooks (Webb City) 7-22 (Fall 1:52)

• Round 3 – Rylen Holman 17-6 won by fall over Kayden Shepherd (Nevada) 14-11 (Fall 3:25)

• Quarterfinal – Rylen Holman 17-6 won by fall over Adam Jones (Carthage) 13-12 (Fall 1:41)

• Semifinal – Brenton Drummond (DeSoto) 22-1 won by tech fall over Rylen Holman 17-6 (TF-1.5 5:24 (19-2))

• 3rd Place Match – Perry Morgan (Oak Grove) 20-3 won by major decision over Rylen Holman 17-6 (MD 10-1)

126: Michael Winchell (13-17) placed 10th.

• Round 1 – Klyde Webb (Harrisonville) 11-10 won by fall over Michael Winchell 13-17 (Fall 3:14)

• Round 3 – Brenton Drummond (DeSoto) 22-1 won by fall over Michael Winchell 13-17 (Fall 2:25)

• Round 4 – Michael Winchell 13-17 won by fall over Jude Holleman (Eldon) 8-11 (Fall 3:21)

• Round 5 – Michael Winchell 13-17 won by fall over Chase Brooks (Webb City) 7-22 (Fall 5:22)

• Round 6 – Aidan McAtee (Reeds Spring) 12-13 won by major decision over Michael Winchell 13-17 (MD 14-2)

132: Kole Fry (18-14) placed 9th and scored 10.5 team points.

• Round 1 – Kade Adams (Monett) 17-3 won by fall over Kole Fry 18-14 (Fall 1:31)

• Round 2 – Raef Braman (Knob Noster) 15-6 won by fall over Kole Fry 18-14 (Fall 0:47)

• Consolation Bracket – Kole Fry 18-14 won by fall over Payton Bond (Nevada) 14-11 (Fall 4:15)

• 9th Place Match – Kole Fry 18-14 won by tech fall over Mason Artym (Carthage) 2-3 (TF-1.5 3:38 (16-0))

132: Hayden Jereczek (4-12) placed 12th.

• Round 1 – Paden Vance (McDonald County) 22-6 won by fall over Hayden Jereczek 4-12 (Fall 0:27)

• Round 2 – Ryder Gaston (Oak Grove) 15-7 won by fall over Hayden Jereczek 4-12 (Fall 0:29)

• Consolation Bracket – Mason Artym (Carthage) 2-3 won by fall over Hayden Jereczek 4-12 (Fall 0:49)

• 11th Place Match – Payton Bond (Nevada) 14-11 won by tech fall over Hayden Jereczek 4-12 (TF-1.5 1:17 (15-0))

138: Kellen Weldy (19-9) placed 8th and scored 9.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Kellen Weldy 19-9 won by fall over Landon Green (Eldon) 9-12 (Fall 1:20)

• Round 2 – Kellen Weldy 19-9 won by fall over Stratton Bledsoe (Logan-Rogersville) 5-16 (Fall 1:50)

• Round 3 – Marcus Braman (Knob Noster) 15-7 won by decision over Kellen Weldy 19-9 (Dec 14-8)

• Consolation Bracket – Douglas Ball (Carthage) 5-5 won by medical forfeit over Kellen Weldy 19-9 (M. For.)

• 7th Place Match – Finnley McDermitt (Logan-Rogersville) 11-11 won by medical forfeit over Kellen Weldy 19-9 (M. For.)

138: Easton Stone (5-6) placed 11th.

• Round 1 – Easton Stone 5-6 won by fall over Ronnie Jo Clouse (Reeds Spring) 9-17 (Fall 1:19)

• Round 2 – Jacob Campbell (Springdale Har-Ber) 19-6 won by fall over Easton Stone 5-6 (Fall 0:47)

• Round 3 – Finnley McDermitt (Logan-Rogersville) 11-11 won by tech fall over Easton Stone 5-6 (TF-1.5 4:22 (26-8))

• Consolation Bracket – Chris Spears (Monett) 12-7 won by major decision over Easton Stone 5-6 (MD 11-1)

• 11th Place Match – Easton Stone 5-6 won by fall over Stratton Bledsoe (Logan-Rogersville) 5-16 (Fall 2:29)

144: Logan Parsons (18-12) placed 7th and scored 14.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Logan Parsons 18-12 won by fall over Jonathan Emerson (Reeds Spring) 1-4 (Fall 1:44)

• Round 2 – Logan Parsons 18-12 won by fall over Ethan Phelps (Oak Grove) 17-5 (Fall 6:00)

• Round 3 – Christian Benhumea (McDonald County) 17-8 won by tech fall over Logan Parsons 18-12 (TF-1.5 3:32 (19-3))

• Consolation Bracket – Jace Nichols (Carthage) 7-3 won by fall over Logan Parsons 18-12 (Fall 4:37)

• 7th Place Match – Logan Parsons 18-12 won by fall over Axel Lopez (Monett) 2-9 (Fall 0:59)

150: Braydyn Sizemore (24-8) placed 4th and scored 20.0 team points.

• Round 3 – Braydyn Sizemore 24-8 won by fall over Cody Parnell (Aurora) 10-6 (Fall 1:42)

• Quarterfinal – Braydyn Sizemore 24-8 won by decision over Ethan Copeland (Harrisonville) 11-11 (Dec 10-5)

• Semifinal – Dominic Eakins (DeSoto) 21-2 won by fall over Braydyn Sizemore 24-8 (Fall 1:03)

• 3rd Place Match – Carson Rooks (Webb City) 22-7 won by decision over Braydyn Sizemore 24-8 (Dec 9-2)

157: Dylan Sorenson (3-13) placed 14th.

• Round 1 – Koven Parks (Bolivar) 13-9 won by fall over Dylan Sorenson 3-13 (Fall 2:10)

• Round 2 – Blayke Leonard (Webb City) 20-8 won by fall over Dylan Sorenson 3-13 (Fall 0:38)

• Round 3 – Wyatt Reed (Monett) 6-14 won by fall over Dylan Sorenson 3-13 (Fall 0:41)

• 13th Place Match – Jack Hauer (Logan-Rogersville) 5-18 won by fall over Dylan Sorenson 3-13 (Fall 0:26)

157: Tyler Hodge (12-8) placed 9th and scored 12.5 team points.

• Round 1 – Cayden Bohnert (Harrisonville) 13-11 won by fall over Tyler Hodge 12-8 (Fall 2:36)

• Round 2 – Ethan Jones (McDonald County) 10-4 won by fall over Tyler Hodge 12-8 (Fall 0:57)

• Round 3 – Tyler Hodge 12-8 won by fall over Jack Hauer (Logan-Rogersville) 5-18 (Fall 1:49)

• Consolation Bracket – Tyler Hodge 12-8 won by fall over Kanoa Aiwa (Springdale Har-Ber) 6-13 (Fall 0:34)

• 9th Place Match – Tyler Hodge 12-8 won by tech fall over Wyatt Reed (Monett) 6-14 (TF-1.5 2:42 (17-2))

165: Carson Hutchins (6-1) placed 2nd and scored 32.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Carson Hutchins 6-1 won by fall over Christopher Calhoun (Monett) 5-13 (Fall 1:19)

• Round 3 – Carson Hutchins 6-1 won by fall over Shofner Jim (Springdale Har-Ber) 11-10 (Fall 5:05)

• Championship Bracket – Carson Hutchins 6-1 won by fall over Christopher Ramirez (McDonald County) 12-7 (Fall 2:51)

• 1st Place Match – Cale McCurry (Bolivar) 20-3 won by fall over Carson Hutchins 6-1 (Fall 1:45)

175: Zachary Myers (26-4) placed 5th.

• Round 1 – Zachary Myers 26-4 won by fall over Silas Littlejohn (Reeds Spring) 1-4 (Fall 1:09)

• Round 3 – Raiden Haggard (Webb City) 15-5 won by fall over Zachary Myers 26-4 (Fall 3:32)

• Consolation Bracket – Zachary Myers 26-4 won by fall over Canon Copeland (Eldon) 14-7 (Fall 2:40)

• 5th Place Match – Zachary Myers 26-4 won by decision over Henry Reed (Monett) 16-5 (Dec 4-3)

175: Colton Roark (31-1) placed 1st and scored 40.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Colton Roark 31-1 won by fall over Joshua Hill (Carthage) 2-3 (Fall 0:35)

• Round 2 – Colton Roark 31-1 won by fall over Andrew Cornelius (Nevada) 15-9 (Fall 0:49)

• Round 3 – Colton Roark 31-1 won by fall over Jackson Fleshman (Harrisonville) 5-11 (Fall 1:25)

• Championship Bracket – Colton Roark 31-1 won by decision over Logan Bunn (Bolivar) 18-4 (Dec 7-0)

• 1st Place Match – Colton Roark 31-1 won by fall over Levi Huck (DeSoto) 22-1 (Fall 3:09)

190: Riley James (5-0) placed 1st and scored 38.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Riley James 5-0 won by fall over Nolan Selsor (DeSoto) 5-3 (Fall 2:46)

• Round 3 – Riley James 5-0 won by fall over Marshall Loftin (Reeds Spring) 2-3 (Fall 3:07)

• Championship Bracket – Riley James 5-0 won by decision over Keziah Queen (Logan-Rogersville) 16-10 (Dec 4-0)

• 1st Place Match – Riley James 5-0 won by fall over Steve Serious (Carthage) 4-1 (Fall 2:27)

215: Brylar Berank (15-16) placed 13th and scored 6.5 team points.

• Round 1 – Grant Bayless (Bolivar) 12-9 won by fall over Brylar Berank 15-16 (Fall 0:33)

• Round 2 – AliAkbar Alboshebah (Springdale Har-Ber) 2-7 won by fall over Brylar Berank 15-16 (Fall 0:59)

• Round 3 – Braydyn Fuller (Reeds Spring) 12-5 won by fall over Brylar Berank 15-16 (Fall 0:53)

• 13th Place Match – Brylar Berank 15-16 won by fall over Tyler Annecharico 7-12 (Fall 0:36)

215: Tyler Annecharico (7-12) placed 14th.

• Round 1 – DJ Glidewell (Nevada) 18-0 won by fall over Tyler Annecharico 7-12 (Fall 0:26)

• Round 2 – Xavier Ortega (Knob Noster) 9-12 won by fall over Tyler Annecharico 7-12 (Fall 1:15)

• Round 3 – Isaiah Hays (Reeds Spring) 8-9 won by fall over Tyler Annecharico 7-12 (Fall 1:18)

• 13th Place Match – Brylar Berank 15-16 won by fall over Tyler Annecharico 7-12 (Fall 0:36)