Area wrestlers Peyton Parn and Jaden Abongo, both of Brookfield High School, won state championships on Saturday night in the boy’s Class 1 state tournament at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Those falling in Saturday night’s championship match extravaganza were Trenton High School’s Hunter McAtee and Caleb Johnson; Gallatin’s Rodell Sperry; Marceline’s Mason Barnett; and Maysville’s Kaleb Jestes. North Andrew’s Dawson Fansher also finished second for the GRC’s Cardinals.
Other medalists from the immediate area were Sam Gibson of Trenton, along with Drew Griffin and Conner Quinn of Marceline, all finishing third; Coleman Griffin of Trenton, Alex Martin of Hamilton, Gambal Staddie and Colton Parn of Brookfield, Logan Bottcher of Gallatin, and Austin Colvin of Stanberry, all finishing fourth.
In fifth place medalist positions were Devan Parn of Brookfield and Fisher Nixdorf of Hamilton, with sixth place won by Mason Hamilton of South Harrison, Canaan Wright and Jace Bixenman of Marceline, Andon Allen and Gabe Parker of Gallatin, and Draken Bennett of Maysville.
Trenton’s Hunter McAtee lost to Collin Arch of Palmyra 9-2 in the championship duel at 138 pounds, finishing an unbeaten season for Arch. Trenton’s Caleb Johnson lost in overtime to Rylan Kuhn of St. Pius X of Kansas City by pin at the 7:49 mark in the 220 pound title match. Kuhn, a freshman, lost just one match this season.
Jaden Abongo of Brookfield edged Marceline’s Mason Barnett 6-4 in sudden victory in the 170 pound championship encounter.
Gallatin’s Rodell Sperry lost to Brayden Shelton of Centralia 4-2 in the 160 pound championship match. Shelton completed at undefeated season.
Mid-Buchanan won the Class 1 boys state title at 171 1/2 points. Centralia was second with 152, and Brookfield third at 107. Trenton finished sixth at 86 points, followed by Marceline’s seventh place total of 71 1/2, and Gallatin’s eighth place 57 1/2.
All six of Trenton’s wrestlers competing in the three-day event had at least two victories in Columbia. Here is head coach Charlie Bacon:
Cameron had five medalists in the Class 2 state tournament. Caleb Husch and Tanner Riley both finished runner-up, Ryker Smith third, Brecken Gates fourth, and Chase Short fifth. Chillicothe’s Brock Miller was fifth in the Class 2 event.
Kirksville had four state medalists in Class 2, led by state champion in the 170 pound weight class, Jaden Ballinger. Hunter Tarr and Colton Hannah both were third for KHS, with Jaden Crisp fifth.
Pleasant Hill won the Class 2 state title with 171 1/2 points, followed by Helias Catholic with 133, Kirksville’s 98, and Cameron, in fourth place at 95.
Whitfield captured the Class 3 title with 181 1/2 points, with Liberty running away with the Class 4 honors with 214 1/2 points.
In the girls state tournament, Cameron’s Justice Brewer was second with teammate Hollie Hedgpeth sixth. Brewer lost by pin in the 149 pound championship match to Sevreign Aumua of Grain Valley. Aumua lost just one match this season.
There is currently just one class in the growing sport of girls wrestling in Missouri, thus schools of all sizes compete in the same tournament. Lebanon won the title with 133 points. Nixa was second at 91. Cameron and Rockwood Summit tied for sixth place at 41 points.
Photo credit – Charlie Bacon / Facebook / Columbia, MO
