Centralia boys wrestling wants to do better than second place and it took a big step in that direction on Saturday.

The Panthers won the Class 1 District 3 tournament title at Lafayette County in Higginsville, qualifying 10 wrestlers for the Class 1 state tournament that starts today and runs through Thursday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Centralia has been the Class 1 runner-up the previous three years.

Centralia earned 234 points to finish ahead of runner-up Brookfield’s 172.5 after Brayden Dubes (120), Rex Bryson (138), Kyden Wilkerson (157), Brayden Shelton (165) and Seth Hasekamp each won district titles at their respective weight classes and Bryson Dubes (second at 106), Weston Ward (second at 126), Jesse Shannon (third at 132), Wyatt Adkisson (fourth at 144) and Payton Mabrey (fourth at 215) each medaled.

Each of the district champions won each of their matches via pinfall, except for when Wilkerson defeated Richmond’s Elijah Sanders in an 8-6 sudden victory for the championship.

Mabrey edged Palmyra’s Jose Juarez 5-3 in the consolation semifinals to officially qualify for state before falling in the third-place match.

Ian Tuggle was close twice at 190 pounds as he lost a 3-0 decision to Richmond’s Aidan Ivison in the championship semifinals before being defeated 3-2 by North Callaway’s Casper Safranski in the consolation semifinals.

North Callaway sending three to state meet

Two Thunderbirds will have a chance to finish higher at the boys state wrestling meet and one will have a chance for first impact.

North Callaway will send three wrestlers to the Class 1 state meet starting today and ending Thursday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia after they qualified Saturday at the Class 1 District 3 tournament at Lafayette County in Higginsville, finishing sixth out of 15 schools in the process with 97 points. Lane Kimbley was the 132-pound district champion, Eli Henry finished third at 157 pounds and Casper Safranski was third at 190 pounds.

Head coach Ronnie Kimbley said North Callaway was in the “toughest district in the state” so all of his wrestlers performed well.

“They all battled tough against some of the best kids in the state,” Kimbley said. “The team rose to the challenge and every point was earned by all competitors.”

Kimbley is going to state after finishing third at 126 pounds a year ago, and on Saturday, he had two pinfalls and a major decision. Henry went to state last year, failing to earn a medal, but took third on Saturday winning a pair of 6-0 decisions against Marceline’s Cole Griffin and Trenton’s Gavin Chambers. Safranski earned his first state berth after edging Centralia’s Ian Tuggle 3-2 in the bubble match and pinning Lafayette County’s Conner Barney for his fourth straight victory after a 4-2 loss to Barney in the championship quarterfinals.

“All three have a great chance to end up on the podium, but it's the state tournament and anything is possible,” Ronnie Kimbley said. “Our guys have shown up in big matches all year and are excited to be able to have the opportunity to do so at the state championships.”

Cashton Holloway at 138 pounds and Caleb Rohrbach at 215 pounds were each a victory away from state in the consolation semifinals. Holloway lost a 3-0 decision to Father Tolton’s Elliot Kormeier and Rohrbach was pinned by Marceline’s Scout Gooch.

Missouri Military Academy season ends at districts

Missouri Military Academy wrestling was unable to send one to the state meet that will happen this week.

The Colonels finished last out of 15 schools on Saturday at the Class 1 District 3 tournament at Lafayette County in Higginsville. They went into the second day with 12 still alive in the tournament the furthest a Colonel could advance was the third round of wrestlebacks.

Matthew Pfeifer (106), Sam Stevens (126), Ryan Miles (132), Alex Snyder (138), Gabe Canonico (157) and Adam Swenson (190) each lost their third-round wrestlebacks matches to finish their respective seasons.

MMA finishes with a team-record 17 dual wins this season, and several Colonels earned signature individual wins this season. Bryson Powell won his 30th match, and Pfeifer, Snyder, Canonico, Stevens, Miles, Deonte Kerns (106 and 113) and Trae Griffiths (144) all made it over 20 wins.