Mexico girls split Marshall duals, take two of three at Southern Boone

The Mexico girls had a winning week of 3-2 at duals in Marshall and Southern Boone.

The Lady Bulldogs split their two duals at Marshall on Wednesday before winning two of three duals on Thursday  at Southern Boone in Ashland. Their dual record is 15-3 and will compete in the Seckman tournament today.

At the Marshall meet, Mexico couldn’t overcome Marshall again on Wednesday as they lost to their North Central Missouri Conference foe Marshall 42-27 — after finishing second behind Marshall at the conference tournament earlier this season — but defeated Excelsior Springs 42-36.

Katie Bowen, Abby Bowen, Karisa Hayden and Abbie Seibert each went 2-0, with Katie and Abby Bowen and Hayden each winning by pinfall twice and Seibert pinning a girl and winning via a 14-10 decision one time. Jashayla Johnson pinned her Marshall opponent.

At Southern Boone, Mexico defeated Fatima 66-6 and Marceline 39-30 but lost 42-36 to Southern Boone. 

Katie Bowen pinned her Fatima opponent in a dual with a lot of opens. Bowen had another pinfall victory against Marceline and so did Johnson, Abby Bowen, Hayden and Welch while Seibert won her match 8-4. Hayden and Alexus Johns provided the Lady Bulldogs with pinfall wins against Southern Boone, but the Lady Eagles recorded five pins.

Centralia string of pins enough to knock off state-ranked Tolton

The Centralia boys had a tough challenge in front of them Tuesday.

It was a tough Class 1 matchup for both as third-ranked and reigning state champion Centralia faced second-ranked Father Tolton. The Panthers won 42-37 on their home mat after falling behind 25-12 at one point in the dual.

After a victory from reigning Tolton state medalist Brody Narron over Centralia’s returning state finalist Weston Ward, Tolton had the advantage. Then, Louis Suddarth, Rex Bryson and Wyatt Adkisson each won via pinfall to shoot Centralia ahead 30-25, with each winning in the first period.

Tolton had a couple opens at the largest two weights so their victories by returning state finalist Frank Hazelrigg and William Graves wasn’t enough.

Griffiths first to 20 wins in MMA dual sweep in Hallsville

The Missouri Military Academy wrestling team is functioning well as a unit.

Trae Griffiths ran his record to 23-2 on Tuesday at Hallsville dual meet to be the first Colonel this season to reach 20 wins, but four each came out one to three wins away. MMA defeated Battle 42-35 and Hallsville 48-30 in Hallsville.

Head coach Levi Iman said the four on Griffiths’ tail include Deonte Kerns at 19-4, Sam Stevens at 19-7, Michael Pfeifer at 18-8 and Ryan Miles at 17-7.

“We had some very competitive matches against some tough opponents,” Iman said. “This team has done a great job this year of pushing each other to be successful both as a team and individually.”

In extra bouts against Battle, Stevens pinned Ray Dennison in seconds at 144 pounds, and Evan Corley pinned Blake Schmidt in the first period at 190. Griffiths, Pfeifer, Miles and Nathaniel Summers each had pinfall victories over Hallsville.

MMA’s Kerns reaches 20 wins in dual split at Boonville

Missouri Military Academy has another wrestler at 20 wins after Thursday.

Deonte Kerns ran his record to 21-4 in a Boonville dual meet after Trae Griffiths reached 20 victories the previous night in Hallsville. The Colonels defeated Stover 59-12 and lost to Boonville 52-24.

Head coach Levi Iman said the younger MMA fell to the senior-heavy Boonville in what was good preparation for districts. 

Captain Ryan Miles moved his record to 19-7 after two pinfall victories, Kerns pinned his Boonville opponent, and Blake Krull, Evan Corley and Dallas Grantz each earned a pinfall victory as well.

North Callaway splits duals in Macon

North Callaway tasted victory and a close defeat on Thursday in Macon.

The Thunderbirds defeated Macon 48-29 but lost 41-36 to Chillicothe, losing the final three matches at the heavier weight classes.

Lane Kimbley and Collin Moore each pinned both of their opponents, and Christian Moore and Wyatt Haden each pinned their Chillicothe opponent.

The Thunderbirds took advantage of six opens against Macon and had a 36-29 advantage against Chillicothe following an open. Casper Safranski and Justice Moore hung around for six minutes at 190 and 215 pounds, respectively, but lost via 9-3 and 6-3 decisions. Chillicothe closed the dual with a pinfall at 285.