Saturday was the first day of February and the day the Mexico boys hosted their duals tournament.

Mexico Home Duals Photo Gallery

February is also the first day of the season’s home stretch with districts and state happening later in the month. The Bulldogs went 4-1 by beating Monett 53-19, North Callaway 47-32, Sullivan 42-40 and district foe Boonville 69-12 and losing to district foe Father Tolton 49-27.

Head coach Gayle Adams said his kids wrestled “flat” on Saturday but understands they have been battling sickness and fatigue from Mexico’s travel-heavy schedule that now includes their rescheduled conference tournament at Moberly Area Community College on Monday. Adams said the Bulldogs have seen high-quality competition all season but have to “grit” to the end of the season.

“Some things that I saw that we need to work on is wrestling through positions and get a little more grit in us,” Adams said. “I know that my guys have that. We’ll be fine, and they’ll get that grit. Come district time, everyone will be ready to rock and roll.”

Adams said there has definitely been some excitement at the times Mexico has wrestled at home for a quad meet earlier this season, this duals tournament and the district tournament when Mexico hosts later this month. He said it is important for his kids to be at “even keel” regardless of whether they have a good or bad day or win or lose a match.

Mexico finished the day against district foe Father Tolton after seeing a slightly different lineup for Tolton earlier this season. Kyle Lewis won by pin at 138 pounds, Kyler Carr won 12-7 at 150 and Travis Shramek pinned his opponent at 285 after trailing in the match.

“Travis is a smart kid that knows mat awareness,” Adams said. “Right now, he’s the No. 1 kid in his sophomore class. My 138-pounder Kyler Lewis, he’s the No. 1 kid in his class. They’re going to be valedictorians.”

“They beat us today. Let’s see what they do in two weeks when we wrestle them.”

Carlos Juarez Ramirez at 106 — Mexico’s other returning state finalist along with Van Horn — pinned two top-five state-ranked kids in his undefeated day that included three pins. He pinned ranked Athan Briggs, of Tolton, and even had a rare defensive pin over Sullivan’s Ian Henderson to follow pins by Grant Walker at 215 and Shramek at 285 to give Mexico the dual victory.

Carr also had an undefeated day and won all four matches he wrestled against Tolton, Monett, North Callaway and Sullivan at 150 pounds. Walker was undefeated and won all three matches he wrestled against Monett, North Callaway and Sullivan.

On Senior Day, three-time state medalist Grant Van Horn lost 12-5 at 175 pounds to returning 175 state champion William (Frank) Hazelrigg after Van Horn beat Hazelrigg by major decision in the Grain Valley Tournament. Van Horn did beat Boonville’s Bryce Newham after a slow start in a bout he bumped up to 190 pounds and won by his other three matches at 175 pounds.

Mexico’s other senior and Adams’ nephew Watson Azdell defeated Monett’s Kade Adams 8-6 at 132 pounds. Adams appreciates how his seniors have conducted themselves these past four years and knows each wrestler with past state experience will close this season strong.

“You always want a little better outcome for both of them,” Adams said. “This sport doesn’t cheat you. What you grind for is what you get. Both of them have grinded all four years. Getting to the end is just bearing down, and that’s what they’re going to do.”