The Mexico boys have had wins come from the whole roster this season.

The Bulldogs couldn’t secure quite enough wins on Thursday in a 39-36 loss to Class 1 No. 1 Centralia in Gooch gym in Mexico, but several had their hands raised, including Kyler Carr for his 100th career win. 

Head coach Jake Vitale said the Class 1 defending champion Centralia is a tough matchup, but he believed Mexico could “give them a run for their money.” Carlos Juarez Ramirez at 113 pounds and Travis Shramek at 285 pounds wrestled close matches but ultimately lost 11-9 to Waylon Adkisson and 4-1 to Marshall Kable, respectively. 

Mexico vs Centralia Photo Gallery

“There were some matches we would have liked to get back,” Vitale said. “Carlos had already beaten that kid 12-2 this year and gave up one big move in the first period and another at the very end. Travis has shown a lot of improvement this year because (Kable) pinned us last year in the first period.”

The two-time reigning state runner-up Juarez Ramirez and has finished first in every tournament Mexico has wrestled this season. Vitale said Shramek has surpassed last year’s win total with his 30-7 record this season, which has included various medals such as a first place in the recent St. Charles Invitational. 

In its sixth tournament victory, Mexico had first-place finishes from four of its lightest weight classes at St. Charles, including Trevor Cole at 106, Juarez Ramirez at 113, Evan Blair at 120 and Logan Hilderman at 132. Cole has won every tournament placed in front of him as well in his freshman season. Cole, Juarez Ramirez, Carr and Shramek were each first team all-conference for the North Central Missouri Conference champion Bulldogs and Blair, Brayden Arnold and Israel Hernandez-Jarquin were each second team.

“Coming into (Thursday), our varsity was over a 70 percent winning percentage,” Vitale said. “For a starting team that doesn’t have too many seniors, that’s a pretty good winning percentage.”

Carr had his hand raised on Thursday but because Centralia was open at 157 pounds. Regardless, it was Carr’s 100th career win and was the latest accomplishment in a solid career for the junior. 

“It’s definitely sentimental for me,” Carr said. “I had a rough freshman year, but in my sophomore year, I really picked it up. I only lost six times and only three to kids who lived in Missouri. Stepping it up this year, I’ve only taken losses to ranked opponents and have been getting wins in tournaments.

While other Bulldogs had good performances at St. Charles, Carr had a down weekend by not placing. He said it was unfortunate he couldn’t secure the 100th win at that tournament but enjoyed it happening on a home mat.

“It is definitely confidence,” Carr said about what has helped him improve. “If you don’t think you’re going to win, you’re not going to win. You’ve got to go out there and do what you do best.”

Vitale said his 150th career win was because of a forfeit so he joked that he “understands his pain” of not getting to “put on a show for everyone.” Still, it has been “two and half years of hard work” for Carr to be a 100-win wrestler as a junior, which is “a big deal.”

If Mexico wants to be a big deal in the playoffs, it has some time to improve. Vitale said this loss to Centralia makes some things clear.

“We’ve got to toughen up and wrestle through positions,” Vitale said. “We get popped in the face, and some of our guys want to cower down. If you want to beat a team like Centralia or like Odessa or one of these top teams in the state, you’ve got to have some tough kids. We’ve got a bunch of really good wrestlers, but we’ve got to toughen and wrestle through positions.”

Carr said this roster can do it as he knows himself and teammates very well.

“I’ve been around these guys my whole life,” Carr said. “They make me better, and we support each other in the room.”