After the fourth consolation round on Thursday, it wasn’t certain that Alexus Johns would wrestle again that day.

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The Mexico junior took a hard tumble in her pinfall loss to Nevada’s Drew Leer on the second day of the Class 1 girls state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Despite losing twice already, Johns not only returned to wrestle but pinned Sullivan’s Abigail Erfurth to earn a fifth-place medal for her second straight medal at the state tournament.

Johns said she broke loose from Leer and then her shoulder struck the hard floor next to the mat when she fell backwards to cause her to stay on the ground for a few minutes. She finished that match and gave a wait-and-see approach to see how it was feeling before having to wrestle for fifth against Erfurth. Suffice it to say it was feeling good.

“It is feeling a lot better,” Johns said after her fifth-place win. “I almost put her in a stack. I had never done that before in my life. I don’t even drill that move. It was ‘OK, got for it. What do I have to lose?’”

Johns had seen some familiar faces earlier that day, starting with reigning state champion Annabelle Rowe of Adrian. Rowe defeated Johns last season for the state championship before beating her again 6-3. Then Johns saw Leer after being eliminated by the Nevada girls two years ago in Johns’ first career state appearance.

“I needed it so bad,” Johns said. “After losing my first two matches. I really needed that. It really is a confidence booster. I’m still in the game, and I can still do it.”

Head coach Tony Senor said Johns’ loss to Rowe was a matter of making one mistake but was proud she kept wrestling. There wasn’t really any need to worry then, but there was plenty of worry after Johns’ fall.

The year came full circle in a way for Johns as Senor said she wrestled Erfurth in the first tournament of the season. In the last tournament of the season, Johns rolled her over for an early second-period pin. 

“I was afraid she was going to be out for the rest of the tournament with an injury,” Johns said. “I was really nervous putting her in this last match. With her going out and taking care of business, I was ecstatic.”

Senor said it is impressive enough to say Johns is a three-time state qualifier and a two-time state medalist. It is even more impressive considering these last three years are the extent of her wrestling experience. Going into her senior year, Johns is a three-time first-team all-conference wrestler that is the only Mexico girl to earn multiple state medals.

“It makes me happy to know I’ve still got what it takes after last year,” Johns said. “I did place lower, but I have one more year left.”

Johns will be “on the hunt for the gold” and Senor agrees that is doable since state champion Loghan Sumner, of Blair Oaks, third-place medalist Sherlyn Solano, of Marshall, and Holt’s former state medalist Isabella Winingear will all have graduated. All of those girls were also in Mexico’s district.

“Alexus right now is the forerunner in her district,” Senor said. “I am so proud of Alexus and her growth.”

Abby Bowen is another junior who represented Mexico at state this season. She didn’t make it past the first day in the 135-pound bracket after being pinned sixth-place medalist Isabella Montez, of Carl Junction, and was pinned two matches later by Knob Noster’s Amelia Brown in two opponents. Bowen did pin Raytown South’s Alexis Love.

Considering Bowen’s season of dealing with adversity, including medical issues, Senor is happy with her performance after wrestling state-level competition and being physically and mentally strong. This was Bowen’s second straight state appearance. 

“She was more mentally prepared,” Senor said. “She was like, ‘Oh, this is just another tournament. She was ready from the first whistle.”