Led by senior and team captain Christopher Bryant, the Missouri Military Academy has been plowing through the opposition this season. They head into a long Christmas break with a 9-1 team mark, with Bryant – a state qualifier last year – at 7-0 individually.

“Coach Allen has been showing us a new way to approach practice and wrestling, and he wants it done that way,” said Bryant, who wrestles at 182. “It’s working.”

Head coach Thomas Allen is a veteran behind the whistle, but is directing the MMA squad for the first time.

“The focus during the first half of the season has been instilling a ‘no quit’ attitude,” Allen said. “The team has demonstrated full buy-in to the process and it has paid off.”

The Colonels opened with a pair of convincing team wins – 54-13 over California and 58-12 over Father Tolten. MMA topped Father Tolten a second time, 54-22, during the recent MMA quad. They also swept South Callaway (54-18) and Wright City (51-24) for the second time on the season, having knocked off both teams in a triangular in Wright City.

MMA’s only loss came against unbeaten Fulton in a home triangular. They fell 47-30 after holding off Eldon 42-34. The Colonels rebounded by pouncing on St. Francis Borgia 60-12.

“This year’s leadership on the team runs deep,” Allen pointed out.

In addition to Bryant, Pablo Garduno is a returning state qualifier in the 285 class. The roster of seniors is strong, with Phasakorn Cunningham (195), Darian Heavens (132) and Connor O’Neal (152).

O’Neal and Cunningham go into the break with 8-2 records. Gardino is 3-1.

Joining Bryant in the unbeaten ranks are 106-pounder Sophomore David Wainscott at 5-0. Brett Miles shares 145 duties with Gabriel Canonico. Miles is 2-0 while Canonico has built up a 7-1 mark.

Oskar Fontana takes to the mat at both 160 and 170 and is a combined 5-2, while true 160-pounder Ryan Stafford holds a 3-2 record.

One of Allen’s top newcomers is 113-pound freshman Landon Kjolhede, who has been busy racking up a 9-1 mark. Meanwhile a pair of juniors hold down the 220 class, with Noah Johnson at 7-2 and Telmen Nasanbat reaching 4-2.

Another junior, who wrestles at 170, is Skyler Hineman, 4-3 on the young season. Francisco Jacquez is 2-1.

Isaac Way (138), Noah Cecil (126) and James Pugh-Segler (126) have split their matches. Ian Masters-Moore has gone out once and is 0-1.

The Colonels are deep at the JV level, as well, with a roster of 18.