North Callaway went from having no state champions to two in two years.

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Lane Kimbley ended his senior season a year ago as the school’s first ever state champion and then Collin Moore came back to state this year to win the Class 1 boys wrestling championship at 157 pounds on Thursday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Moore earned the third-place 144-pound medal at state a year ago as a freshman.

Moore defeated Centralia’s Louis Suddarth 1-0 before hopping into the arms of assistant coach and father Chris Moore. It was actually the second medal match that North Callaway defeated Centralia as Gunnar Wenneker won via 2-1 decision against Marshall Kable to finish fifth at 285 pounds. 

“It feels amazing,” Moore said. “Words can’t explain how I feel right now. It was just a great experience.”

Moore said his father has been there with him since he started wrestling at 4-years-old so that special moment was definitely reserved for him first. For a few seconds, the much older and bigger Moore was carried by his father while he pointed at fans in the stands. 

Moore calls wrestling “the hardest sport in the world,” which is what he likes about it the most. He said half-hearted effort was never going to be enough and is glad he has stuck with it.

“Nobody can do it,” Moore said. “It’s tough, and you have to be tough to do it. I’ve worked so hard to be where I am right now. I just want to thank God for putting me in this spot.”

Head coach Brock Davis came to the program this season and knew he was inheriting a good program with young talent. Moore and Wenneker were both sophomores this season and another state qualifier, Ben Haubner, was a junior. Senior Casper Safranski rounded out the North Callaway representation at state this year, which all made it to the second day.

When it comes to Moore specifically, Davis said his returning state medalist started at a good point so a state championship was possible. Moore finished this season with a 49-1 record.

“This year was just cleaning some stuff up and making sure he was confident in himself no matter who it was or where it is,” Davis said. “Nothing could stand between him and what he wants. He’s made all the right decisions from top to bottom. Coaching is a big part, but I’m not the one out there wrestling.”

Moore had to spend much time on the mat in his four state matches this year. A second-period pinfall in the quarterfinals was his shortest match but had to wrestle to decisions in the other bouts. First, Moore beat Maysville’s Cooper Ray 5-3 and then won in the quarterfinals to advance to Day 2.

Moore’s semifinal match with Diamond’s James Lafever ended via a 5-4 tiebreaker. A stalling call in the third period tied the match for Moore and eventually picked up an escape in the second overtime period to advance to his first ever finals. 

“I feel like I just wanted it more than anybody,” Moore said. “You can go through the whole match with a good game plan and go out there and wrestle, but it really comes down to who wants it more.”

Moore said Lafever was strong defensively and all of his other opponents gave him good fights, especially Suddarth for the championship. The one point of the match didn’t happen until an escape in the third period, and Moore held on to that slim lead.

“It’s hard to stay calm, cool and collected through, but I felt I did a pretty good job of it,” Moore said. “I just wrestled smart. Making big mistakes will cost you matches like that.”

Davis said Moore became better at scoring on his feet, which generally helps win matches. The confidence grew for an already “very capable wrestler.”

“Once we get rolling, it’s hard for people to take him down,” Davis said. “He showcased that tonight. If he doesn’t have the confidence on his feet not to get scored on, then he may not be in that position. He’s been working his butt off on his feet and on top and has been a hammer on top all year.”

Wenneker had much mat time at state as well, wrestling three matches that went to decision on the second day, after falling one match short at districts a year ago. After advancing to the semifinals on Wednesday, Wenneker began Day 2 with an 11-6 loss to Holden’s Aiden Christian and then had a 4-1 loss to Fatima’s eventual third-place medalist Trevor Herzing. In the third period against Kable, Wenneker picked up two stalling points for the tight victory for a final record of 38-10.

“He just stayed patient everywhere,” Davis said. “He stayed patient on his feet and on bottom. He has really matured in his wrestling. He is a kid that I’m looking forward to being in contention next year.”

Davis added he is proud of the seasons of Safranski and Haubner. Safranski won over 20 matches, made it to the blood round at state and even picked up his 100th career win in the first round by pinning Lone Jack’s Dilan Grimes after being hurt in the first half of the season. Davis said Haubner won over 30 matches this season and made “huge jumps” this season and especially in the last week to the point he is a first-time state qualifier who is having tight matches with quality competition.

The team can follow Moore’s drive as his two medals in his first two years is likely a preview of coming attractions.

“I have already reached the top of the podium, but I have not perfected myself at all,” Moore said. “I have way more room to grow."