Since they won the Class 4 state championship in 2017, Staley has finished in third place five times and in fourth once during the Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships.
The Falcons are a powerhouse in Class 4 but haven’t been able to catch Liberty for first place as the Blue Jays have dominated in recent years, winning five consecutive state championships.
They may have a solid chance of capturing their first state championship in eight years as the Falcons will have a senior-laden squad that will feature eight out of nine wrestlers who qualified for the state tournament returning for the 2024-25 season, including a state champion in senior David Gleason.
“I think every year is the year, it just depends on how hard we work,” Staley senior Merrik Murray said of his team’s chances of winning a state title. “We are pretty locked in. We are working hard, pushing each other and holding each other accountable.”
Gleason returns to headline a strong core of seniors coming back to help the Falcons earn a state championship. He was not challenged in the state 144-pound bracket last season as he rolled to a state championship. He defeated Neosho’s Carter Howard by a 11-2 major decision in the title bout after missing his sophomore campaign due to injury.
“I have the same goal to win a state title,” Gleason said. “I have been working on heavy hands. That’s the biggest thing and keeping fast feet.”
Murray is another top wrestler returning as he will be looking for his first state championship. He has been battling injuries the last two seasons, but still managed to place in the top six in 2023 and 2024 at state. He finished fifth last season, sixth in 2023 and in fourth in 2022.