Led by coaches Josh Steele and Quentin Neal, the Missouri Elementary Boys wrestling team delivered a powerful 8–1 performance at the Heartland National Duals. Their efforts secured a 9th-place overall finish and a second-straight Platinum Bracket championship. Missouri battled through a tough field, highlighted by a strong opening win over Minnesota and a dominant 196–66 run against Oklahoma, Kentucky, and North Dakota.
Day 1: Weekend Opening
Missouri opened the weekend with authority, upsetting a formidable Minnesota squad. The victory was fueled by crucial bonus-point wins from Boston Kinder, Declan Witkowski, Elijah Viruete, Raheem Busby, and Dagger Rooks, giving Missouri early momentum that carried throughout the event.
Day 2: Overcoming Adversity
After a narrow, hard-fought loss to Iowa, which created a three-way tie for first and left Missouri just shy of the Diamond Pool on tiebreakers the team showed exceptional resilience. Entering the Platinum Pool, Missouri regrouped and dominated Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska, successfully defending their Platinum title.
Undefeated Wrestlers of the Weekend
Five Missouri wrestlers finished the tournament undefeated, each delivering standout performances:
- Declan Witkowski (Team Central): 7 pins, 1 major decision
- Jack Gravitt (Open Mats): 2 pins, 5 technical falls, 1 decision
- Elijah Viruete (Greater Heights): 3 pins, 3 technical falls, 1 major decision
- Raheem Busby (STL Warriors): 4 pins, 2 technical falls, 1 major decision, 1 sudden-victory win
- Dagger Rooks: 5 pins, 1 technical fall, 1 major decision, 1 decision
With a strong weekend performance the 2026 Missouri Elementary Boys team showed the nation exactly what Missouri wrestling represents. Their resilience, work ethic, and passion for the sport were on full display all weekend. This group of talented young wrestlers has a bright future, and it’s exciting to imagine what they’ll accomplish next.
