Tyler Harrald
The Class 2 District 3 tournament was held in the town of Eldon, right off of Highway 54, and just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Lake of the Ozarks.
The Mustangs rounded out the top ten team finishers and will take just two wrestlers to Mizzou Arena. One of those wrestlers just so happens to be 113 lb junior Jesiah Simmons. Simmons was the runner up in Class 2 last year at 113 lbs and as the Mustangs lone district champion, looks to get back and finish the job this year. Simmons was brilliant as he pinned three guys on his way to the district title. The other state qualifier for Eldon is senior Jonathon Etzel who boasts a nice record of 30-5 and took third at 165 lbs in district 3.
Continuing, the district champion Seneca Indians showed why they are more than capable of their current ninth ranked position in Class 2, qualifying ten wrestlers, with four individual champions. Paving the way for the Indians is senior Andrew Manley at 144 lbs. Currently ranked first in Class 2, Manley pinned three opponents, each in quick fashion, on his way to becoming district champion. Manley will no doubt be on a mission in Columbia as he tries to claim his first state title.
Sophomores Eli Manley and Jace Renfro both knocked off tough competition to capture district crowns. Manley, who entered the tournament unranked, beat top ranked Chris Sullivan out of Harrisonville in the 132 lb final, while Renfro, ranked no. 1 at 190 lbs, bested second ranked Trey Payne of Knob Noster in the semifinal match, then topped Doug Blaha of Blair Oaks who placed 6th at 175 lbs last year and held a 43-2 coming into the match.
Rounding out Seneca’s district champions is freshman Brant Laughlin, who ran amok on the 126 lb bracket with three pins and a tech fall. With 208.0 points the Indians firmly planted their flag at the mountain top of district 3, and look to build on the momentum heading into the state tournament.
Following the Indians impressive performance, the Blair Oaks Falcons tested Seneca for the team title but ultimately came up short with 194.0 team points.
The Falcons had seven finalists but only managed two wins. Firstly, at 138 lbs Nolan Laughlin came up clutch when he needed to most. Entering the tournament, the junior had an 8-9 record, then rattled off four straight wins, three very close decision wins, including one in sudden victory against fifth ranked Elijah Avery of Knob Noster to punch his ticket to the final, and a five to four decision win in the district final. Secondly, at 285 lbs, senior Cole Peters, currently ranked fourth, pinned his first two opponents, then took a three to one decision over sixth ranked sophomore, DJ Glidewell of Nevada
