For the first time in the 2022-23 season, the Mid-Buchanan boys wrestling team is competing in Class 2.

So far, the Dragons are giving the two-time defending state champion Pleasant Hill a run for its money for a state championship.

Interviews with:

• Fulton’s Cole Blattner (106)
• Odessa’a Landon Scarborough (106)
• Excelsior Springs’ Cooper Collins (113)
• Monett’s Simon Hartline (120)
• Odessa’s Gage Studdard (120)
• Kirkville’s Austyn Hunter (126)
• St. Charles Levi Perry-South (132)
• Harrisonville’s Chris Sullivan (126)
• St. Genevieve’s Gage Gross (138)
• Odessa’s Gable Gross (138)
• Hallsville’s Gavynn Carpenter (144)
• Cassville’s Riley James (150)
• Fulton’s Elijah Brocksmith (157)
• Oak Grove’s Ethan Phillips (165)
• Mid-Buchanan’s Zach Kelly (175)
• Savannah’s Cooper Burnsides (190)
• Harrisonville’s Kale Weber (175)
• Osage’s Brock Arrowood (106)
• Chilicothe’s Carter Shipers (113)
• Fulton’s Jadontae Ray (215)
• Mid-Buchanan’s Grant Schuster (106)
• St. James Luke Marlatt (120)
• St. Mary’s (St. Louis) Antonio Valentine (132)
• Sullivan’s Eli Peregoy (132)

Going into Friday’s semifinals and championship matches, Mid-Buchanan sits in first place with 79.5 points after Day 1 of the Class 2 Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships Wednesday at Mizzou Arena on the campus of the University of Missouri.

Odessa currently sits in second place with 61 points, Pleasant Hill is third with 60.5 and St. Genevieve is fourth with 49.

On Thursday, the Class 2 boys will complete in third- fourth- and fifth-round wrestlebacks along with the semifinals and finals of each weight division.

For the Dragons, Spencer Cunningham (113 pounds), Ryder Coons (132), Colton Kirkham (165), Zach Kelly (175), Wade Stanton (190), Owen Stockbauer and Seth Cruz all advanced to the semifinals. Grant Schuster (106) and Clancey Woodward (138) are still alive in the consolation bracket and just need one win to qualify for a state medal.

Below is a breakdown of who made the semifinals in each weight class and what their matchups will be on Friday:

106: St. Michael The Archangel Catholic freshman Park Lutz has made an immediate impact in his first high school season. He pinned his first two opponents with the last one coming in 1:54 against Clinton’s Lucas Mcmenemy. In the semifinals, he will take on Odessa junior Landon Scarborough, who squeaked by Pleasant Hill freshman Victor Schmalz in the quarterfinals, 4-2.

In the other semifinals matchup, Fulton sophomore Cole Blattner will take on Cameron sophomore Dylan Pratt. Blattner improved his record to 48-0 after winning by a 15-0 tech fall in the second round vs. Osage’s Brock Arrowood. Pratt also got a tech fall in his semifinals match, winning 17-1 against Seneca freshman Paxton Bruegal. 

“I should have got off bottom better,” Blattner said, “but my opponent was pretty tough. I have been running legs in to get to a half. I then grab them back the back of the head and get a cradle after that.”…