Michael Smith The goal for Liberty is simple every year – go out and dominate.
That’s exactly what the Blue Jays did in the Class 4 Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships Saturday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
They won their fourth consecutive state championship with a gaudy 218 point total as Liberty absolutely blew away the competition. The separation between Liberty and other teams was massive. The second-place team, Francis Howell Central, only had 90.5 points. Staley was third with 88 and Lafayette Wildwood and Ozark tied for fourth with 81 points each.
Interviews with:
- Brett Smith, Troy Buchanan, Class 4 Boys 175, after winning 1st place, 2023 State Tournament
- Hunter Taylor, Liberty, Class 4 Boys 120, after winning 1st place, 2023 State Tournament
- Brennan Carey, Nixa, Class 4 Boys 215, after winning 1st place, 2023 State Tournament
- Elmotie Williams, Liberty North, Class 4 Boys 285, after winning 1st place, 2023 State Tournament
- Carter Mccallister, Columbia Rock Bridge, Class 4 Boys 150, after winning 1st place, 2023 State Trn
- Gavin Linsman, Liberty, Class 4 Boys 144, after winning 1st place, 2023 State Tournament
- Charlie Dykes, Lee’s Summit North, Class 4 Boys 120, after earning 2nd place, 2023 State Tournament
- Zan Fugitt, Nixa, Class 4 Boys 132, after winning 1st place, 2023 State Tournament
- Christopher Coates, Liberty, Class 4 Boys 138, after winning 1st place, 2023 State Tournament
- Peyton Shepard, Francis Howell Central, Class 4 Boys 126, after winning 1st place, 2023 State Tourn
- Zac Bleess, Grain Valley, Class 4 Boys 113, after earning 6th place, 2023 State Tournament
- Dru Azcona, Grain Valley, Class 4 Boys 132, after earning 4th place, 2023 State Tournament
- Gavin Parks, Grain Valley, Class 4 Boys 120, after earning 4th place, 2023 State Tournament
- Hank Benter, Columbia Hickman, Class 4 Boys 113, after winning 1st place, 2023 State Tournament
- Tanner Barker, Grain Valley, Class 4 Boys 165, after winning 3rd place, 2023 State Tournament
- Colby Gray, Fort Osage, Class 4 Boys 150, after earning 4th place, 2023 State Tournament
- Rylan Mansfield, Fort Osage, Class 4 Boys 138, after winning 5th place, 2023 State Tournament
- Jamison Tunstill, Oak Park, Class 4 Boys 132, after winning 3rd place, 2023 State Tournament
- Miller Sipes, Staley, Class 4 Boys 120, after winning 3rd place, 2023 State Tournament
“It’s awesome to be a part of this,” Liberty junior Gavin Linsman said. “We are like a family and we are always hanging out and building that team spirit. If one of us falls, we all feel it. When one os us wins, we all are right there.”
The top four teams in each class earned a state plaque and the top six wrestlers in each weight class received a medal….
