Grain Valley senior Ethan Jones said that Wednesday’s Senior Night had a different feel to it.
It certainly seemed that way as fans filled the stands, wrestlers got to run under a blue tunnel and run past a smoke machine for a grand entrance before their respective matches.
It was an emotional night for the Grain Valley seniors, including Jones, who was one of three to win their match in the Eagles’ 52-27 victory at home.
Watch Interviews from:
- Grain Valley head coach Donald Horner
- Gavin Barker, Grain Valley (215)
- Ethan Jones, Grain Valley (138)
- Gavin Parks, Grain Valley (126)
- Sjoren Aumua, Grain Valley (145)
- Jace Worthington, Grain Valley (175)
- Myles Weatherpoon, Blue Springs (190)
- Coner TIndle, Blue Springs (235)
- Greg Dillon, Blue Springs (157)
Jones (138 pounds), who is in his second year wrestling on the varsity squad, got an impressive win as he pinned senior Korbin Schmidli from the top position in the second period.
“There’s definitely a lot more momentum coming into this match,” Jones said. “It’s definitely something special. I had most of my family here. It was a bigger match for me personally but the team did well as a whole.”
Fellow senior Gavin Parks felt some emotions, as well. He sets high standards for himself and didn’t wrestle the way he wanted to on Senior Night. However, he still managed to pin Blue Springs freshman Jackson Paulsen with 5 seconds remaining in the match to get the win.
“It was a big night,” Parks said. “I am going to get in the room and do better. I wasn’t proud of my performance. I am going to handle my business next time.”
Senior Jace Worthington impressed in his first match of the season at 175 pounds. He got a quick takedown against freshman Kade Schmidli and used a wrist and a half to turn him and got a pin in the first period.
“I went out there and got the W. That’s what I wanted, but I am never satisfied,” Worthington said. “I feel like I executed my snatch single very, very well and when I was on top I executed my wrist and a half very well.”
Grain Valley head coach Donald Horner said he was proud of the way his seniors wrestled, including Camden Nelson, who fell by pin against Blue Springs’ senior Greg Dillon by fall.
“Camden came back from two years of not wrestling and did well against a really tough opponent,” Horner said. “I couldn’t be happier for our seniors. They have helped build this program and are helping it in the right direction.”