Michael Smith
The unstoppable freight train that is the Liberty boys wrestling team can’t be stopped.
It certainly seemed that way as the Blue Jays have won four consecutive state championships. In this weekend’s Kansas City Stampede Tournament, one which multiple local coaches consider to have stiffer competition than the state tournament, they looked like a force to be reckoned with once again.
Liberty finished 212 points to take first place as a team Saturday at Bartle Hall. Buford (Ga.) took second with 176.5 points and Baylor (Tenn.) was third with 172.
The prestigious tournament featured some of the best wrestling programs throughout the United States, which included teams from Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia, Oklahoma, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, New Mexico, Alabama and Kansas.
Even with some stiff competition, Liberty had three wrestlers take first place and three others finish in the top eight of their respective divisions.
Below is a roundup of the top placers in Missouri and a list of the top eight finishers in each weight class:
106: Fort Osage sophomore Kaison Schreier is in one of the more competitive weight divisions in Missouri and faced an even more competitive bracket at the tournament. He topped Trevor Christenson of Basehor-Linwood, 9-4, in the semifinals, before squeaking out a 9-7 win against Jordan Bell of St. Pius X to take first place.
“This was an eye opener because I haven’t wrestled too many tough tournaments or duals lately,” Schreier said. “This will get me trolling into the rest of the season.
Top eight placers:
1st: Kaison Schreier, Fort Osage
2nd: Jordan Bell, St. Pius X
3rd: Cole Caniglia, Creighton Prep (Neb.)
4th: Mason Brayfield, Park Hill
5th: Trevor Christenson, Basehor-Linwood (Kan.)
6th: Landon Lane, St. Michael The Archangel Catholic
7th: Aiden Hahn, Farmington
8th: Garrett Short, Ponca City (Okla.)
113: Defending state champion, Erik Egstad of Park Hill edged DJ Clark of Buford 2-0 in the semifinals to make it to the championship match, where he fell to Canyon Randall sophomore Michael Ruiz in the finals 6-1 as he took home a silver belt buckle.
Top eight placers:
1st: Michael Ruiz, Canyon Randall (Texas)
2nd: Erik Egstad, Park Hill
3rd: DJ Clarke, Buford (Ga.)
4th: Austin Brown, Hannibal
5th: Eric Casula, Westmoore (Okla.)
6th: Jimmy Swenson, Ponca City
7th: Parker Lutz, St. Michael
8th: Bryson Rockers, Paola (Kan.)
120: Two-time state champion Hunter Taylor of Liberty had four wins by fall and a 8-0 major decision in the second round to set up a championship match with Aiden Shields of Valley Center. He got a pin in 5:06 to earn his spot on top of the first-place podium.
“I was pretty light on my feet,” Taylor said. “I was able to get to my head and arms and my out singles to get some quick finishes.”
Top eight placers:
1st: Hunter Taylor, Liberty
2nd: Aiden Shields, Valley Center (Kan.)
3rd: Lucas Kaufman, Newton (Kan.)
4th: Ryder Rhodes, Pine Creek (Colo.)
5th: Carter Wallis, Hillsboro
6th: Carson Neubert, Luxemburg-Casco (Wisc.)
7th: Caleb Frakenberger, Lafayette Wildwood
8th: Jackson Bassett, Whitfield
126: Whitfield senior Porter Matecki will be looking for his fourth state championship this year and it looks like the chances of that happening are pretty good. He had some tough tests on Saturday as he defeated Piedmont’s Cash Donnell 5-1 in the semifinals before edging Collinsville senior Canon Acklin in the finals, 1-0 as he earned a gold belt buckle….
