Michael Smith
The past four seasons, Liberty has been like an unstoppable locomotive at the Class 4 level in Missouri.
The Blue Jays have won four state championships in a row and are the favorite to win a fifth this season. In Saturday’s Class 4 District 4 Tournament, they faced a stiff challenge.
Wrestler Interviews
- Kaison Schreier, Fort Osage (106)
- Erik Egstad, Park Hill (113)
- Hunter Taylor, Liberty (120)
- Charlie Dykes, Lee’s Summit North (126)
- Luke Steffens, Fort Osage (120)
- Logan Mainard, Blue Springs South (132)
- Miller Sipes, Staley (132)
- Landen Mcdowell, Park Hill South (138)
- Gavin Linsman, Liberty (150)
- David Gleason, Staley (144)
- Sjoeren Aumua, Grain Valley (144)
- Merrick Murray, Staley (157)
- Logan Taylor, Ruskin (165)
- Isaac Ward, Fort Osage (190)
- Isaiah Hung, Liberty (215)
- Elmotie Williams, Liberty North (285)
- Jace Worthington, Grain Valley (175)
- Colston Parks, Grain Valley (113)
- Greg Dillon, Blue Springs (150)
- Dawson Hemme, Blue Springs South (215)
Staley was ahead of Liberty by 1.5 points going into the 215-pound first- and third-place matches and the Blue Jays just needed one more win from either Isaiah Hung or Trenton Bindel and also needed Staley’s Kamaha’o Grace to lose to take the team district championship.
That scenario fell into place as Isaiah Hung won his first-place match in the 215-pound division and Grace fell in the 285-pound championship match as Liberty took first with 220 points. Staley was second with 216 and Fort Osage finished third with 138.5
“It feels great,” Hung said of getting a big-time win for his team. “This is a whole team thing. I am just trying to do what I can for my team. I am not really worried about my placement.”
Liberty will send 11 wrestlers to the Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships next weekend. The top four placers in each weight class qualified for the state tournament.
Hunter Taylor (120), Gavin Linsman (150), Peyton Westpfahl (175) and Hung all won their weight brackets for the Blue Jays. Gavin Shelton (106), Cade Dunn (113). Devon Harrison (126), Roman Stewart (132), Griffin Tempest (165), Donovan Hodges (190) and Trenton Bindel (285) each placed in the top four to punch their tickets to state for Liberty….
