Michael Smith
Two-time state champion Kal Miller had one of his stiffest challenges at Saturday’s Kansas City Stampede Tournament Saturday at Bartle Hall in Kansas City.
The tournament brought some of the best wrestlers in the Midwest including Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee.
The Park Hill senior won five matches in a loaded bracket that included No. 1-ranked (according to owrestle.com) Layton Schnieder of Edmond North, Okla., No. 2-ranked Ladarion Lockett of Stillwater, Okla, and 3-time state champion Eli AShcroft of Kearney.
Miller went through the gauntlet to take first place in a tough bracket, which included a 4-3 decision against Ashcroft in the semifinals and a 8-0 decision against Schnider in the championship match.
Miller was one of five Missouri wrestlers to win their bracket. Last season, he wrestled at 152 and he’s dropped down a weight class in 2021-22.
“I thought I was going to wrestle at 152,” Miller said. “Then I went down to the Ironman and I got my weight under control. I wasn’t mad about that at all.
“I thought I wrestled really well yesterday and today. I still need to fix my shot defense.”
Miller was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament. In that weight class the following wrestlers finished third through eighth:
