Michael Smith
To say the Grain Valley wrestling team was dominant would be an understatement.
The Eagles hosted Suburban White Conference foe Raytown Wednesday at home and won 10 out of 12 contested matches as they cruised to a 64-15 victory.
Both Grain Valley’s experienced wrestlers and newcomers mostly had strong performances. Three of the Eagles returning state qualifiers all won their matches, including senior Justin Deweese (165 pounds), who pinned Roman Butler in just 13 seconds with a cradle.
“I was just trying to get in and out real quick,” Deweese said. “That might be my fastest pin.”
Returning state medalists, sophomore Zac Bleess (120) and Gavin Parks (126) also had dominant wins. Bleess used a chicken wing to roll over Atilano Madrid to get a pin in 1:04 and Parks used a cradle to win by fall against Josiah Smith.
Grain Valley also had a pair of wrestlers with limited varsity experience get some big wins. Senior Camden Nelson (157) did not wrestle his junior year after competing at the junior varsity level as a sophomore. He’s returned to the team for the 2023-24 season and is beginning to make an impact for the Eagles.
On Wednesday, he used the barbwire technique to pin Edgar Orozco in 57 seconds.
“I came off a little quick and almost got a takedown,” Nelson said. “I slowed myself down and worked my moves and was able to get the win in the end,” Nelson said. “I pinned him with a barbed wire, which is one of my favorite moves. It puts them in a position where they can’t move at all.”
Grain Valley junior Trenton Rock (132) bounced between varsity and junior varsity during the 2022-23 campaign, but is now a full-time varsity competitor. He got an impressive win against one of Raytown’s better wrestlers as he pinned Kaseem Bedford in 2:52.
“I think I did well in neutral and I got that first shot off,” Rock said. “I started working on my double wrists and was able to turn him using that….
