The St. Michael The Archangel Catholic wrestling team just missed out on a state team plaque last season.
The Guardians took fifth place in Class 3 in the 2025 Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships, finishing just five points behind Platte County, which had 103.5 points.
This season, head coach Matt Infranca and the rest of his team is going to aim high as it features seven seniors, returns seven state qualifiers and five all-state placers.
“We’re excited about this group,” Infranca said. “They have been together since they were freshmen and we have a lot of talented wrestlers. I think this team can put something together. Last year, we tripped up and got fifth. We didn’t wrestle great the last two weeks. I think we will do better this year. We have a chance to do something special.”
The senior class is led by Landon Lane, who is a two-time state champion. Last season, he finished with 41-6 record and defeated Hillsboro’s Carter Pryor 4-0 to win the 106-pound weight class at state.
He’s looking to join Sampson Stillwell as the second three-time state champion in the program’s history as he plans on bumping up to the 113-pound weight class.
“My mindset going into matches last year really changed,” Lane said. “I just worried about how I wrestled and not about wins and losses. Nothing will change if I have to go up a weight class.
“I am really confident. That is always my goal (to win a state championship). And I have even bigger goals than that.”
In the offseason, he’s been working on getting better in the neutral position.
“I have been working on getting better on my feet and staying in good position,” Lane said. That’s been my top priority. I have also been working on the little things.”
Senior Parker Lutz said he is working on similar things as he said his style is to look for takedowns, then cut his opponent once he’s on top. He’s a three-time, all-state placer and was a state champion as a junior.
Last season, he took fourth at state and he’s looking for another state championship. He will likely wrestle in the 120- or 126-pound weight class.
“I have been lifting weights all summer,” said Lutz, who finished with a 41-11 record in 2024-25. “I am working on staying on good position and just working on the small things.
“I don’t really ride guys. I take them down and cut them. I am working on getting better every day. Last year, was a heartbreaker, man. I had a tough quarterfinals match. I have one more year to go make a run at state.”
Other all-state finisher returning include senior Brody Narron (fourth place last season), junior Rowdy Narron (fourth) and sophomore Cole Sackett, who was in the championship match with St. Pius X’s Gable Gross but fell 5-3 at 157 pounds.
He said increasing his sendurance will be key to building himself up to a championship level.
“I’ve mainly been working on my stamina,” Sackett said. “I think I am pretty good for the most part but my worst attribute is my stamina. I can’t stay moving fast all three periods and it’s something I need to work on.
“I have been doing more running and leg workouts. My legs really get worn out. I was disappointed. I should have won in the finals. I didn’t put in enough work because I was a freshman. I was slacking around in the practice room. I will be better this year.”
Other returning state qualifiers include seniors Austin Stevick and Brodie Purtle. Senior Braden Knipp and junior Lance Berry were a part of the lineup last year and are coming back and there are three freshmen who will likely be in the starting lineup including Chase Rosenstengle, Luke Bulloc and Wyatt Avila.
With many state qualifiers returning and some talented freshmen wrestlers entering the frey, Infranca and his Guardians are looking for the team’s first state championship in program history.
“I think we will make a great run this year,” Sackett said. “Our lineup is stacked.”
