Michael Smith
The Winnetonka Invitational has built a reputation for featuring some of the top wrestlers and teams from around Missouri over the years.
This year, the tournament featured Indianola out of Iowa, a team that’s ranked No. 2 in Class 3A according to IAwrestle.com.
Wrestler Interviews:
- Liberty’s Hunter Taylor (120)
- Fort Osage’s Kaison Schreier (106)
- Seckman’s Draegen Orine (132)
- Fort Osage’s Rylan Mansfield (144)
- Fort Osage’s Colby Gray (150)
- Liberty’s Gavin Linsman (144)
- Nixa’s Custis Glossip (165)
- Liberty’s Petyon Wespfahl (175)
- Kearney’s Jak Gist (190)
- Liberty North’s Elmotie Williams (285)
There were plenty of marquee matchups in the event and strong teams, and to no surprise, Liberty, a team that has won four consecutive Missouri Class 4 state championships, took first place with 238.5 points Saturday at Winnetonka High School. Indianola took second lace with 209 points and Lafayette-Wildwood was third with 147.
Liberty had seven wrestlers who finished in the top four of their weight class and four won their division.
Blue Jay senior Hunter Taylor (120 pounds), a two-time state champion and ranked No. 1, had a tough match on his hands with another two-time state champion in Kearney junior Ryder Shelton, ranked No. 2 in Class 3, in the title bout of his weight class.
After taking down No. 3-ranked Blaine Wallace of Odessa in the semifinals, he edged Shelton 6-4 in the title match to win yet another tournament.
“I expected to score more points on my end but I got a little tired,” Taylor said. “It’s on me, but it’s all right.”
Photo Gallery by Mark Lundy
106# Semifinal – Kaison Schreier (FORT OSAGE) 27-0 won by decision over Gunner Dahms (STALEY) 20-7 (Dec 4-1) 106# Semifinal – Kaison Schreier (FORT OSAGE) 27-0 won by decision over Gunner Dahms (STALEY) 20-7 (Dec 4-1) 113# Semifinal – Mac Crosson (INDIANOLA) 23-1 won by fall over Chase Gray (FRANCISHOWELLCENTRAL) 22-6 (Fall 5:01) 113# Semifinal – Damien Moseley (OZARK) 27-4 won by decision over Erik Egstad (PARK HILL) 20-4 (Dec 13-8) 113# Semifinal – Damien Moseley (OZARK) 27-4 won by decision over Erik Egstad (PARK HILL) 20-4 (Dec 13-8) 120# Semifinal – Hunter Taylor (LIBERTY) 22-1 won by decision over Blaine Wallace (ODESSA) 20-3 (Dec 7-2) 120# Semifinal – Ryder Shelton (KEARNEY) 26-4 won by decision over Antonio Martinez (FORT OSAGE) 22-9 (Dec 7-1) 120# Semifinal – Ryder Shelton (KEARNEY) 26-4 won by decision over Antonio Martinez (FORT OSAGE) 22-9 (Dec 7-1) 120# Semifinal – Hunter Taylor (LIBERTY) 22-1 won by decision over Blaine Wallace (ODESSA) 20-3 (Dec 7-2) 120# Semifinal – Hunter Taylor (LIBERTY) 22-1 won by decision over Blaine Wallace (ODESSA) 20-3 (Dec 7-2) 120# Semifinal – Ryder Shelton (KEARNEY) 26-4 won by decision over Antonio Martinez (FORT OSAGE) 22-9 (Dec 7-1) 126# Semifinal – Devon Harrison (LIBERTY) 21-5 won by major decision over Dylan Roth (LAFAYETTE WILDWOOD) 23-5 (MD 11-3) 126# Semifinal – Devon Harrison (LIBERTY) 21-5 won by major decision over Dylan Roth (LAFAYETTE WILDWOOD) 23-5 (MD 11-3) 126# Semifinal – Jet Brown (ODESSA) 27-4 won by decision over Zayne Reynolds (STALEY) 23-9 (Dec 10-3) 126# Semifinal – Devon Harrison (LIBERTY) 21-5 won by major decision over Dylan Roth (LAFAYETTE WILDWOOD) 23-5 (MD 11-3) 132# Semifinal – Miller Sipes (STALEY) 22-6 won by decision over Roman Stewart (LIBERTY) 18-7 (Dec 8-7) 132# Semifinal – Miller Sipes (STALEY) 22-6 won by decision over Roman Stewart (LIBERTY) 18-7 (Dec 8-7) 138# Semifinal – Drew Mattison (LAFAYETTE WILDWOOD) 18-5 won by decision over Chance Ruble (SECKMAN) 27-10 (Dec 1-0) 132# Semifinal – Miller Sipes (STALEY) 22-6 won by decision over Roman Stewart (LIBERTY) 18-7 (Dec 8-7) 132# Semifinal – Miller Sipes (STALEY) 22-6 won by decision over Roman Stewart (LIBERTY) 18-7 (Dec 8-7) 138# Semifinal – Rylan Mansfield (FORT OSAGE) 26-5 won by decision over James Lovelady (LIBERTY NORTH) 33-2 (Dec 6-5) 138# Semifinal – Rylan Mansfield (FORT OSAGE) 26-5 won by decision over James Lovelady (LIBERTY NORTH) 33-2 (Dec 6-5) 138# Semifinal – Rylan Mansfield (FORT OSAGE) 26-5 won by decision over James Lovelady (LIBERTY NORTH) 33-2 (Dec 6-5) 144# Semifinal – Gavin Linsman (LIBERTY) 21-2 won by fall over Noah Johnson (PARK HILL) 14-9 (Fall 4:13) 144# Semifinal – Gavin Linsman (LIBERTY) 21-2 won by fall over Noah Johnson (PARK HILL) 14-9 (Fall 4:13) 144# Semifinal – Carter Howard (NEOSHO) 26-4 won by decision over Aidan Schoen (LAFAYETTE WILDWOOD) 29-6 (Dec 6-2) 144# Semifinal – Carter Howard (NEOSHO) 26-4 won by decision over Aidan Schoen (LAFAYETTE WILDWOOD) 29-6 (Dec 6-2) 150# Semifinal – Jake Pontier (INDIANOLA) 23-5 won by decision over Troy Gustin (PLEASANT HILL) 25-5 (Dec 3-2) 150# Semifinal – Jake Pontier (INDIANOLA) 23-5 won by decision over Troy Gustin (PLEASANT HILL) 25-5 (Dec 3-2) 150# Semifinal – Jake Pontier (INDIANOLA) 23-5 won by decision over Troy Gustin (PLEASANT HILL) 25-5 (Dec 3-2) 150# Semifinal – Jake Pontier (INDIANOLA) 23-5 won by decision over Troy Gustin (PLEASANT HILL) 25-5 (Dec 3-2) 157# Semifinal – Malachi Rider (NIXA) 15-2 won by decision over AJ Pontier (INDIANOLA) 16-6 (Dec 7-2) 157# Semifinal – Lane Snyder (PLEASANT HILL) 28-2 won by major decision over Drake Jenkins (SECKMAN) 22-6 (MD 13-2) 165# Semifinal – Curtis Glossip (NIXA) 20-6 won by decision over Gavin Birkett (RAY-PEC) 25-5 (Dec 7-2) 165# Semifinal – Curtis Glossip (NIXA) 20-6 won by decision over Gavin Birkett (RAY-PEC) 25-5 (Dec 7-2) 157# Semifinal – Lane Snyder (PLEASANT HILL) 28-2 won by major decision over Drake Jenkins (SECKMAN) 22-6 (MD 13-2) 175# Semifinal – Peyton Westpfahl (LIBERTY) 23-4 won by fall over Jase Motlagh (WILLARD) 20-4 (Fall 3:51) 175# Semifinal – Peyton Westpfahl (LIBERTY) 23-4 won by fall over Jase Motlagh (WILLARD) 20-4 (Fall 3:51) 165# Semifinal – Chase Kivett (NEOSHO) 26-7 won by decision over Luke Hancock (OP-ST.THOMASAQUINAS) 23-9 (Dec 6-3) 165# Semifinal – Chase Kivett (NEOSHO) 26-7 won by decision over Luke Hancock (OP-ST.THOMASAQUINAS) 23-9 (Dec 6-3) 175# Semifinal – Carter Temple (KEARNEY) 20-2 won by fall over Carter Brown (LAFAYETTE WILDWOOD) 29-5 (Fall 4:55) 175# Semifinal – Carter Temple (KEARNEY) 20-2 won by fall over Carter Brown (LAFAYETTE WILDWOOD) 29-5 (Fall 4:55) 190# Semifinal – Isaiah Kellow (INDIANOLA) 17-6 won by decision over Isaac Ward (FORT OSAGE) 28-3 (Dec 3-2) 190# Semifinal – Isaiah Kellow (INDIANOLA) 17-6 won by decision over Isaac Ward (FORT OSAGE) 28-3 (Dec 3-2) 175# Semifinal – Carter Temple (KEARNEY) 20-2 won by fall over Carter Brown (LAFAYETTE WILDWOOD) 29-5 (Fall 4:55) 175# Semifinal – Carter Temple (KEARNEY) 20-2 won by fall over Carter Brown (LAFAYETTE WILDWOOD) 29-5 (Fall 4:55) 190# Semifinal – Jakweli Gist (KEARNEY) 27-3 won by decision over Jim Humphrey (PARK HILL) 21-5 (Dec 7-6) 190# Semifinal – Jakweli Gist (KEARNEY) 27-3 won by decision over Jim Humphrey (PARK HILL) 21-5 (Dec 7-6) 215# Semifinal – Brayden Bush (PLEASANT HILL) 7-0 won by major decision over Carson Slorah (INDIANOLA) 25-7 (MD 19-8) 190# Semifinal – Jakweli Gist (KEARNEY) 27-3 won by decision over Jim Humphrey (PARK HILL) 21-5 (Dec 7-6) 190# Semifinal – Jakweli Gist (KEARNEY) 27-3 won by decision over Jim Humphrey (PARK HILL) 21-5 (Dec 7-6) 190# Semifinal – Jakweli Gist (KEARNEY) 27-3 won by decision over Jim Humphrey (PARK HILL) 21-5 (Dec 7-6) 190# Semifinal – Jakweli Gist (KEARNEY) 27-3 won by decision over Jim Humphrey (PARK HILL) 21-5 (Dec 7-6) 285# Semifinal – Trenton Bindel (LIBERTY) 16-7 won by fall over Everson Tomlinson (NEOSHO) 24-6 (Fall 4:44) 215# Semifinal – Isaiah Hung (LIBERTY) 12-7 won by decision over Porter Talbot (WILLARD) 20-3 (Dec 3-0) 285# Semifinal – Trenton Bindel (LIBERTY) 16-7 won by fall over Everson Tomlinson (NEOSHO) 24-6 (Fall 4:44) 215# Semifinal – Isaiah Hung (LIBERTY) 12-7 won by decision over Porter Talbot (WILLARD) 20-3 (Dec 3-0) 285# Semifinal – Trenton Bindel (LIBERTY) 16-7 won by fall over Everson Tomlinson (NEOSHO) 24-6 (Fall 4:44) 285# Semifinal – Elmotie Williams (LIBERTY NORTH) 25-3 won by fall over Brady Griffin (WILLARD) 21-2 (Fall 3:58) 285# Semifinal – Elmotie Williams (LIBERTY NORTH) 25-3 won by fall over Brady Griffin (WILLARD) 21-2 (Fall 3:58) 285# Semifinal – Elmotie Williams (LIBERTY NORTH) 25-3 won by fall over Brady Griffin (WILLARD) 21-2 (Fall 3:58)
Blue Jay junior Peyton Westpfahl (175), continued his dominant 2023-24 campaign. He pinned No. 6-ranked Jase Motlagh in 3:51 in the semifinals before defeating Kearney freshman Carter Temple, ranked No. 3, 11-3 in the championship match.
“My shots were pretty on for that match but I should’ve taken a lot more,” Westpfahl said of his bout with Temple. “I tried to go for some sort of pinning and turning combination, but I was just worried about my on-foot game.”
No. 1-ranked Gavin Linsman (144), a three-time state champion, got pins in his first four matches before taking on No. 4-ranked Carter Howard of Neosho in the championship match. Howard had a defensive game plan, which allowed him to not get pinned, but Linsman still came away with a 6-1 win.
“The match went all right,” Linsman said of his bout with Howard. “I need to get my offense going a little more. I got off to a slow start and once I starting moving, it got a little better.”
Liberty senior Devon Harrison jumped to the top of the MissouriWrestling.com rankings following his performance in the Winnetonka Invitational. He was in a bracket with now No. 2-ranked Zayne Reynolds of Staley, No. 4-ranked Dylan Roth of Lafayette-Wildwood and Np 3.-ranked Jet Brown of Odessa….
