COLUMBIA, Mo. - It wasn't quite the finish the Jefferson City Jays were looking for this wrestling season.
But they'll take it. Don't even try to pry that second-place trophy away from them.
"It's not first, but it's better than third," Jays coach Phil Cagle said with a smile Saturday night after Jefferson City finished as the runner-up in the MSHSAA Class 4 wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena.
It's also better than the Jays have done since winning the state title in 1997.
"Our goal was to have an undefeated regular season, do well in tournaments and come to state and win a trophy," Cagle said. "We accomplished nearly everything we set out to accomplish."
Jefferson City finished with 99 points. Park Hill won its fourth straight Class 4 title with 127 points. Francis Howell (94.5) and Holt (90.5) also captured team trophies.
Logan Moriarity highlighted Jefferson City's performance at the tournament, capturing the state title at 170 pounds with an 8-2 win against Monterio Whiles of Staley.
"Finishing second as a team wasn't quite what we wanted, but it feels great," Moriarity said. "I'm so proud of this team and what we accomplished."
Moriarity was joined in the finals by teammate Gavin DeWitt at 145.
DeWitt wrestled well in dropping a 3-0 decision to Seth Hosford of Park Hill, a three-time state champion who will wrestle at Missouri.
"My goal was to win, but he's so good," DeWitt said.
DeWitt gave up a takedown in the first period to trail 2-0.
"Gavin wrestled so well," Cagle said. "He kept super body position, he wasn't going to get turned onto his back."
After a scoreless second period, DeWitt allowed Hosford to escape with about :30 left in the match in an attempt to generate some offense. But Hosford was able to ward off DeWitt's attempts at a takedown to seal the victory.
"I wanted to win, I wanted to win it so much," DeWitt said. "But when you look at the bracket, there were eight returning state medalists in it. It was tough from the start."
DeWitt is now a three-time medalist, after having taken third place the last two years at Ozark High School before transferring to Jefferson City for his senior season.
"It's been the best year of my life, I am so happy here," said DeWitt, who will wrestle at Iowa State. "I love Ozark, it will always be my hometown. But Jeff City is where I belong. The first time I walked into the wrestling room, I felt so comfortable and felt like I knew everybody."
And the Jays were comfortable with DeWitt.
"Gavin is such a hard worker, he always has a great attitude," Cagle said. "He's been a great addition to the team. He's a lot of fun. He's always happy, he's always singing, he's always positive."
Moriarity and DeWitt were among five medalists for Jefferson City, the most since the state title team.
Jacob Brune at 160 and Jalen Martin at 195 both won their third-place matches Saturday afternoon, while Tanner Irwin finished fourth at 132.
Brune defeated Ty Purler of Francis Howell 5-4 to take third. After a scoreless first period, the Jefferson City senior scored a pair of takedowns to take a 4-2 lead. Brune then got an escape with 1:21 left in the third period to seal the victory.
"Jacob wrestled so hard for us and for him to take third was a great accomplishment for him," Cagle said.
Martin overcame a bitter loss in the semifinals to win two matches Saturday, including a 5-2 victory against Jackson Heese of Francis Howell in the third-place match.
"It's disappointing for him, he's such a good young man," Cagle said. "He told me (Saturday) morning the time for sulking was over, it was time to start wrestling again."
Martin will continue his wrestling career at Penn.
Irwin wrapped up an outstanding senior season with his medal-winning performance at state. He dropped a 15-2 decision to Kyran Hagen of Eureka in the third-place match.
"He's a Jay, Tanner overachieved this year because of his hard work," Cagle said.
Irwin will wrestle at Williams Baptist.
As the wrestling was winding down Saturday night at Mizzou Arena, Cagle took a moment to reflect on one of the best state tournament performances in program history.
"You never leave this place entirely happy unless you win it," he said. "There's always something you would change or hope to do better.
"But we're pretty happy."
See additional Jays results below.
CLASS 4
Teams
- 1. Park Hill 127; 2. Jefferson City 99; 3. Francis Howell 94.5; 4. Holt 90.5; 5. Staley 88; 6. Lafayette: Wildwood 82; 7. Rockhurst 80; 8. C.B.C. 79; 9. Francis Howell Central 68.5; 10. Lee's Summit West 59.5.
- 11. Waynesville 53; 12. Fort Osage 52.5; 13. Seckman 51.5; 14. Eureka 51; 15. Timberland 49; 16. Jackson 40.5; 17. Raytown 35; 18. Blue Springs South 34; 19. Northwest: Cedar Hill 26; 20. Lee's Summit 25.
- 21. Battle 23; 22. Lindbergh 21; 23. (tie) St. Joseph Central, Joplin and Lee's Summit North 20; 26. Liberty North 18; 27. McCluer North 17; 28. (tie) DeSmet 16 and Troy Buchanan 16; 30. (tie) Blue Springs, Fort Zumwalt West and Rock Bridge 13.
- 33. Oakville 12; 34. Raymore-Peculiar 11.5; 35. Marquette 11; 36. Hickman 10; 37. Parkway South 7; 38. Lebanon 5; 39. (tie) Francis Howell North and Kickapoo 4.
- 41. (tie) Nixa and Ritenour 3; 43. Ozark 2.
Jefferson City
First Round
120 - Peter Kuster, soph. (39-7) lost 4-0 to Klayton Anderson, soph., Battle (30-9).
126 - Christian Mayberry, jr. (38-9) won 10-3 against Jordan Carson, sr., Lafayette (38-16).
132 - Tanner Irwin, sr. (43-5) won 5-0 against Carter Goslee, fr., Park Hill (25-24).
138 - Zach Hurley, sr. (28-17) LBF to Sam Hampton, sr., Blue Springs South (12-2).
145 - Gavin DeWitt, sr. (41-6) WBTF against Eric White, sr., Liberty North (12-6).
152 - Dennis Barnes, jr. (29-16) lost 5-1 to Ben Stahlman, sr., Northwest: Cedar Hill (45-8).
160 - Jacob Brune, sr. (41-8) WBTF against Vez Jordan, sr., McCluer North (19-19).
170 - Logan Moriarity, sr. (43-3) WBF against John Joe Sanchez, jr., North Kansas City (25-18).
182 - Rashaun Woods, jr. (35-12) lost 4-2 to Trey Storey, sr., Blue Springs South (49-5).
195 - Jalen Martin, sr. (43-0) WBF against Caden Crase, fr., Seckman (33-15).
220 - Tekoah Sage, sr. (29-10) lost 10-2 to Derek White, sr., C.B.C. (31-11).
First-Round Wrestlebacks
120 - Peter Kuster, soph. (40-7) won 4-0 against Austin Kolvek, fr., Park Hill (30-13).
138 - Zach Hurley, sr. (28-18) lost 5-2 to Payne Guilliams, jr., Jackson (29-5).
152 - Dennis Barnes, jr. (30-16) won 3-2 against Ben Daly, sr., Timberland (29-15)
182 - Rashaun Woods, jr. (36-12) won 4-3 against Jude Barrett, jr., Hickman (36-10).
220 - Tekoah Sage, sr. (29-11) lost 6-3 to Nick Hoover, sr., Staley (25-13).
Quarterfinals
126 - Christian Mayberry, jr. (38-10) lost 9-0 to Colin Valdiviez, jr., Rockhurst (50-0).
132 - Tanner Irwin, sr. (44-5) won 4-1 in OT against Sam Paneitz, sr., Timberland (35-13).
145 - Gavin DeWitt, sr. (42-6) won 4-2 in OT against Gavin Londoff, sr., Holt (44-4).
160 - Jacob Brune, sr. (42-8) won 7-3 against Anthony Mabery, jr., Staley (33-11).
170 - Logan Moriarity, sr. (44-3) WBF against Emilio Monsivais, sr., Holt (28-15).
195 - Jalen Martin, sr. (44-0) won 6-1 against Jacob Sobbing, sr., Park Hill (39-16).
Second-Round Wrestlebacks
120 - Peter Kuster, soph. (40-8) lost 4-3 in OT to Brock Davis, jr., Rock Bridge (31-5).
152 - Dennis Barnes, jr. (31-16) won 3-2 against Charles Gensisio, jr., Staley (49-9).
182 - Rashaun Woods, jr. (37-12) won 5-3 against Donovan Benetti, soph., Nixa (44-10).
Third-Round Wrestlebacks
126 - Christian Mayberry, jr. (38-11) lost 5-3 to Kolin Thee, fr., Liberty North (443-7).
152 - Dennis Barnes, jr. (31-17) lost 6-2 to Jeremiah Kent, soph., Hickman (43-13).
182 - Rashaun Woods, jr. (37-13) lost 3-1 to Brendan McKenna, sr., Lafayette: Wildwood (48-7).
Semifinals
132 - Tanner Irwin, sr. (44-6) lost 5-0 to Devin Schwartzkopf, fr., Francis Howell Central (44-4).
145 - Gavin DeWitt, sr. (43-6) won 3-1 in OT against Alex Wier, sr., Lafayette (48-7).
160 - Jacob Brune, sr. (42-9) lost 4-3 to Austin Keller, sr., Holt (46-6).
170 - Logan Moriarity, sr. (45-3) won 3-2 against Canten Marriott, sr., Park Hill (51-2).
195 - Jalen Martin, sr. (44-1) lost 3-2 in ultimate tiebreaker to Jackson Berck, jr., Francis Howell Central (46-5).
Fourth-Round Wrestlebacks
132 - Tanner Irwin, sr. (45-6) won 5-1 against Seth Otis, sr., Staley (40-14).
160 - Jacob Brune, sr. (43-9) won 5-2 against Austin Stofer, jr., Lafayette (46-11).
195 - Jalen Martin, sr. (45-1) won 12-2 against Cayelon Barton, sr., McCluer North (40-10).
Third-Place Matches
132 - Tanner Irwin, sr. (45-7) lost 15-2 to Kyran Hagan, jr., Eureka (45-4).
160 - Jacob Brune,, sr. (44-9) won 5-4 against Ty Purler, jr., Francis Howell (42-10).
195 - Jalen Martin (46-1) won 5-2 against Jack Heese, sr., Francis Howell (39-6).
Championships
145 - Gavin DeWitt, sr. (43-7) lost 3-0 to Sean Hosford, sr., Park Hill (37-3).
170 - Logan Moriarity, sr. (46-3) won 8-2 against Monterio Whiles, sr., Staley (36-17).
See also: