The injury bug had to take one last bite out of the Helias Crusaders.
The Crusaders advanced five wrestlers to the Class 3 state wrestling championships, the highest total in recent memory for the program. But only four will wrestle as Randy Salaz will have to sit out when the tournament starts at 5 p.m. today at Mizzou Arena.
"It's a shame," Helias coach Bryant Gaines said. "Randy has had a great year and it would have been nice to see what he could do at state."
Salaz, a sophomore, broke a toe during his win in his third-round wrestleback match at 120 in the district tournament last Saturday in Camdenton. That left him one win short of advancing to state and Salaz went back out on the mat to win his next match by a 4-0 decision to earn the right to go to Columbia.
"He's out there with a broken toe, but he did a great job of getting the win," Gaines said. "He stuck with it."
Salaz medically forfeited the third place match, received his medal and headed to the hospital for an X-ray, which revealed the broken toe. On Monday, it was decided Salaz couldn't wrestle at state and he ends the season with a record of 28-9.
"He can't really even walk on it right now, so there's no way he could wrestle," Gaines said.
That leaves four Crusaders in the tournament, led by district tournament champion Evan Winder at 106.
"We're looking for Evan to medal for sure," Gaines said. "There are some good kids in his bracket, but Evan has a good chance to go deep."
Winder (44-6), sixth at 106 last year as a freshman, opens against Smithville freshman Adam Simpson (24-27). If the brackets hold up, Winder would be matched with Belton sophomore Braden Bradley (39-6) in Friday night's semifinals. Bradley is the only wrestler to beat Winder at 106 pounds this season, taking a 6-0 decision at the Platte County Invitational.
Bradley is ranked No. 1 at 106 by MissouriWrestling.com, while Winder is No. 3.
"Evan can win that match, if it happens," Gaines said. "He would just need to improve on a couple of things."
Nick Gaines is the other Crusader qualifier with state experience. Gaines is a three-time state qualifier, advancing as a freshman and a sophomore before missing last year with a broken arm.
"Nick has a good shot at placing, he just needs to go out there and wrestle like we all know he can," Bryant Gaines said.
Nick Gaines (36-10), ranked No. 6 in his weight, opens against Joe Biondo of Belton. The junior (30-6) is ranked No. 4 at 145.
"It's a tough first-round draw," Bryant Gaines said.
Bryant Gaines thinks consistency will be the key for success for his son at state.
"Nick has been kind of off and on recently," Bryant Gaines said. "He wrestles really well in one match and the next one, it doesn't even look like him out there. I think with some focus, this could be a good tournament for Nick."
New to the state tournament are freshman Jackson Careaga at 132 and sophomore Dustin Luebbert at 138.
Careaga (36-15) opens against Ladue senior Kyle Cody (41-6).
"Jackson has a chance, we're looking for big things from him," Gaines said.
Careaga has been impressive in advancing to state as a freshman at a traditionally difficult weight division,
"Jackson did a good job, we're impressed with the way he's wrestling at the end of the season," Gaines said. "He's going to be tough for those guys to beat state."
Luebbert (29-26) will face Wentzville Liberty sophomore Chrsitian Zeik (23-1) in today's first round. Zeik is ranked No. 5.
"Dustin has a tough draw, 138 is a tough weight class," Gaines said. "But he can get up there and win some matches if he wrestles to the best of his ability."
Gaines is looking for the Crusaders to wrestle like they did on the final day of the district tournament.
"We showed a lot of attitude late in the tournament," Gaines said. "It was good to see that our kids went out there and worked hard.
"Now we're looking to see that same attitude at state. Anything can happen."
The tournament will continue through Saturday.