Laux, Dillon and Magnuson to wrestle for state titles

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Three local wrestlers will compete today for a state championship at the Class 1 and 2 state tournament at Mizzou Arena.

Fatima freshman Lucas Laux became the first championship qualifier with a win by fall in 4:48 against Gallatin's Ross Critten in the Class 1 semifinals at 113 pounds.

Critten is ranked No. 1 in the state, and Friday night's loss to Laux was his first defeat this season after 46 straight victories.

Laux trailed 7-6 after two periods. Critten got an escape early in the third period to take a 2-point advantage, but Laux got a takedown to tie the score and then finished with a pin.

Laux started Friday with a 2-0 win against Lathrop's Tanner Dalinghaus in the quarterfinals, recording a reversal for the match's only points late in the second period.

Eldon senior Trenton Dillon became the first Mustang wrestler to reach a state championship match last season. He will be the first to go to two title matches following a 5-3 win against John Burroughs' Sam Mulligan in the Class 2 semifinals at 160.

Dillon scored the first three points with an escape and a takedown in the second period. He added a takedown in the third to stretch his lead to 5-2.

Dillon won by fall against Moberly's Luke Slater in the quarterfinals to secure a medal. Dillon finished runner-up at 160 last season.

School of the Osage's Austin Magnuson is his team's only state qualifier this season, but the Indians' senior will wrestle for a state title after defeating St. Clair's Ryan Herman 7-6 in the Class 2 semifinals at 152.

Herman was ranked No. 1 in the state and won the state title last season at 145.

Magnuson led 2-1 after one period, but he fell behind 4-2 at the end of the second. With less than a minute to go in the match, Magnuson got a takedown and a 3-point nearfall to take a 7-4 lead.

Herman answered with a reversal, but Magnuson was able to hang on for a one-point win.

Magnuson won by fall in 4:48 against Kansas City Center's Daylyn Snelling in the quarterfinals to clinch a second straight state medal.

The Class 1 and 2 Finalists March begins at 4 p.m. today. The first title matches are slated to start at 4:30 p.m.

Laux (37-5), ranked No. 3, will wrestle second-ranked Connor McAteer (37-13) of Whitfield.

Magnuson (37-2), ranked No. 4, will wrestle unranked Kaden Ehrhardt (50-1) of Savannah.

Dillon (24-0), ranked No. 1, will wrestle fifth-ranked Hayden Burks (50-5) of Bolivar.

III

Eldon sent four wrestlers to the Class 2 state wrestling tournament, and all four will come home today as medalists.

Eldon is 11th in the team standings with 50.5 points.

The Mustangs' remaining three wrestlers will be competing in the fourth-round wrestlebacks, which begin at 10 a.m. today.

In Friday's action:

Isaiah Simmons won by fall in 1:30 in the quarterfinals at 120 pounds, but he suffered an 11-3 loss in the semifinals. Simmons (39-12) will open today's competition against Damon Ashworth of Excelsior Springs.

Dawson Brandt, ranked No. 2 at 182, won 6-3 in the quarterfinals, but he followed that with a 4-2 overtime loss in the semifinals. Brandt (51-9) faces Jadon Harrison of Affton in his first match today.

Kaden Dillon won both wrestleback matches on Day 2 to become a state medalist at 195. He won by fall in 3:29 and then won a 3-2 tiebreaker in overtime. Dillon (45-13) faces Barrett Beaird of Logan-Rogersville today.

Versailles will have two medalists in Class 1.

Michael Trotter lost by fall in the quarterfinals at 182, but he followed with a 10-2 win and a win by fall in the wrestlebacks. Trotter (47-6) goes against Marceline's Seth Cupp in today's fourth-round wrestlebacks.

Kooper Wilson won both matches Friday in wrestlebacks, picking up a 6-5 win in his first match and a 6-3 win in the bubble match. Wilson (44-10) faces Gallatin's Drayton Harris in his first match today.

Fatima freshman Jason Strope had his season come to an end Friday. Strope won 12-4 in his first wrestleback match, but then dropped a 7-1 decision in the bubble match at 106 in Class 1 to finish with a 31-12 record.