Blair Oaks looks for strength in numbers at state

Eli Batiste of Blair Oaks throws Grant Wright of North Callaway to the mat during a dual this season.
Eli Batiste of Blair Oaks throws Grant Wright of North Callaway to the mat during a dual this season.

WARDSVILLE, Mo. - Bumping up to Class 2 for the first time in program history didn't appear to be an obstacle this season for the Blair Oaks wrestling team.

The Falcons advanced seven wrestlers to the Class 2 state championships, a three-day event that begins at 9 a.m. today at Mizzou Arena. It's the most state qualifiers Blair Oaks has had since sending eight wrestlers to Columbia in 2016.

"We were hoping for eight, but more realistic was six or seven," Blair Oaks coach Mike DeMilia said. "To get seven, we were happy, for sure."

Blair Oaks finished second in the team standings in last weekend's Class 2 District 2 Tournament at Mexico. It's the Falcons' first district trophy since they won a district title in 2014.

"Having 14 guys was huge," DeMilia said. "We had 12 guys score for us. We had a guy bump up two weight classes to wrestle at 220 and won two matches. That was the difference between us getting a trophy and not."

The Falcons return four state qualifiers from last season, including two state medalists.

Kyler Griep and Levi Haney won district titles for the Falcons. Griep, a senior, is a three-time state qualifier and will wrestle at 170 pounds, while Haney, a junior, returns to state for a second straight season and will wrestle at 160.

Griep (32-5) will face Logan-Rogersville junior Gage Meadors (23-25) in the first round. Griep finished third at 152 as a sophomore and fifth last season at 170, both at the Class 1 level.

Griep won three of his four matches by fall at districts, which includes a first-period pin against Kirksville's Parker Laudwig in the title match.

"He's wrestling as well as he has wrestled since he's been here," DeMilia said. "His experience and the way he has always wrestled at state, he's always performed very well there. He understands what he has to do to perform."

Haney (41-8) opens today against Pleasant Hill sophomore Lane Brattin (39-7). Haney cruised through districts as well with a 3-0 record and two pins.

Last season at state, Haney lost in the third-round wrestlebacks at 152, coming up one win short of a state medal.

"His experience of making the bubble match last year, he lost a tough match in the bubble but he pulled an upset in the second-round wrestlebacks," DeMilia said. "He's been in so many pressure situations that I'll think he'll perform well here."

Caleb Meeks (34-10), one of three seniors wrestling this weekend for Blair Oaks, will face Marshall freshman Isaac Jackson (22-16) in the first round at 132. Meeks finished fourth at 132 last season and won his 100th career match in the Falcons' last tri-dual before districts this season.

"Caleb is in the toughest weight class in the state in Class 2," DeMilia said, as the 132 bracket has two returning state champions and two returning second-place finishers. "He's got to run through some good guys. I think he's in a good place mentally and physically, and I think he has a great shot to get on the medal stand again."

Blair Oaks' last returning state qualifier is junior Eli Batiste (29-8), who faces Bolivar senior Austin Coons (36-5), a returning state runner-up, in the first round at 152. Batiste finished 1-2 at 145 last season at state.

"He didn't wrestle great in districts, but he did enough to get in to state," DeMilia said. "He wasn't quite at 100 percent at districts, but I think he's a lot closer to that coming into state."

Senior Shane Gillmore, junior DeVonte Sanders and sophomore Camden Meeks will make their state debut today for Blair Oaks.

Gillmore (33-10) bumped up a weight class to 285 at districts, finishing second. He faces Ste. Genevieve sophomore Ryan Schmelzle (30-15) in the first round today.

"His athleticism, his toughness and his ability to wrestle will be a factor," DeMilia said. "I think he can match up with those guys, even being undersized."

Camden Meeks (26-5) opens against Normandy junior Carnellius King (21-7) at 145.

"Camden does things that puts pressure on people," DeMilia said. "I can see him rattling off a couple of upsets and getting far in this tournament."

Sanders (19-21) will wrestle St. James junior Zachary Woodson (34-17) in his first match at state. After winning by forfeit in the bubble match at districts, Sanders won the third-place match to improve his position for state.

"He proved in the third-place match that he belonged at state," DeMilia said.

DeMilia said Blair Oaks embraced being the underdog at districts, and he hopes the Falcons can have similar success in that role at state.

"We certainly aren't a favorite up there, but with those seven guys, it gives you a chance when you have numbers to score," he said. "I think we have a few guys that have a chance to make the finals.

"If we go and wrestle the way we're capable of, you never know what could happen."

Wrestling resumes at 8:30 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday. Championship matches are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Saturday.