COLUMBIA - Aleksey Salaz has watched the state wrestling championship finals from the stands as a spectator.
"For three years, I've watched this and realized those guys are pretty good," Salaz said. "Then this year, I'm there. This is pretty cool."
Salaz can now count himself as one of those "pretty good" guys. But the story didn't have a fairy tale ending.
"I got my butt kicked, that's not a good thing, but I made it, so I'll take it," the Helias senior said Saturday night after he dropped a 13-1 decision to Smithville senior Devan Lewis in the Class 3 championship match at 138 pounds.
Lewis led 2-0 after one period before extending his advantage to 7-0 going to the third.
"I'm just not that strong and he's a very good wrestler who is big," Salaz said. "I just couldn't move him, I couldn't get any offense going."
Helias coach Weston Keleher was pleased with Salaz's effort.
"Everyone wants to win their last match, we really wanted him to go out with one," Keleher said. "But he had a great showing, he's been a great leader and we couldn't ask anything more out of him.
"He's going to look back and he's going to be happy."
It didn't take long for that to happen. Salaz (40-5), who took fifth at 126 as a junior, seemed content after posing for the official medal stand photo Saturday night under the stands at Mizzou Arena.
"Honestly, I didn't care if I won or lost," he said. "I just wanted to go out there and wrestle."
Salaz was one of two medalists for the Crusaders.
Jack Lage battled through the wrestlebacks after losing his quarterfinal match Friday afternoon to take third at 120.
"I wanted to come out here, have fun, wrestle to the best of my ability and what happens, happens," Lage said.
The sophomore missed last year's championships after suffering a broken collarbone.
"It was a bit of a relief to do this after last year," Lage said.
In the fourth round of wrestlebacks Saturday morning, Lage faced Lebanon junior Cole Patton. It was the second meeting of the postseason between the two, with Patton taking a 16-12 decision in the District 3 Tournament title match.
"We had a good game-plan and Jack stuck to it," Keleher said. "We learned a lot from that first match, we let that one get out of hand."
Lage led 2-1 after two periods, then got a reversal to make it 4-1 with about a minute left in the third. Patton got an escape wtih :27 remaining, but couldn't get the needed takedown to tie it.
"I just wanted to go out there and keep the match close and tight," Lage said. "I wanted to get some good shots when I had the chance and don't get high on him."
Lage then closed the tournament in style, winning by fall in 4:05 against J.T. O'Rourke of Smithville in the third-place match.
"That was really, really nice," Lage said.
Lage ends his season at 44-3.
"Jack did all sorts of good things today," Keleher said. "I can't wait to see what he can do next year."
Helias finished just short of its top-10 goal as a team, taking 11th in the final standings with 50 points.
"We had a good showing," Keleher said.
Neosho was first with 163.5, followed by Lebanon (114), Kearney (113) and Smithville (90).