COLUMBIA • It was not the match Holt's Clayton Ream wanted to wrestle, but it was the match he needed to wrestle.
“I knew he was going to do whatever he could to keep it close,'' Ream said, after posting a 5-0 semifinal victory over Rock Bridge's Trent Johnson in Class 4 action Friday during the Missouri wrestling championships. “Normally, I like to attack more, open things up, but as you move through a tournament like this, instead of taking chances, you have to wrestle smart.''
Ream (42-2), a 145-pounder, will face defending champ Greg Hegarty (47-1) of Blue Springs for the title. Finals are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.
“I beat (Hegarty) by six earlier in the season, and he beat me by six last weekend in districts,'' said Ream, who placed third as a freshman and fourth a year ago. “I just need to be aggressive.''
Ream is one of 22 area wrestlers who will contend for championships Saturday at Mizzou Arena. Not among that number, however, is two-time champ Matt Kraus of Seckman, who lost 2-1 when Park Hill's Russell Coleman came up with a reversal with 33 seconds left in their match at 132.
The area's other returning Class 4 state champ, Lindbergh's Michael Slyman, battled to a 3-2 win at 160, upping his record to 43-0.
Friday night also produced another stunner from Ritenour's Eric Bowman (152), who is on a mission after taking third at districts. After knocking off 2011 state runner-up Austin Eads (51-2) of Blue Springs South on Thursday, Bowman won 7-6 Friday, handing Lee's Summit West's Matthew Lemanowicz his first loss of the season.
Returning state medalists Bowman (35-4) and Troy's Skylar Weber (49-2) will square off for the title Saturday.
Other area Class 4 wrestlers heading to the finals are Seckman's Weston Basler (45-3) at 106, Timberland's Devan Richter (37-3) at 113, Seckman's Brock Wingbermuehle (44-6) at 120, Francis Howell's Jarrett Franklin (46-3) at 170, Eureka's Matt McClimens (44-1) at 182 and Donnell Walker (34-1) at 285.
In other classes at the Missouri Wrestling championships:
CLASS 3
Zach Nelson is one step away from perfect.
The Fort Zumwalt North senior (44-0) advanced to the finals at 126 with a 4-3 semifinal decision over Malacai Collins of Warrensburg. The win sets up a rematch of the 2011 112-pound final, where Nelson lost 3-1 to Jaret Singh of Kearney. Singh (54-4) moved into the final on a second-period pin.
"(I'm) always thinking about that match and playing it over and over," Nelson said.
Also surviving the semifinals were Casey Bartee (152 pounds) and Austin Rugraff (160) of St. Charles West, Ryan Thomas (170) of Fort Zumwalt North and McCluer's Johnathon Cain (220).
CLASS 2
John Burroughs' Cory Lester earned his third consecutive championship appearance, holding off Nevada's Tanner Charles 13-9 Friday at 126. Lester, who placed third as a freshman, won start in 2010 and was second last year.
“I'm going to come with everything I've got,'' said Lester (56-2).
Also advancing was John Williams (120), a sophomore from McCluer South-Berkeley with an 18-0 record.
CLASS 1
Closing in on the Class 1 team title, Whitfield advanced five to the finals: Chris Wilkes (126), Austin Smith, Rodney Hahn (145), Will Hahn (152) and Ethan Sherertz (182).
“This is a great bunch of guys,” Whitfield senior Austin Smith said. “I’m so excited. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of guys.”
Whitfield finished Friday's action with 142 points, well ahead of Class 1 rivals Lathrop (87.5) and Blair Oaks (87). In Class 3, Seckman is a distant third behind Blue Springs and Park Hill.
(Brett Auten and Dennis Barnidge contributed to this report.)
