Final day reports from the 82nd Missouri high school wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena at Columbia.
WHITFIELD PERFECT IN TITLE MATCHES
With their third Class 1 title in five seasons clinched, Whitfield continued its strong work at the 82nd Missouri wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena, picking up titles from Chris Wilkes (126 pounds), Austin Smith (132), Rodney Hahn (145), Will Hahn (152) and Ethan Sherertz (182).
After back-to-back third-place finishes, Wilkes became the area's first 2012 champ, winning by technical fall over Knob Noster's Troy Kyser in the Class 1 title match at 126. Wilkes finished the season at 49-1.
Four-time medalist Cory Lester of John Burroughs wrapped up his career with a second consecutive second-place finish, losing 7-0 to Fulton's Cody Pae in Class 2 at 126.
Lester, a three-time finalist, finshed third as a freshman, won the championship as a sophomore and took second in 2011.
At 132, Whitfield's Smith (46-6) knocked off defending champ Kevin Steeby (49-1) of Mid-Buchanan 3-2 in Class 1. Smith, a three-time medalist, placed sixth and third in his previous state trips.
Whitfield sophomore Rodney Hahn (46-3) picked up his second state title in as many seasons, winning 13-6 over Mid-Buchanan's Grant Schottel for the Class 2 championship at 145.
Three-time medalist Clayton Ream of Holt lost by fall to two-time champ Greg Hegraty of Blue Springs in the Class 4 title match at 145. Ream, who had split two earlier matches with Hegarty, finished third in 2010 and fourth a year ago.
Wrestlers from the area picked up a pair of titles at 152. In Class 4, Ritenour's Eric Bowman (36-4) continued his magical championship run with an 11-5 win over Troy's Skylar Weber. Bowman, who suffered a concussion in January and a sprained ankle after that, knocked off third-place finisher Austin Eads (55-2) of Blue Springs South in the first round and fifth-place finisher Matt Lemanowicz (52-2) in the semifinals.
Bowman is Ritenour's first state champion since Bryan Bowles won in 1998.
In Class 1, Whitfield's Will Hahn (50-5) won 4-2 at 152. Due to knee problems, Hahn, the older brother of two-time champ Rodney Hahn, had missed most of the last two wrestling seasons.
In the 152 final in Class 2, St. Charles West's Casey Bartee fell short, losing a 3-1 overtime decision to Staley's Aaron Engle.
At 160, St. Charles West's Austin Rugraff (54 -1) came up with a first-period pin for the title in Class 2. A year ago, Rufraff reached the title match but fell 3-1 in OT.
Lindbergh's Michael Slyman made it back-to-back titles in Class 4, posting a workmanlike 5-2 win for the title at 160. Slyman finished the season at 44-0.
Francis Howell's Jarrett Franklin (47-3) controlled from start to finish in a 8-3 win to capture the Class 4 title at 170.
Fort Zumwalt North's Ryan Thomas lost in the Class 3 title match at 170.
At 182, Eureka's Matt McClimens started strong and never let up in a 5-0 win in Class 4.
REDEMPTION
For Jarad Sheppard, it was a chance to save a season.
The Hillsboro 195-pounder lost in the semifinals of the Class 3 state tournament Friday night. After a season as one of the state's most dominating wrestlers, a 10-1 loss to Hashem Omari of Oak Park was tough to process. Potentially even tougher: Shelving the season's biggest disappointment and answering the bell Saturday morning for the third- and fifth-place matches.
The Saturday matches can be a tough turnaround, but Sheppard welcomed the early wakeup call and the chance to finish on a winning note.
"Yesterday I failed in the semifinals so I was glad to have a chance to redeem myself," he said.
Sheppard closed the year at 52-2, hardly a season that screams "redeem me." But the Hillsboro junior hated the idea of giving up on a terrific season, hated the idea of letting one disappointment become two more disappointments.
"I didn't want to regret it in a week," he said.
Sheppard heads home with no regrets. The Hillsboro standout posted back-to-back wins on Saturday to finish third.
"It feels great," he said. "This is my first (state) medal in high school," he said.
SUMMIT FINISHES IN STYLE
The third- and fifth-place matches aren't everyone's cup of tea, but Summit coach Brent Batchellor said the season has a different feel when you walk out of Mizzou Arena with a few wins in your pocket and a smile on your face.
Summit lost a couple tough Class 3 matches Friday - Rudy May (195) lost in the semifinals and Ian McIntosh (160) and Kris Bolton (285) lost in the quarters - but the Falcons went 4-2 on Saturday with McIntosh winning twice to finish third and May and Bolton closed with wins in their fifth-place tests.
"It was a nice finish, Batchellor said.
EARLY MEDAL-WINNERS
Following is a rundown of area wrestlers who placed third through sixth at Mizzou Arena Saturday afternoon:
CLASS 1
Third place: Herculaneum's Kyle Kunz (195); Herculaneum's Brian Duncan (285).
Fourth place: Brentwood's David Rivera (285).
Fifth place: Whitfield's Stephen Scobee (220).
Sixth place: Herculaneum's Billy Duncan (160).
CLASS 2
Third place: Westminster's Bennett Lewis (220).
Fourth place: McCluer South-Berkeley's Wardell Morgan (126).
Fifth place: Winfield's John Bobeen (113); McCluer South-Berkeley's Darrion Current (220).
Sixth place: MICDS' Peter Schlafly (182).
CLASS 3
Third place: Pacific's Austin Repp (145); Summit's Ian McIntosh (160); Warrenton's J.J. Fillipek (182); Hillsboro's Jarad Sheppard (195); Hillsboro's Josh Maberry (220).
Fourth place: Warrenton's Ryan Sherry (113); Washington's Cole Hamai (132); Hillsboro's Luke Reeves (138).
Fifth place: Pacific's Jeff Miller (126); Summit's Rudy May (195); Summit's Kris Bolton (285).
Sixth place: Hazelwood East's Akintunde Odunleye (182); Fort Zumwalt North's Nathan Helmig (285).
CLASS 4
Third place: Seckman's Danny Farrell (126); Seckman's Matt Kraus (132); Lafayette's Nick Olejnik (138); Francis Howell Central's John Wood (145); Timberland's Jake Hawks (170).
Fourth place: Seckman's Luke Weiland (113); McCluer North's Darrell Pampkin (126); Lafayette's Ryan Jones (132); Timberland's Dustin Gray (152); Fox's Dominic Vitale (170).
Fifth place: Holt's Lawton Benna (113); Fort Zumwalt West's James Krischke (126); Timberland's Colton Orlando (132); Troy's Dustin Heisse (182); Hazelwood West's Daniel Vaughn (285).
Sixth place: CBC's Bay Roehr (106); Francis Howell North's Tyler (120); Marquette's Thomas Makowsky (132); CBC's Alec Maglione (138), Eureka's Luke Gentry (160); McCluer North's Gordon Phillips (182); Francis Howell Central's Cole Anderson (220); Mehlville's Jimmy Sellers (285).
