Four Panthers bring home state wrestling medals
The PHS boys wrestling team enjoyed its best state showing yet as four members came home with medals, including Collin Arch, who earned his second state title.
Panther wrestling coach, Josh Buatte talks to his wrestlers prior to the state competition in Independence. (Photo by Will Johnson, Gasconade Republican)
In addition to Arch, Kaden Crane took second; Braden Stevens, fourth; and Luke Triplett, fifth during the MSHSAA Class 1 Boys Wrestling Championships in Independence last Wednesday.
As a team, the Panthers had their best finish, taking sixth out of 45 teams.
Arch only had to wrestle three times to continue his undefeated string in high school.
After receiving a first-round bye, the junior, competing in the 132-pound weight class, won his quarterfinal match by technical fall, 19-3, over Colton Parn of Brookfield.
He then won his semifinal match by fall at 0:38 over Brendan Barton of Maysville, and then won the title with a major decision, 11-2, over Gavynn Carpenter of Hallsville.
Crane, a senior, also received a first-round bye in the 106-pound weight class and won his quarterfinal match by a 9-3 decision over Levi Wilhem, of Knob Noster, before losing in the semifinals by fall at 1:37 to Lucas Barry of St. Michael the Archangel.
He managed to bounce back and win the third-place match by fall at 0:32 over Ryder Coons of Mid-Buchanan.
Stevens, a junior, earned a first-round by in the 126-pound weight class and won his quarterfinal match by 30-7 major decision over Kaden Andersonof Mid-Buchanan before losing in the semifinals by technical fall, 17-2, to the eventual champion, Lucas Laux of Fatima.
He then lost the third-place match, by a 6-3 decision, to Andrew Stanfield of St. Michael the Archangel.
Competing in the 220-pound weight class, Triplett, a junior, won his first-round match by fall at 5:09 over Mason Hibdon of Versailes, but then lost his quarterfinal match by fall at 3:22 to the eventual champion, Jonah Frank of Carrollton.
Triplett won his second-round wrestleback match by fall at 0:28 over Larry Penniston, of Richmond, and his fifth-place match by a 2-1 decision over Sam Lynn of Centralia.
Two other Panther wrestlers, Hayes Miller and Nolyn Richards, lost out at the state tournament.
Competing in the 160-pound weight class, Miller, a sophomore, lost his first-round match by a 7-2 decision to Aiden Ivison of Richmond, and lost his second-round wrestleback match by fall at 2:25 to Eli Henry of North Callaway.
Competing in the 195-pound weight class, Richards lost his first-round match by fall at 1:15 to Ty Douglass of Diamond. and lost his second-round wrestle-back match by fall at 1:45 to Colten Stevens of Rockport.
