‘Cats use tough matches as postseason prep

BY KYLE TROUTMAN

Tktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

he Cassville boys wrestling team is getting into the nitty-gritty of the season, coming off a sixthplace finish as the smallest school in the Branson Invitational and preparing for the Big 8 Conference meet this week and districts and state in February.

Nathan Fortner, Cassville boys wrestling coach, said this season has been about progression, and the Wildcats have had no shortage of such.

“This season is about progression and getting into winning positions in a match,” he said. “We want those tough matches, and that’s why we go to tournaments like Harrisonville and Branson. We are getting better as a team, and we’re still trying to get some kids in the right weight class.

“We’re starting to get close to the postseason, so it’s time to dial in and fix our mistakes.”

In Branson, Tristan Thompson was the team’s top finisher at 157 pounds, taking second place after winning four matches but falling in the championship bout to state title holder Kayden Kinder, of Rolla.

Zach Myers finished in third at 190 pounds; Bradley Stumpff, Riley James and Ethan Sizemore each took fourth place at 120, 165 and 285 pounds, respectively; Colton Roark was fifth at 175 pounds; and Jaret Hinson was sixth at 144 pounds.

“We make a push to be in those tougher matchers so we can see our weaknesses and fix them before the postseason,” Fortner said. “The guys gave maximum effort every match, and some of their opponents were from massive schools with good wrestling programs. We challenged a lot of those kids.”

Fortner pointed to Thompson’s second- place finish as an example, and to

Roark’s bracket as one of the toughest, with five or six state medalists and three state finalists among the 15 teams competing.

“The No. 5 seed, [Carl Junction’s Tony Stewart], won that bracket, and that was the only match Colton lost in a 4-2 decision,” Fortner said. “Because that kid was in Colton’s pool, the best he could do was fifth after that.”

Fortner said the 157-pound weight class also had two or three state medalists, and every weight class had at least one or two.

“It was an eye-opening tournament for the kids,” he said. “We barely missed winning some close matches because of little mistakes, but as far as progression, we have kids coming off the mat now saying they know what they did wrong and how to fix it.”

Fixing those little mistakes is the Wildcats’ focus for the next month, as the Big 8 Conference meet is this week, and the 16-team Class 2, District 3 meet is set for Feb. 21-22 in Seneca. Realignment of the Big 8 this year leaves just six teams in the conference.

“We still have Seneca in our conference and they are a top three team in the state every year,” Fortner said. “They’ve had a wrestling dynasty the past 15 years, and we’d like to knock them off, but we have to win those 1-v-1 matchups against them.”

The Conference meet in Monett on Friday, starting at 4 p.m., will be a round-robin format, with each wrestler getting five matches and the top three earning medals.

Fortner said looking beyond Big 8 action, goals for the district meet have not changed all season.

“The most we have ever taken to state is six, so we are looking to qualify seven or more this year,” he said. “If we take seven-plus to the big show, I think we can win some matches and make some noise. Three kids — [former state medalists Thompson, James and Roark, all juniors] — have the goal to win state. If they can accomplish that, it will go a long way to getting a top four team finish.

“This season is flying by, and we are looking forward to the postseason and seeing what we can do. The kids are putting in the work, so hopefully, it turns out well.” full results from Branson include: 106: Boni Lopez (2013) placed 8th and scored 3.0 team points

• Round 1 – Boni Lopez (Cassville) 20-13 won by fall over Christian Whited (Ozark) 12-8 (Fall 1:59)

• Round 2 – Daemen Duemmel (Helias Catholic) 26-1 won by fall over Boni Lopez (Cassville) 20-13 (Fall 0:25)

• Quarterfinal – Tristan Ace (Rolla) 26-5 won by fall over Boni Lopez (Cassville) 20-13 (Fall 2:55)

•Cons.Round1-Garrett Cookman (Kickapoo) 24-7 won by fall over Boni Lopez (Cassville) 20-13 (Fall 2:57)

• 7th Place Match Frankie Pichler (Ozark) 16-13 won by major decision over Boni Lopez (Cassville) 20-13 (MD 14-5) 113: Mike Yang (13-20) placed 10th and scored 0.0 team points

• Round 1 – Grayson Clevenger (Ozark) 15-10 won by fall over Mike Yang (Cassville) 13-20 (Fall 0:58)

• Round 2 – Kyllian Ace (Rolla) 21-6 won by fall over Mike Yang (Cassville) 13-20 (Fall 3:21)

• Round 3 – Jackson Lane (Smithville) 2-8 won by fall over Mike Yang (Cassville) 13-20 (Fall 3:05)

• Round 4 – Preston Ingram (Kickapoo) 16-13 won by fall over Mike Yang (Cassville) 13-20 (Fall 0:50)

• 9th Place Match – Eric Trejo Corona (Springdale) 9-20 won by fall over Mike Yang (Cassville) 13-20 (Fall 4:25) 120: Bradley Stumpff (26-10) placed 4th and scored 14.0 team points

• Round 2 – Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) 26-10 won by fall over Daniel Cahill (Rolla) 9-8 (Fall 2:58)

• Round 3 – Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) 26-10 won by tech fall over Ayden Duncan (Helias Catholic) 4-9 (TF-1.5 4:30 (16-1))

• Quarterfinal – Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) 26-10 won by tech fall over Christian Benhumea (McDonald County) 8-13 (TF-1.5 5:24 (21-4))

• Semifinal – Ryzen Isringhausen (Branson) 32-0 won by tech fall over Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) 26-10 (TF-1.5 3:20 (18-3))

• 3rd Place Match James Penick (Hillsboro) 16-7 won by fall over Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) 26-10 (Fall 3:09) 126: Rylen Holman (2114) placed 13th and scored 4.5 team points

• Round 1 – Rylen Holman (Cassville) 21-14 won by decision over Kale Smithee (Smithville) 12-16 (Dec 9-5)

• Round 2 – Alex Wieberg (Helias Catholic) 19-10 won by tech fall over Rylen Holman (Cassville) 21-14 (TF-1.5 2:00 (17-0))

• Round 3 – Jaxon Stout (Monett) 12-15 won by fall over Rylen Holman (Cassville) 21-14 (Fall 1:00)

• Consolation Bracket Rylen Holman (Cassville) 21-14 won by fall over Brody Schwindel (Jeff City) 5-7 (Fall 2:51)

• 13th Place Match Rylen Holman (Cassville) 21-14 won by fall over Kaine Schwaninger (Kickapoo) 7-15 (Fall 3:54) 126: Easton Stone (7-5) placed 11th

• Round 1 – Adam Bogart (McDonald County) 11-8 won by tech fall over Easton Stone (Cassville) 7-5 (TF-1.5 5:04 (17-1))

• Round 2 – Camdon Kunkel (Carl Junction) 17-10 won by fall over Easton Stone (Cassville) 7-5 (Fall 3:01)

• Round 3 – Easton Stone (Cassville) 7-5 received a bye () (Bye)

• Consolation Bracket – William Fevold (Ozark) 19-5 won by fall over Easton Stone (Cassville) 7-5 (Fall 0:49)

• 11th Place Match Easton Stone (Cassville) 7-5 won by fall over Qing Hu (Springdale) 16-18 (Fall 4:10) 138: Kole Fry (22-15) placed 11th and scored 4.0 team points

• Round 1 – Maddux NeSmith (Bolivar) 22-4 won by fall over Kole Fry (Cassville) 22-15 (Fall 0:50)

• Round 2 – Jackson McKee (Ozark) 20-4 won by decision over Kole Fry (Cassville) 22-15 (Dec 4-3)

• Round 3 – Kole Fry (Cassville) 22-15 won by fall over Paden Vance (McDonald County) 6-14 (Fall 0:44)

• Consolation Bracket D`Andre Watts (Jeff City) 11-12 won by tech fall over Kole Fry (Cassville) 22-15 (TF-1.5 3:52 (16-0))

• 11th Place Match Kole Fry (Cassville) 22-15 won by fall over Hayden Reinsch (Helias Catholic) 7-14 (Fall 3:57) 144: Jaret Hinson (133) placed 6th and scored 8.5 team points

• Round 1 – Jaret Hinson (Cassville) 13-3 won by decision over Kameron Weter (Ozark) 16-7 (Dec 6-0)

• Round 2 – Jaret Hinson (Cassville) 13-3 received a bye () (Bye)

• Round 3 – Carson Ruda (Branson) 22-9 won by decision over Jaret Hinson (Cassville) 13-3 (Dec 11-5)

• Consolation Bracket – Jaret Hinson (Cassville) 13-3 won by major decision over Landon Vick (McDonald County) 3-9 (MD 12-2)

• 5th Place Match Beau Benton (Kickapoo) 20-9 won by decision over Jaret Hinson (Cassville) 13-3 (Dec 5-3) 150: Braydyn Sizemore (7-6) placed 11th and scored 4.0 team points

• Round 1 – Jackson Sportsman (Springdale) 29-0 won by fall over Braydyn Sizemore (Cassville) 7-6 (Fall 0:46)

• Round 2 – Kale Trosper (Carl Junction) 13-14 won by major decision over Braydyn Sizemore (Cassville) 7-6 (MD 13-1)

• Round 3 – Braydyn Sizemore (Cassville) 7-6 won by fall over Cannon Schrimpf (Helias Catholic) 2-8 (Fall 4:47)

• Consolation Bracket – Christopher Ramirez (McDonald County) 11-12 won by decision over Braydyn Sizemore (Cassville) 7-6 (Dec 15-10)

• 11th Place Match – Braydyn Sizemore (Cassville) 7-6 won by fall over Kyler Bell (Rolla) 13-8 (Fall 3:39) 150: Mason Rillstone (11-14) placed 13th.

• Round 1 – Brennen Green (Smithville) 17-12 won by fall over Mason Rillstone (Cassville) 11-14 (Fall 1:07)

• Round 2 – Kyler Bell (Rolla) 13-8 won by fall over Mason Rillstone (Cassville) 11-14 (Fall 3:15)

• Round 3 – Talyn Van Horn (Ozark) 21-13 won by fall over Mason Rillstone (Cassville) 11-14 (Fall 1:08)

• Consolation Bracket Mason Rillstone (Cassville) 11-14 won by decision over Ben Tate (Monett) 6-19 (Dec 9-2)

• 13th Place Match MasonRillstone(Cassville) 11-14 won by decision over Cannon Schrimpf (Helias Catholic) 2-8 (Dec 5-3) 157: Tristan Thompson (18-5) placed 2nd and scored 20.0 team points

• Round 1 – Tristan Thompson (Cassville) 18-5 won by tech fall over Cannon Hutchcraft (Smithville) 11-11 (TF-1.5 4:41 (18-2))

• Round 2 – Tristan Thompson (Cassville) 18-5 won by fall over Wyatt Reed (Monett) 5-12 (Fall 1:06)

• Round 3 – Tristan Thompson (Cassville) 18-5 won by decision over Cale McCurry (Bolivar) 19-4 (Dec 8-5)

•ChampionshipBracket – Tristan Thompson (Cassville) 18-5 won by fall over Aaron Dillingham (Carl Junction) 21-7 (Fall 2:52)

• 1st Place Match Kayden Kinder (Rolla) 28-3 won by tech fall over Tristan Thompson (Cassville) 18-5 (TF-1.5 3:50 (16-0)) 165: Riley James (25-3) placed 4th and scored 12.5 team points

• Round 1 – Riley James (Cassville) 25-3 won by fall over Blake Griffen (Ozark) 12-16 (Fall 0:44)

• Round 2 – Riley James (Cassville) 25-3 won by tech fall over Xander Burks (Kickapoo) 11-8 (TF-1.5 4:43 (16-1))

• Round 3 – Riley James (Cassville) 25-3 received a bye () (Bye)

• Championship Bracket – CJ Bauer (Hillsboro) 18-7 won by decision over Riley James (Cassville) 25-3 (Dec 10-4)

• 3rd Place Match – Eli Homan (Helias Catholic) 22-1 won by fall over Riley James (Cassville) 25-3 (Fall 0:34) 175: Colton Roark (284) placed 5th and scored 15.0 team points

• Round 1 – Colton Roark (Cassville) 28-4 received a bye () (Bye)

• Round 2 – Colton Roark (Cassville) 28-4 won by fall over Jack Hoven (Hillsboro) 14-13 (Fall 1:26)

• Round 3 – Tony Stewart (Carl Junction) 23-3 won by decision over Colton Roark (Cassville) 28-4 (Dec 4-2)

• Consolation Bracket – Colton Roark (Cassville) 28-4 won by fall over AndrewBogart(McDonald County) 5-9 (Fall 0:36)

• 5th Place Match Colton Roark (Cassville) 28-4 won by fall over Owen Beasley (Smithville) 10-4 (Fall 1:38) 190: Zachary Myers (33-4) placed 3rd and scored 17.0 team points

• Round 1 – Zachary Myers (Cassville) 33-4 won by fall over Uhrhammer Camden (Branson) 9-18 (Fall 0:24)

• Round 2 – Zachary Myers (Cassville) 33-4 received a bye () (Bye)

• Round 3 – Zachary Myers (Cassville) 33-4 won by fall over Kaleb Farris (Monett) 15-5 (Fall 1:37)

• Championship Bracket – Marcus Lopez-Durman (Carl Junction) 21-2 won by fall over Zachary Myers (Cassville) 33-4 (Fall 1:21)

• 3rd Place Match Zachary Myers (Cassville) 33-4 won by fall over Aiden Robeson (Smithville) 13-13 (Fall 0:41) 190: Easton Hughes (13-10) placed 13th.

• Round 1 – Alex Bogart (McDonald County) 21-9 won by tech fall over Easton Hughes (Cassville) 13-10 (TF-1.5 4:00 (21-1))

• Round 2 – Brady Fann (Helias Catholic) 15-2 won by fall over Easton Hughes (Cassville) 13-10 (Fall 5:57)

• Round 3 – Graham Bennett (Ozark) 23-12 won by fall over Easton Hughes (Cassville) 13-10 (Fall 0:48)

• Consolation Bracket Easton Hughes (Cassville) 13-10 received a bye () (Bye)

• 13th Place Match Easton Hughes (Cassville) 13-10 won by fall over Lucas Edwards (Ozark) 2-4 (Fall 3:17) 285: Ethan Sizemore (17-8) placed 4th and scored 11.5 team points

• Round 1 – Ethan Sizemore (Cassville) 17-8 won by fall over Justin Escobar (Kickapoo) 7-15 (Fall 1:34)

• Round 2 – Ethan Sizemore (Cassville) 17-8 won by decision over Blake Starks (Carl Junction) 14-6 (Dec 5-2)

• Round 3 – Ethan Sizemore (Cassville) 17-8 received a bye () (Bye)

• Championship Bracket – Zyan Knollmeyer (Helias Catholic) 18-5 won by decision over Ethan Sizemore (Cassville) 17-8 (Dec 4-1)

• 3rd Place Match Isaiah Collins (Ozark) 25-8 won by fall over Ethan Sizemore (Cassville) 17-8 (Fall 1:39) 

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