The Mexico boys’ state qualifiers believe they can beat anybody.

Class 2 Boys State Wrestling Photo Gallery

For junior Grant Van Horn and freshman Carlos Juarez Ramirez that was the case all up to the Class 2 state finals last week at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. They each earned second-place medals while senior Emille Scanavino — following two injury-plagued seasons — was sixth to come home with a medal.

The Bulldogs hadn’t had a state finalist until Keith Ransom in 2022 before Van Horn made it to the 157-pound final and Juarez Ramirez tore through the 106 bracket. Head coach Gayle Adams said he definitely expected each of them to at least make it that far but has loftier expectations for them.

“I’ve coached a lot of state champs and a lot of finalists,” Adams said. “2022 was our last one so I’ve got to change the streak a little bit. I have the most respect for my wrestlers and coaching staff. Honestly, I felt good about the tournament.”

Adams said the Bulldogs’ tougher schedule this season did push his wrestlers but pushed them toward the finals along with the individual work they put in. Considering his kids have high expectations as well, he said he will be “disappointed” if Mexico doesn’t come out of state with multiple state champions next year because he wants the best for them.

Van Horn and Juarez Ramirez each admitted to having nerves going into the finals matches, since it was the first time for each of them. Despite earning two state medals prior to this year, Van Horn couldn’t help but feel some butterflies since the wait before finals was different and Juarez Ramirez had to wait after the big relief of defeating Savannah’s Lawson Francis (finished with a 50-7 record).

“I was really nervous,” Van Horn said. “I was trying to teach Carlos how to react to state and how to prepare, but it was new for me being in the state finals and having that extra match and having to wait longer.”

“I was really nervous,” Juarez Ramirez said. “I think I was more nervous for my semifinals match than my finals match.”

Juarez Ramirez had an 11-2 major decision and pinfall in his favor prior to a 3-0 loss to St. Michael the Archangel’s Landon Lane in the finals. Van Horn defeated his first three opponents by a combined score of 48-15 before going down 11-3 to Pleasant Hill’s Lane Snyder.

“I actually wrestle better when I’m nervous,” Van Horn said. “I take things more cautiously. I don’t overworry when I’m nervous, but I worry the right amount.”

“When I’m nervous, I’m too nervous,” Juarez Ramirez said. “Being nervous holds me back a little and I could have performed better if I wasn’t as nervous.”

Scanavino had the nerves in his first state tournament after being a little anxious during the two years he didn’t wrestle due to recovery from torn menisci. It seemed like he was making up for lost time in his six matches at state, with his shortest match being 3:27 in the second round of wrestlebacks. 

“I could have wrestled better, but I was glad I was able to get what I got,” Scanavino said. “The nerves helped me at times. Whenever I’m about to step on the mat, I’m really nervous and feel like I’m going to wrestle badly. When I shake hands, I’m completely clear and good.”

Among Scanavino’s other results were 3-2 loss in the quarterfinals, a 6-3 loss in the wrestlebacks semifinals that sent him to the fifth-place match and a 2-1 overtime match decided via a tiebreaker. That latter match happened during the blood round against Herculaneum’s Shea Eberhardt to determine whether Scanavino would earn a medal in his only state trip.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to win that match,” Scanavino said. “I knew he was going to try to keep it close and keep it 1-1 and 2-2, but I was able to keep him down and steal a win.”

Adams said it is “bittersweet” because he is happy Scanavino came back with a medal but realizes those were his final matches as a Bulldog. 

“He’s in shape, but wrestling guys that are over 250 and going into overtime and wrestling all six minutes, the gas tank was getting a little empty,” Adams said. “I was really proud of how Emille led all season.”

Mexico had four others making their state debuts but were eliminated on Day 1, as was junior and second-time qualifier Watson Azdell. Brayden Arnold and Kyler Carr are only freshmen, and Grant Walker and Isai Hernandez are sophomores.

Adams said he likes having kids like Van Horn and Juarez Ramirez return next season to lead the way, and the best part is each of them will be even more motivated.

“We’re right there, but we’ll clean up a few things with Grant,” Adams said. “I’m very proud of Grant with how he’s worked the last three years. Every day, he comes in with a workman attitude.”

“With Carlos, now the target is on your back,” Adams said. “Let’s keep hunting and keep working. He’s got big goals and is upset, and he should be upset. I couldn't be more proud of him as a freshman."