Bulldogs sending most wrestlers to state since 2018
The state qualifiers just kept on coming for the Mexico boys on Saturday in Boonville.
The Bulldogs had eight wrestlers place in the top four of their respective weight classes in the Class 2 District 2 tournament to earn a spot in next week's Class 2 state tournament, starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia (semifinal round and third-round wrestlebacks at 12:15 p.m. Thursday). It is the biggest number Mexico has sent to state since the 11 on its 2018 state championship team.
Carlos Juarez Ramirez at 106 pounds, Grant Van Horn at 157 and Emille Scanavino at 285 were district champions. Juarez Ramirez and Scanavino qualified for their first state tournaments, and two-time state medalist Van Horn is going to his third after winning his second career district title.
Kyler Carr finished second at 144 to earn his first state appearance, Brayden Arnold was third at 113 for his first state appearance, Watson Azdell was fourth at 132 to make it to his second state tournament, Isai Hernandez was fourth at 165 for his first state appearance and Grant Walker was fourth at 175 for his first state appearance.
Thanks to Mexico's eight qualifiers -- five of them underclassmen and three freshmen -- the Bulldogs finished second behind Moberly in the team standings with 148 points compared to 203.5 points.
Class 1 District 3 Tournament in Marceline
Centralia
Panthers win fifth straight district title (have won all five seasons since moving to Class 1 in 2019) with 190 points over Father Tolton's 182 points and have nine state qualifiers
- Champions: Rex Bryson first (157), Wyatt Adkisson first (165), Ian Tuggle first (215)
- Other state qualifiers: Bryson Dubes third (106), Waylon Adkisson third (113), Charlie Robinson second (126), Weston Ward second (144), Louis Suddarth second (150), Cade Smith third (285)
North Callaway
North Callaway fifth out of 16 teams with 86 points
- State qualifiers: Lane Kimbley second (138), Collin Moore third (144), Casper Safranski second (190)
Missouri Military Academy
Missouri Military Academy finished 12th out of 16 teams with 36 points
- State qualifiers:Trae Griffiths third (157) and Ryan Miles fourth (150)
The Class 1 boys state tournament begins at 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia and then picks up again at 8 a.m. Thursday with the semifinals and third-round wrestlebacks.
Look for full boys districts wrestling stories in the Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, edition of the Mexico Ledger.
