Mexico, Centralia and North Callaway all sent wrestlers to the state championships hosted at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Competition began on Wednesday with wrestlers from each school surviving for Day 2 today.
Mexico had five of its six wrestlers eliminated on Day 1, including the lone girl in freshman Alexus Johns. Returning state medalist will begin his second day this morning in the third round of 138-pound wrestlebacks.
The Centralia boys finished Wednesday in first place in the Class 1 team standings. The Panthers had 89 points to lead runner-up Brookfield's 67.5. Nine Panthers will wrestle this morning, with eight of them competing in semifinal matches. Centralia's lone girl qualifier Madie Shelton, however, was eliminated in the 120-pound bracket.
All three of North Callaway's state qualifiers will compete again today. Lane Kimbley clinched a state medal by advancing to the 132-pound semifinals, now hoping to win another after winning one at last year's meet. Eli Henry and Casper Safranski are in third round wrestlebacks for 157- and 190-pounds, respectively.
Look for full stories from the state wrestling meet in the Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, edition of the Mexico Ledger.
