Missouri Military Academy wrestling grinded through the “meat grinder” all the way to state.

Head coach Levi Iman called the Class 1 District 3 tournament field in Marceline the aforementioned name since it housed five top-10 schools and at least four top-10 wrestlers in eight of the 14 weight classes. The Colonels will appear at state for the first time since 2021 with two qualifiers Trae Griffiths, who finished third at 157 pounds, and Ryan Miles, who was fourth at 150 pounds.

MMA’s most recent state grapplers were at the state meet three years ago, and it is also where it had its most recent medalist in fourth-place finisher Christopher Bryant. Griffiths and Miles have a shot at the podium starting at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

“Trae Griffiths, 157lb, came into districts knowing he had both the first and third ranked wrestlers in the state in his bracket,” Iman said. “In just his second year, he has the best current team record this season sitting at 39-5 and second best career record of 64-12.

“Miles, who has been a team captain and a driving force for the younger members on our squad, finished his junior season with a record of 33-12,” Iman said. “He currently holds the team record for most career wins in the room with a total of 72 wins, and he was the second on the team to hit 30 wins this season.”

Iman said Griffiths took care of business with four pinfalls and only had one misstep in a 5-1 loss to third-ranked Conner Quinn, of Marceline, while Miles started his day with a 7-4 loss only to eventually beat Father Tolton’s Ben Schroeder 9-5 to official qualify for state after losing to him twice via decision this season.

Deonte Kerns at 120 didn’t qualify, but Iman said his pin over Carrollton’s Casey Hudgens was payback from a previous loss and made him the third MMA wrestler with 30 wins this season — along with Griffiths and Miles. 

“This is quite the accomplishment as it has been a rare success throughout MMA wrestling history,” Iman said.