Wrestling Season Recap

In a historic year, the wrestling squad set both team and individual records. The group’s sixth place finish in the state championship marks the highest team finish in school history, and the five wrestlers sent to the season-ending competition are the most ever.

Additionally, this year was the first time an individual Rockhurst student has ever made it to the finals in his respective weight class, as senior Chandler Smith earned a second place finish in the 160 lb grouping.

It was a bittersweet breakthrough though, as Smith lost 4-3 in double-overtime to North Kansas City High School senior Brock St. Louis. After defeating three other wrestlers to get to the finals, the defeat was devastating for Smith , who collapsed and began to sob immediately following the loss.

“[It] still feels pretty bad… It brings me down a little bit, but I know I’ll get over it eventually,” Smith said.

Because Smith’s match was in overtime and all other weight classes had already finished, a crowd of nearly 5,000 people paid close attention to the match.

Four other Rockhurst wrestlers also qualified for state, including senior Luke Tripp in the 171 lb weight class and juniors Ben Boyd in the 285 lb weight class, James Contreras in the 189 lb weight class and Drew Daniels in the 145 lb weight class.

Tripp placed first at districts, Boyd and Smith received second, and Daniels and Contreras both took third.

Tripp’s first place district finish came despite his having broken his hand during a match, and he later placed sixth in Columbia at state.

In addition to Tripp’s broken hand, many other ailments held the wrestling team back, including other shoulder and elbow problems, according to Mr. Rich Wikiera,, assistant wrestling coach. All injuries except Tripp’s were minor, however, and the wrestlers were able to compete through their pain.

“Our guys are mentally tough, and they understand the difference between pain and injury,” Coach Wikiera said.

Coach Wikiera’s expectations before the championships were for the team to place somewhere in the 15th-20th range and Mr. Steve Lueck, head wrestling coach, was hoping for a top ten finish, so the team surpassed even the coaches’ expectations this year.

“We were one point away from a top five finish, so overall I was pleased with the team’s efforts,” Coach Lueck said.

Contreras was attempting to break the record for the most pins this year. The record was 30 pins and was set by Mr. Doug McFarland, class of 2008. However, he only won one match at state, finishing the season with 27, and instead got to support his fellow wrestlers in the later rounds.

Blue Springs High School won the state championship meet with 173 points.

Boyd and Daniels placed 3rd and 4th in their respective weight classes at state.

Returning wrestlers Contreras, Boyd, and Daniels will look to lead the wrestling team to another state finish next year, as Smith and Tripp will be graduating.

The competition began on Feb. 17 and was held at the Hearnes Center at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

 

Tags State Winter Wrestling