Missouri wrestling state roundup: St. Clair’s Woodcock, Meek retain their titles

COLUMBIA, Mo. — St. Clair wrestler Brock Woodcock received a wake-up name simply seconds into the Class 2 championship match at 157 kilos early Thursday night at Mizzou Area.

A senior on the lookout for his third consecutive state championship, Woodcock was greater than a bit of shocked when Nice Hill junior Lane Snyder scored the early takedown.

“I normally attempt to take management early, so he positively caught me off guard. And he made issues powerful on me at a number of occasions within the match,’’ stated Woodcock, who responded to the early takedown and rolled to a 12-2 main resolution. “I don’t know, it might have been what I wanted to get my thoughts again into it. However issues labored out. I’m blessed.”

The comeback win capped a 53-0 season for Woodcock, who took third at 120 as a freshman, received the title at 132 as a sophomore and completed atop the medal stand at 145 final 12 months. He’ll proceed wrestling at NCAA Division I SIU Edwardsville.

Snyder (48-5) positioned third at state final 12 months and was a fifth-place medalist as a freshman in 2021.

“We’ve received a particular group right here and I’m blessed to be part of it,’’ Woodcock stated. “There’s at all times strain and stress — I’m a stress man — so I needed to ask God for some calmness to ease the stress and do what I needed to do.

“He was positively able to go. As quickly because the match began, he was on my legs. I needed to alter exhausting as a result of he was actually attacking me. I received the win, however there have been positively a few bushy spots. It was positively thrilling.”

Woodcock was the second Bulldog to win a championship. Within the title match at 120, St. Clair’s Ryan Meek (43-1) cruised to a 15-0 technical fall over Odessa sophomore Gabe Studdard (33-15).

It was the second consecutive title for Meek, who received at 113 final 12 months. He positioned fourth at 106 in 2020 and took third at 106 in 2021.

“I got here in and needed to repeat what occurred final 12 months,’’ Meek stated. “It feels good. All of the exhausting work lastly paid off. I struggled in my first match right here — I got here out flat and that child actually needed it — however I fought by that one and wrestled effectively from there.”

Meek, who received 6-0 in that opening-round match in opposition to Harrisonville’s Luke Devenney, received 17-0, 13-0 and 15-0 to shut out the two-day state event.

“All 12 months, I targeted on holding my head straight. I needed to exit on prime with my highschool buddies,’’ he stated. “I don’t fear an excessive amount of about my opponents; I simply attempt to give attention to wrestling my match.”

Meek will proceed his wrestling profession at Ohio College.

Faculty wrestling “is a distinct tempo, a distinct depth, however I’m prepared for the change and to maintain working to enhance,’’ he stated. “Now it’s time for greater and higher issues.”

The Kearney women scored 75.5 factors to edge out Brookfield (75) for the ladies’ Class 1 staff title. Cassville (62) completed third whereas Cameron (57) earned the fourth-place trophy. Festus, at No. 14, was the best ending space women’ squad.

Nice Hill (145.5) beat out Mid-Buchanan (135.5), Odessa (113) and Ste. Genevieve (93) within the Class 2 staff race. St. Clair took eighth, ending with 70.5 staff factors.

In Class 1, Centralia rolled up 194.5 factors to beat out Brookfield (135), St. Pius X of Kansas Metropolis (131.5) and Tolton of Columbia (92).

State wrestling will proceed Friday and Saturday at Mizzou Area with the ladies’ Class 2 event and the boys’ competitors in Class 3 and Class 4.

St. Charles senior Levi Perry-South (40-9) completed second at 132 in Class 2 after working into Seneca standout Brady Roark (56-0). It was the third state title for Roark, who was a state runner-up as a freshman.

Roark, who will proceed wrestling at South Dakota State, was dominating the title match when he pinned Perry-South within the third interval.

Roark pinned his method to the title, ending his matches in 1:14, 59 seconds, 3:00 and 4:26.

It was the fourth state journey and second state medal for Perry-South, who positioned sixth as a junior.

North Level junior Cassidy Benwell captured her second consecutive state title, posting a 9-0 main resolution over Chillicothe sophomore Yoo Lee (31-4) within the championship match at 120.

Benwell (26-0) received at 120 final 12 months as a sophomore.

Two different space rivals, St. Charles’ senior Alyssa King and Festus’ senior Lauren Mills, got here up quick in championship matches.

At 105, King (31-6) misplaced 6-1 to Mid-Buchanan sophomore Delanie Smith (46-3). King completed fourth at state final 12 months as a junior.

Within the title match at 125, Mills (38-1) scored an early takedown however was injured when Ste. Genevieve sophomore Addison Geiler (32-17) responded with an influence transfer early within the second interval. When she couldn’t proceed, Geiler earned the win.