by Randy Hinderliter

By now, you know the results and have some opinions on this year’s Metro Classic.  Kudo’s to Will and Chief for providing the data!  Some of you have asked for my reflections on the event, so here we go.
The buildup for this event has grown bigger and bigger each year.  Reading the Kansas page or the Missouri page, you are left with more questions than answers and the anticipation for the event is huge.  At times the pre-event bantar is fairly harmless and at times, I feel it crosses the line.  However, I respect the organizers on both sides and trust them to give the fans the best matches.  After that, it’s up to the coaches and ultimately … the wrestlers!

What did the 2010 Metro prove?  It’s not really a startling revelation but in any dual event the outcome is often about maximzing the bonus points you score and minimizing those you give.  The team that did so the best … clearly won the dual in 2010.  (Renegade pointed out examples in his post)

First, one the primary goals for this event, is to award scholarships.  Both Central Missouri and Ft. Hays State were awarded $1,500 each.  The Wicina award went to Johnny Thomas of Raytown HS, Missouri.   Also recognized were Blaine Conner of Platte County HS, Missouri and Patrick Cervantes and Bishop Meige HS in Kansas.

At 103 we were presented with Trevor Boyer from Mill Valley HS in Kansas and Kolton Ross from Pleasant Hill in Missouri.  The combatants were scoreless in the first frame and Boyer opted to work from bottom to start the 2nd.  Trevor gained the switch for 2 fairly early in the period and rode Ross tough.  To start the 3rd to Showme opted neutral.  Ross was in deep on a couple of shots but Boyer had great defense.  Late in the frame it was Boyer scoring on a nice ankle pick … Boyer wins, 4-0.

At 112 the matchup was Denzell Davis from Fort Scott against Logan Welch from Lexington.  This was a tough match throughout.  In the first, Welch led 3-2 and after riding Davis out in the second, maintained that lead.  Missouri selected down in the 3rd and was working the standup.  Davis was countering.  Davis lifted Welch and took him towards his back but in the process, Welch came down hard, on his shoulder at 1.12 left.  The match continued and at 0.44, Davis allowed the escape.  The balance of the match was frantic with Welch displaying a great deal of courage.  Davis loses 2-4.

At 119 the fans were rewarded as Silver Lake in Kansas had Brett LaMar facing Park Hill’s, Alan Waters.  Arguably Brett will best be known for, creating the Wrestlers for Christ organization.  Alan Waters has had a legendary career.  Waters was undefeated for the season and finished this season with his fourth State Championship.  He finishes his career with a 183-4 record.  The Mizzou signee, Waters also has had some summer accolades.  I was very proud of Brett … he had a tough match … and minimized the bonus points Waters earned.  LaMar loses 2-11.

At 125, Kansas offered Kane Lovvorn from Holton and Missouri countered with Travis Peter from the Archbishop O’Hara.  In the 1st, Lovvorn was victimized by a sweet fireman’s from Peter.  Lovvorn worked the escape but Peter again worked the takedown.  A late escape closed the period score to 2-4.  Peter felt confident in selecting neutral but Lovvorn was starting to figure him out.  Kane scored on a toe-dragging takedown on the edge.  Kane allowed the escape and again scored a takedown on a side-by-side.  Taking a 6-5 lead into the closing stanza, Lovvorn opted down and earned an escape.  Lovvorn closed out the match with another takedown.  Lovvorn wins, 9-5.

We moved to 130 where Bryce Hood of Louisbug matched talents with Spencer Courier of Lee’s Summit.  Bryce was one of the few veterans of Summer Wars that Kansas offered.  Bryce was in control throughout the match.  At the end of one, Bryce led, 4-0.  At the end of two, Bryce led, 6-1.  At the conclusion, Bryce won … 8-3.

At 135, Piper HS in Kansas offered Derrick Weller and Kearney HS in Missouri offered Cody Pierce.  Weller dominated the action in this match.  Derrick in the 3rd period would earn the fall with 0.44 seconds remaining in the bout!

At 140 the grapplers were Micah Flora-Swick of Gardner-Edgerton and Dylan Marriott of Excelsior Springs.  Micah was added to the Kansas lineup just a few days ago and battled fairly well.  However in the end, he was exploited by the cradles that came from everywhere and came from Marriott.  Flora-Swick gives up the pin with 0.04 seconds left.

At 145 we had a matchup of respective State Champs!  Trip Hiller was representing Olathe South HS and Kaleb Friedley of Park Hill.  Friedley nearly ended the match in the 1st frame as he used a cradle to score a takedown and had Hiller fighting for his life for over a minute.  In the 2nd frame, the Showme opted bottom and quickly gained the reversal and gained a pair of 3-point nearfalls.  Friedley was working for the fall and Hiller was scrambling … Hiller ended up with a reverasal catching Friedley on his back as the period ended.  Friedley maintained his lead.  Hiller lost 6-19.

At 152 we have Todd Curtis of Gardner-Edgerton versus Daniel Breit of Raymore-Peculiar.  After the first 2-minutes the match was scoreless.  In the 2nd period, Curtis scored a pair of takedowns and Breit a pair of escapes.  In the 3rd period, Breit scored had a pair of escapes surrounding Curtis’s takedown.  Curtis wins, 6-4.

In a bonus match at 152 we had Austin Willis representing Shawnee Heights in Topeka against Jake Logsdon of Lee’s Summit West.  Willis is a multi-sport athlete and has a 3.7 GPA.  Logsdon is a member of the Honors A+ program.  This ended up being perhaps the strangest bout of the evening.  Willis was trying for the homerun blow, using the twister or gator roll and Logsdon was simply and very effectively, countering.  At the end of one the score was 0-9.  The match ended suddenly at the beginning of the second, as Willis again tried to lock something up, Logsdon countered for a 5-pointer and Willis was charged with an illegal hold.  Willis loses, 0-15.

At 160 Kansas had Parker Madl of Blue Valley HS and Missouri had Chaz Lyman of Excelsion Springs.  This would also be a battle of recent State Champs but Parker would control the action.  Madl wins, 6-0.

The next combatants were in the 171-pound weight class.  Jeramie Maus of Tonganoxie would face Blaine Conner of Platte County.  This bout would be over in the first frame with Maus being pinned by Conner.

At 189 we have David Blazevic of Olathe North versus John Eblen of Park Hill.  Eblen controlled Blazevic throughout … at the end of one; the score was 1-4.  At the end of two, the score was 1-6.   At the conclusion, 1-9.

At 215, Kansas had Nick Pearch of Blue Valley against Devin Mellon of Lawson.  Devin Mellon was impressive … and is a 3-time State champ.  Pearch could offer Mellon little resistance.  Pearch loses 5-18.

At 285 we have Ryan Kincaid of Bishop Meige HS and Billy Everett of Blue Springs HS.  Ryan Kinciad was too much for Everett.  Ryan Kincaid earned the second period fall!

Conclusions:  Counting the bonus match … Kansas won 7 … Missouri won 8.  As suggested earlier, Missouri did a better job of maximizing and minimizing bonus points. 

Reflections:  With a couple of exceptions, those wrestlers that do battle in the Summer Wars … won!

Click here for Will Cokeley's report on the action at this year's event.

Videos have been posted on the Missouri website.