The Metro Classic Report
from the 16th Annual, held March 5th, 2008

One of my favorite events on the wrestling calendar is the U.S. Army Metro Classic.  So, on March 5th I made my annual trek to Kansas City Kansas Community College for this year’s festivity.

This year, there were to be 15 bouts contested.  The lineups were a who’s who of the areas best wrestlers representing both sides of the state line.  The anticipation for the matches was obvious.  Many had spent hours plotting, planning, posting and projecting their own vision of the outcome.

First was the Wicina Wrestling Trophy presentation.  The Wicina award is given to an outstanding wrestler in the Kansas City metropolitan area.  Jeff Wicina, who was paralyzed while playing football as a sophomore,  was a former wrestler from Bishop Meige HS.  Jeff passed away in 1999 at the age of 30.  This year’s winner was Carlos Rosales of Bishop Meige.

Next was the acknowledgement of the Classic’s new sponsor, the U.S. Army.  The colors were presented by the Jr. ROTC program of Leavenworth High.

Let’s Wrestle!

At 112 #’s the match was between Collin Hase from Silver Lake (KS).  His opponent was Nick Clemens of Odessa R-7 (MO).  Hase is a 2-time state champ and Clemens, a 3-timer.  Once the whistle blew, it was Collin Hase taking and keeping control of the bout.  Twice in the match Hase had Clemens in a near fall predicament with cradles and it looked from the Kansas perspective to be a fall.  Nonetheless, Collin Hase puts Kansas on the board with a solid 9-1 win.  Kansas leads, 4-0.

At 119 #’s it was Jake Tanenbaum representing Blue Valley North (KS) against Justin Forrest of Raymore-Peculiar (MO).  Jake will wrestle collegiately for Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.  Both wrestlers appeared to be pretty evenly matched and the bout would be no different.  Tanenbaum battled tough but was defeated by Forrest with the score of 1-5.  Team score, Kansas 4, Missouri 3.

One of the more anticipated bouts of the night was at 125-pounds.  Blue Valley North (KS) and University of Missouri signee, Nathan McCormick was matched against Colin Pierce of Kearney (MO).  Colin Pearce is a 4-time Missouri State Champ and brought to the bout, a 165-9 record with a 144 win streak.  Pearce took control early with a takedown and a 3-point near fall.  But Nathan battled off his back, earned an escape and secured a takedown of his own.  In the second period Pierce gained the escape and parlayed that into a takedown and a 2-point near fall.  As the period ended, it looked like Missouri might gain bonus points in this match but McCormick would have none of that.  In the final 0.15 seconds, Pierce had an 8-point margin and was on top of Nathan.  As the clock clicked down, the Kansan exploded for a reversal.  McCormick still loses the match, 8-15 but he minimized the team score.  Colin Pierce is an impressive wrestler.  Team score, Kansas 4, Missouri 6.

We move to the 130-pound weight class and Paola (KS) product, Matt Noblet.  His foe, Liberty (MO) wrestler, Brock Lowe.  Those who have watched Matt over the years, have grown accustom to his style.  That controlling style was in the forefront as Matt scores a pair of takedown and gained a near fall. Noblet wins, 6-0.  Team score, Kansas 7, Missouri 6.

At 135 #’s the combatants were Russell Naylor of Spring Hill (KS) and Jordan Peter of Archbishop O’Hara HS (MO).  It was Naylor with the early lead throughout the match that he stretched to an 8-3 score.  With about 0.25 seconds to go, Naylor was on top but Peter scored a 2-point reversal that led the action out-of-bounds.  With 0.18 to go the bout restarted in the center.  All Naylor had to do was stay off his back!  But Russell Naylor must be taking drama as he was powered to a near fall by Peter but he couldn’t control it.  It was Naylor with the last second reversal to secure the 10-7 win.  Kansas leads, 10-6.

Also being competed at 135-pounds was our next bout.  Phillip Henes of St. Thomas Aquinas HS (KS) was matched against Tyler Russell of Oak Grove (MO).   Henes was in control of this bout from the beginning.  It was Phillip Henes with the 5-0 win.  Kansas leads, 13-6.

Aldon Isenberg, who will attend the University of Nebraska, of Gardner-Edgerton (KS) was pitted against Tyler St. Louis of Platte County (MO) at 140 #’s.  Isenberg had a state championship on his resume but St. Louis had three.  Aldon, who is president of his HS Chess Club, tried some fancy moves to gain the advantage but St. Louis matched Aldon, move for move.  Most everyone in the building knew Isenberg had a killer headlock as his stalemating maneuver.  St. Louis was able to defend well.  Isenberg loses 5-8.  Team score, Kansas 13, Missouri 9.

At 145-pounds we have Nick Flynn of Lansing (KS) and Wes Gorham of Richmond (MO).  Nick, who will go on to wrestle for South Dakota State was one of the finalist for the Wicina Award.  Nick’s father, Mike, was recognized just before this bout as one the attendees who have served our US Armed Forces in stations oversees.  Nick was dominant in his victory.  He used a takedown to gain control and then expertly showed his turning prowess.  He used a couple of different power halves to expose Gorham’s shoulders.  In the second period, it was the second verse.  Nick Flynn is the winner, 15-0.  Nick’s grinding style will be an asset at the next level where points are also awarded for riding time.  Kansas leads, 18-9.

At 152-pounds we would have the bout that as events transpired, was the turning point of the evening.  Jordan Meyer, representing Sabetha (KS) was matched against, Chris Chionuma of Blue Springs (MO).   Chionuma had a combination of athleticism and technique that in most cases, would be a joy to watch.  In spite of the efforts of Meyer, he would never offer a serious offensive challenge to Chionuma.  Jordan Meyer loses by the count of, 6-21.  Team score, Kansas 18, Missouri 14.

Next was the 160 # class where C.J. Randall of Prairie View HS (KS) would face the challenge of Marcus Armato.  Randall was 44-1 on the year.  Armato was 48-10.  Randall finished second this year and Armato finished fifth.  Armato comes from one of most successful programs in the Nation.  That program is Oak Park HS (MO).  Armato controlled the match.  Randall loses, 6-14.  The team score is now tied at 18.

On to the 171-pound bout where Phil Witt of Leavenworth (KS)a signee of the University of Central Missouri.  Witt was matched against Clarence Neely of Blue Springs (MO) a signee of West Virginia University.  This would be a match of contrasting styles.  Neely was slick on his feet and built a first period lead over Witt, 3-6.  Phil would opt for top to start the second.  Witt gained a pair of 2-point near falls to take the lead.  In the third, it was Neely’s option and his choice was on their feet.   Phil wrestled hard but Neely earned a takedown and a 3-point near fall.  Witt loses, 7-11.  Team score, Kansas 18, Missouri 21.

At 189 #’s.  The contestants were Matt Baker of Shawnee Mission East HS (KS) and Brent Haynes of Oak Park HS (MO).  Baker had a great 40-1 record on the year.  Haynes, who has inked with the University of Missouri, had a 43-0 record for the year and a 159-9 record for his career … plus Haynes is on the All-Metro Tennis team! (Prant … where are you?)  Baker could not match the volleys of Haynes.  Haynes dominated all areas of this bout, he scored 3 takedowns and 4 near falls.  Baker loses, 2-16.  The team score is 18-26.

The hopes for Team Kansas were slipping away.  Perhaps E.J. Walter of St. Thomas Aquinas HS (KS), who will play football for Drake, could right the ship.  His foe would be Kolton Kono of Oak Park HS (MO).  The power of Walter could not match the quickness and technique of Kono.  Walter loses 5-13.  Kansas trails 18-29.

Probably the most anticipated bouts was next.  At 285-pounds we had Rossville (KS) and 3-time State champ, Duane Zlatnik, who has signed to play football for the University of Kansas.  His foe was Oak Park HS (MO), Elijah Madison, who has inked an offer from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.  Madison has had a stellar career winning 137 bouts and losing only 8.  In spite of that record, Madison has never won a State crown.  Duane has had one loss on the year and that one loss was to Elijah.  The rematch is on.  After a scoreless first period, the flip gives the choice to Zlatnik … he defers and Madison elects  bottom.  Madison gains the escape and counters Zlatnik’s attempt to score a takedown.  In the third, Duane gains the escape and tries a shot again.  The results were a takedown for Elijah.  Zlatnik goes on to lose this rematch, 4-9.  A fatal blow to the team score, Kansas 18, Missouri 32.
Our second heavyweight bout of the night had the Minnesota University signee, and Shawnee Heights HS (KS) product, Atticus Disney.  His opponent, Ebe’ Nelson of Raytown South HS (MO).  Atticus is an explosive athlete and it seems, has made some additions to his wrestling toolbox.  His first attempt at the Disney patented head-and-arm, was a swing but not a miss … he scrambled for a takedown.  Nelson gained his feet and Disney worked for the tie up.  Disney secured the elbow and shot a high crotch.  Nelson countered the Hi-C but that was just a setup as Atticus expertly hit the sag headlock.  Atticus earned the victory by fall.  Team score, Kansas 24, Missouri 32.
 
Reflections!  I traditionally give my opinion at this point … and I will do it again!  Team Kansas wrestled well and made a respectable showing.  In the end, we didn’t have enough to ward off the athleticism and technique Team Missouri offered in the upper weights!

Including the 152 # class, there were 7 bouts.  Missouri dominated the match from that point on.  Four matches were won by wrestlers from the storied, Oak Park HS; two were won by Blue Springs HS; and one (the only match Kansas won) was from Raytown South.

At first glance, one might think that Oak Park and Blue Springs have good high school teams … and they do!  But I feel, it is more than that … they (Oak Park and Blue Springs) have superior programs!  One cannot discount the effect Team Victory (the former Competitors club) has had on both programs.  Every year I praise the effort of all the wrestlers but especially the ones that compete in the Summer programs!  Guess what … I will again!  Almost all the winners, wrestle throughout the year and are accomplished in the Freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines.  Team Kansas is gaining some ground and will continue to do so.  The additions and the efforts of Eric Akin, the Purler’s, etc. will elevate the technique being offered by future teams!

Congratulations to Team Missouri on their win!  Congratulations to Team Kansas for their valiant effort!
 
Randy Hinderliter