Wrestlers return with hardware from state championships
Feb 22, 2010, 11:37 AM
Six area wrestlers won medals for finishing in the top six at this past weekend’s MSHSAA wrestling championships, including two -- Knob Knoster’s Ryan Hoagland and Holden’s Jacob Reiman -- who reached championship finals in Class 1.
Overall, Warrensburg finished 11th in Class 3 with 52.5 points, Knob Noster finished 11th in Class 1 with 50.5 points and Holden finished third in Class 1 with 30 points. The path each area wrestler took in winning a state medal is detailed below.
Kevin Brown, Warrensburg senior
Brown (48-3) was upset in his second Class 3 match at 140 pounds, but won three consecutive matches in wrestlebacks to reach the third-place match. Brown finished fourth after losing an overtime decision, 4-1, to Oak Park’s Brian Haynes in the third-place match. Brown completes his career as a four-time state medalist.
Cody Johnston, Warrensburg junior
Johnston finished third at 171 pounds. He cruised through his first two matches (winning by pin and technical fall) before losing a 10-3 decision to Neosho’s Blake Stauffer in the semifinal. Johnston (46-2) made quick work of the third-place match, winning by pin at 0:29.
Troy Kyser, Knob Noster freshman
Kyser finished fifth at 103 pounds in Class 1. He won his first match by decision before losing a 6-1 decision in the semifinal. Kyser (39-9) won his first two matches in wrestlebacks before losing an 8-7 overtime decision to Matthew Smith of Marceline. Kyser made quick work of his fifth-place match with a pin at 0:49.
Roman Vega, Knob Noster senior
Vega finished sixth at 125 pounds in Class 1. He won his first match by technical fall before losing in the quarterfinal round. Vega (23-8) won his first two matches in wrestlebacks by a 5-0 decision and by fall respectively, before losing a 5-4 decision to Chris Wilkes of Whitfield, who went on to win third place. Vega lost a 3-1 decision to Dylan King of Penney in the fifth-place match.
Ryan Hoagland, Knob Noster junior
Hoagland finished second at 152 pounds. Hoagland (34-10) won three matches by major decision, pin and a 2-0 decision, respectively, before being pinned by Austin Lindsay of Brookfield at 3:09 in the championship match.
Jacob Reiman, Holden junior
Reiman’s closest match on the way to the finals at 171 pounds was a 5-4 decision he won in the quarterfinals. Reiman (36-8) won his other two decisions by technical fall and pin. Reiman lost an 8-5 decision to Brookfield’s Brock Wine in the title match.
