Whitfield takes three defending champions in state wrestling tournament

Whitfield has three defending state champions and a roster of nine going to the state tournament to defend its Class 1 state championship.

The annual state meet begins Thursday (Feb. 14) on Valentine’s Day. Love won’t be in the air at Mizzou Arena in Columbia but it’s something just as good, Warriors coach Charlie Sherertz said.

“This is the best time of the year,” Sherertz said. “It’s time for the state tournament.”

Whitfield’s Chris Wilkes and Will Hahn each won for the first time last year while Rodney Hahn won at state in 2011 and 2012. Wilkes also was third in 2010 and 2011.

Chris Wilkes (48-2) will wrestle at 138 pounds. Rodney Hahn (45-2) will go at 152 and Will Hahn (47-6) will compete at 160.

“They’re ready to go,” Sherertz said. “We’re counting on them. They certainly looked good in district. We just hope that they’re ready.”

The Warriors are coming off a dominating performance in winning the Class 1 District 1 tournament.

“We knew that wasn’t going to be the big challenge,” Sherertz said. “The big question remains are we going to be ready? We control our own destiny. We’re thin and we have to really well. We don’t have to wrestle over our heads, just up to our ability.”

Sherertz said he doesn’t know a lot about the other teams at state.

“There’s a lot of people we haven’t seen and they haven’t seen us,” Sherertz said. “We don’t get out West to much. Our records aren’t too flashy.

“I tell me kids that doesn’t matter. You win your last four matches and nothing else matters. You’re a state champion.”

Here are the other Whitfield state qualifiers: Connor Broyles (37-12) at 106, Saad Raza (10-37) at 113, Kurtis Hahn (36-14) at 126, Derrick Swaney (2-1) at 132, Andrew McLaughlin (38-12) at 170 and Robert Hawkins (21-27) at 220.

Here’s a look at the other classes of local matmen who have qualified for the state meet in Columbia.

Eureka’s Matt McClimens is back to defend his Class 4 state championship from last year. McClimens was fourth in 2011.

Here are other area matmen who medaled at state last year and are returning: Westminster’s Bennett Lewis was third in Class 2 while Lafayette’s Nick Olejnik came in third in 2011 and 2012 and CBC’s Bay Roehr finished sixth in 2012 in Class 4.

Here is a list of local wrestlers who will be competing at state with their records:

Class 4

CBC: Roehr (37-7) at 106, Alexander Fischer (24-16) at 113, Jordan Davis (27-11) at 170, Tim Grant (47-5) at 220.

De Smet: Bobby Christman (31-11) at 160, Nick Wunderli (26-9) at 285.

Eureka: Clayton Wegener (31-15) at 120, Luke Seiler (43-6) at 126, Ben Schroeder (33-15) at 152, Zach Seiler (28-21) at 160, Luke Gentry (43-7) at 170, Mitchell McCain (18-11) at 182, Matt McClimens (34-3) at 195.

Lafayette: Timothy Bogar (37-14) at 106, James Carson (14-9) at 113, Kirk Bradley (39-11) at 120, Alex Wier (33-12) at 126, Alec Reid (29-10) at 132, Nick Olejnik (47-0) at 138, Adam Bogar (31-13) at 145, Christian Alexander (29-18) at 152, Nicholas Hakmiller (22-12) at 170, and Kevin Root (16-11) at 182.

Marquette: Brett Stoffel (35-5) at 106, Noah Reid (30-7) at 132, and Matt Bruer (29-10) at 195.

Parkway South: Michael Aldrich (31-13) at 160, Jacob Hayes (35-11) at 170, Joseph Cunningham (29-13) at 182 and Aaron Leggett (26-5) at 285.

Class 3

Chaminade: Will Eicher (30-11) at 138 and Alec Chrismer (23-10) at 170.

Westminster Christian Academy: Joe Welker (22-18) at 113, Mike Nothum (20-18) at 132, Dominic Barressi (34-17) at 138, Keegan Brown (24-13) at 152, Michael Weston (30-19) at 160, Brink Thompson (23-23) at 170, Chris Cacciarelli (21-10) at 182,  Bennett Lewis (49-0) at 195, Wes Park (18-8) at 220 and Joe Isaacs (29-15) at 285.

Class 2

MICDS: Nick Scherer (40-13) at 138. Priory: Dominic Coppola (36-6) at 160 and Taylor Boyce (41-6) at 220.

Class 1

Principia: Alex Kamau (17-14) at 113, Jason McEntire (24-15) at 120, Matt Ross (37-7) at 126, Gabe Stringer (28-11) at 132, Robby Butler (18-17) at 160, and Shane Reisen (14-7) at 182.