Peyton Greer did his best to entertain the home crowd and himself while putting a capper on Ozark's 51-24 triumph versus Nixa on Tuesday.
Greer posted a takedown and near-fall in the opening minute of his heavyweight bout with Charles Speake and went on to collect an 8-2 victory.
"There was more action than in most heavyweight matches," Greer said. "It's boring when nothing happens in the first period and then it's about who gets the escape. I enjoy it a lot more when stuff is going on and there is a takedown."
Greer added Speake also helped make the match exciting by refusing to be pinned in the first period.
"That was impressive," Greer said. "I had both of his shoulders so close (to the mat). I don't know if I could have got out of that."
Greer's senior season has seen him show the most improvement of any of the Tigers. His 26-7 record includes a runner-up finish at the Branson Tournament and a sixth-place showing at the Kansas City Stampede in which he won eight of 11 matches.
He's won 12 of his last 13 matches entering this weekend's Winnetonka Tournament.
A year ago, Speake was 12-22.
"Peyton is gaining confidence," coach Tod Sundlie said. "The Stampede was a turning point for him. He's been wrestling matches that work for him. That's the key right there, staying focused on (his) style and offense. He's pretty tough right now with that."
Greer's escapes are on a dramatic upswing.
"I used to not be very good on bottom. I would get stuck. I would do one move and stop," he said. "My coaches have helped me put multiple moves together and be able to get out."
"You see a weakness, you've got to own it and go right at it to make it right," Sundlie said.
Greer added his workouts under strength and conditioning coach Corey Roy have also paid big dividends.
"Coach Roy does a good job working every muscle in my legs and my upper body," he said. "He does a good job ranging it out. My workouts have been very helpful."
It took a while for Tuesday's dual to get started, with Nixa forfeiting the first five matches and staking Ozark to a 30-0 lead.
Nixa's Curtis Glossip and Nate Brower picked up notable victories. Glossip pinned Levi Maskrod in 1:59 at 144 and Brower downed Lucas Campbell 10-3 at 175.
Over the last two years, Campbell pinned Brower in three of their four meetings. Brower has now won 11 straight this season and is 21-5.
Glossip started this season 6-6, but has won six of his last seven matches.
Ozark's Daniel Laney is also rolling. He has won eight of his last nine matches, after pinning Tobias Thompson at 150 in 3:11.
Ozark 51, Nixa 24
106 — Kaden Coffey (OZARK) over (NIXA) forfeit; 113 — Teagon Patterson (OZARK) over (NIXA) forfeit; 120 — Damien Moseley (OZARK) over (NIXA) forfeit; 126 — Eian McCracken (OZARK) over (NIXA) forfeit; 132 — Keaton Hurst (OZARK) over (NIXA) (For.) 138 — Aidan Ward (NIXA) pinned Jonathan Chapman (OZARK) 1:53; 144 — Curtis Glossip (NIXA) pinned Levi Maskrod (OZARK) 1:59; 150 — Daniel Laney (OZARK) pinned Tobias Thompson (NIXA) 3:11; 157 — Braxton Strick (OZARK) pinned Dylan Rebura (NIXA) :58; 165 — Brock Sundlie (OZARK) pinned Logan Elmer (NIXA) 1:07; 175 — Nate Brower (NIXA) dec. Lucas Campbell (OZARK) 10-3; 190: Avry Rutherford (NIXA) dec. Jason Burge (OZARK) 6-2; 215 — Brennan Carey (NIXA) pinned Ruben Arvizu (OZARK) 1:43; 285 — Peyton Greer (OZARK) dec. Charles Speake (NIXA) 8-2.
Lady Tigers upset Lady Eagles
Ozark edged Nixa 42-39 in the girls matchup.
"The girls have worked hard to develop and get better," Sundlie said. "They are still just a second-year program while Nixa and Lebanon have been dominating. We thought if everybody would put up a good fight, we'll see what happens and felt like we could make it a good match.
"Collectively, the girls had good energy," he added. "They got some momentum and fed off of each other."
Ozark 42, Nixa 39
100 — Adilyn Hoelzle (OZARK) pinned Brooke Chandler (NIXA) 1:55; 105 — Emily Price (OZARK) pinned Ava Hansen (NIXA) 1:53; 110 — Victoria Dunn (OZARK) pinned Graci Partee (NIXA) 1:20; 115 — Kelsey Watts (NIXA) pinned Alyvia Myers (OZARK) :47; 120 — Mylee Harper (NIXA) dec. Anjelika Tsaruk (OZARK) 10-9; 125 — Maelynn Sundlie (OZARK) pinned Abigail Weitzel (NIXA) 3:15; 130 — Clarice Wheeler (OZARK) pinned Laura Shulte (NIXA) 1:00; 135: Brylee James (NIXA) pinned Hannah Maskrod (OZARK) 2:38; 140 — Brenya Crahan (NIXA) pinned Janelle Spohn (OZARK) 1:24; 145: Delaney Cardin (OZARK) pinned Megan King (NIXA) :34; 155: Katy Wilson (NIXA) pinned Faith Shepard (OZARK) :54; 170; Calyese Dupree (NIXA) over (OZARK) forfeit; 190 — Sarah Cazier (OZARK) pinned Jessie Nelson (NIXA) 3:28; 235 — Larissa Downs (NIXA) over (OZARK) forfeit.
