Perhaps appropriately, Zan Fugitt will share Nixa’s career wins record, for a short while, anyway, with the former Eagles wrestler he’s most often compared to.
Fugitt and 2014 Nixa grad Joe Velliquette are both atop Nixa’s records board with 180 wins, after Fugitt picked up four wins and breezed to the Class 4 District 3 132 pound championship over the weekend.
Fugitt (46-1) tied Velliquette while pinning Lebanon's Canon Roark (33-6) in the final round.
Fugitt's career W-L record is 180-8, while Velliquette was 180-16.
Fugitt was in elementary school during Velliquette’s glory years as a prep and idolized him. Like Fugitt, Velliquette dominated at lower weights. He wrestled at 132 his senior season.
“I was pretty young when he was in high school, so I don't remember too much about him,” Fugitt said. “But I remember looking up to him. I always wanted to be as good as him and Trevor Collins.”
Velliquette and Collins were three-time State champions. Fugitt will go for his third State title this week.
Joining Fugitt as District champions were teammates Curtis Glossip at 144 and Brennan Carey at 215. The Eagles’ Nate Brower and Aidan Ward also qualified for State.
Glossip (31-11) gained his championship as a third seed bp recording a 6-3 victory against Lee’s Summit’s Michael Foley in the final round.
Glossip pointed to multiple changes he made in his technique in middle school as the catalyst to allow him to enjoy this kind of success as a freshman. He was a COC Tournament champ a few weeks ago.
“I changed up my stance a few years ago and re-learned everything,” Glossip said. “I had to re-start. It’s paid off. Working on top, neutral. I believe that is what got me here. I used to be left-leg lead and my shots were much slower. I changed up to right and now my shot is my main attack. Not a lot of people have been able to stop that this year.
“I re-learned how to do top,” he added. “I used to hate riding legs. Now, I believe I'm one of the best leg-riders in Missouri. I truly believe that. My bottom game, I'm still working on that. it's all a mindset from the bottom. I always choose bottom against Zan (in practices) because I know that's my weakest position. If I can get out on him, I know I can get out on anyone.”
Carey (42-6) was the top seed at 215 and rolled to his championship. He went the distance while winning 7-0 against Joplin’s Draven VanGilder in their title tilt.
Brower (39-10) was the top seed at 175, but dropped a 5-2 decision to Republic’s Connor Sandridge in the final round. At the COC Tournament, Brower won a championship by beating Sandridge.
Ward (38-13) was the top seed at 138, but was upended 9-6 by Neosho’s Carter Howard in the semifinal round. He came back to claim third place with a 6-0 victory against Ozark’s Levi Maskrod.
Nixa’s Avry Rutherford (32-15) fell one win short of a return trip to State. He lost 3-1 in sudden victory to Neosho’s Ulysses DeLeon in a 190 ‘Heartbreak Round’ match.
