Ozark’s Damien Moseley will shoot for a three-peat Class 4 District 3 championship at Ray-Pec this weekend, after going 26 days in between matches.
Moseley has not been on the mat for a match since Jan. 20, when he finished second at 113 pounds at the Winnetonka Tournament. He injured a shoulder in the third period of the 113 title tilt and had to default against Mac Crosson, of Indianola, Iowa.
Moseley is 27-4 while splitting time at 113 and 120.
Assuming he is at 113 this weekend, Moseley will certainly draw a No. 1 seed. One of his top challengers will likely be Neosho’s Anthony Stotts (33-9).
Moseley was a 106 District champ as a freshman and a 120 champ as a sophomore.
Moseley is one of four returning District champions from last year. The others include Nixa’s Curtis Glossip at 144, Ray-Pec’s Kamdon VonHolten at 106 and Neosho’s Carter Howard at 138.
Glossip (27-8) made the jump to 165 this season. He won a COC Tournament championship and followed up finishing sixth at the Rose Hill Invitational (Kansas).
Glossip will be joined at 165 by Lee’s Summit’s Jackson Jones (31-3) and Neosho’s Chase Kivett (32-9).
In addition to Moseley, the most probable No. 1 seed from Ozark and Nixa is Eagles 157-pounder Malachi Rider (26-2). He’s won 24 straight matches and earned championships at the Lafayette Invitational, Winnetonka, the COC Tournament and the Rose Hill Invite.
Rider’s rivals will be Ozark’s Dayton Moison (29-11) Waynesville’s Aiden Smith (17-9) and Lee’s Summit’s Michael Foley (24-8).
Ozark’s Johnny Williams (36-9) will likely be in the running for the No. 1 seed at 190 with Republic’s Maddox Wilkins (39-4). Williams has an eight-match winning streak and claimed a COC Tournament championship.
Williams and Wilkins did not meet at the COC Tournament, after Wilkins was upset in the semifinal round. In their only meeting this season, Wilkins pinned Williams in dual action.
Kickapoo’s Jonathan Vargas (26-12) won the 190 championship at the Ozark Conference Tournament.
Ozark 215-pounder Ruben Arvizu (26-10), like Moseley, hasn’t competed since the Winnetonka Tournament due to an injured shoulder. At 215 are Willard’s Porter Talbot (31-4), Carthage’s David Recinos (30-8) and Glendale’s Deric Washington (21-7).
Ozark’s Caden Harrington (29-10) captured the 132 championship at the COC Tournament and was fourth at Winnetonka. He’s also competed at 138 and 144.
Ozark’s Keaton Hurst (28-9) missed the COC Tournament due to illness, but returned two weeks ago to record a pair of pins at 132 in duals with Branson and Kickapoo.
Hurst, who was sixth at State at 120 last year, has competed at 126, 132 and 138 this season.
With the presence of Hurst and Charlie Dykes (31-0), of Lee's Summit, 126 would be one of the more formidable weight classes. Springfield Central’s Rylan Lashley (26-8) was an OC champ at 126.
If Hurst goes to 132, he and Lebanon’s Canon Roark (29-6), Springfield Central’s Lucas Gideon (25-9), Kickapoo’s Jahn Huynh (23-14) and Sedalia Smith-Cotton’s Chad Culp (24-2) would make 132 highly competitive.
Roark was a State runner-up to Nixa’s Zan Fugitt a year ago.
If Harrington is at 138, he’ll be joined by Nixa’s Aidan Ward (27-12) and Carthage’s Bradyn Tate (43-2). Tate took the 138 title at the COC Tournament.
The 144 final may be a rematch of the COC Tournament final between Neosho sophomore Carter Howard (34-4) and Nixa freshman Reed Wilson (28-11). Howard was second at State at 138 last year.
Ozark’s Logan Luder will be competing at Districts for the first time. He’s enjoyed a 29-12 season at 120.
Another newcomer to Districts will be Nixa’s Kaden Young (28-14) at 150.
