Ozark’s Caden Harrington figured he couldn’t have picked a better spot than to find himself in overtime in a Class 4 District 3 quarterfinal match Friday.
Harrington, a 113-pound freshman, responded to his first night of post-season action by pulling out a 7-5 overtime victory versus Carthage’s Dylan Huntley.
“I knew once we got to overtime I was going to win. There was not a doubt in my mind,” Harrington said. “Ozark wins overtimes.”
Ozark won plenty Friday, with Harrington one of eight Tigers making their way to the semifinal round Saturday. Of those eight, five were competing at Districts for the first time.
Harrington (33-11) picked up his third victory against Huntley (15-5) in as many matches. In the regular season, Harrington beat Huntley by 11-5 and 8-6 counts.
“I knew he would be tough because everyone is going to be a different wrestler in the post-season,” Harrington said. “He was ready and so was I. I was trying to break him early because I know I work harder than him. But he was more prepared this time and he kept a good pace. I thought he would be way less conditioned than I am. But he’s been working hard.
“He surprised me when get those two takedowns because he’s normally not very offensive,” Harrington said. “I made sure to get my escapes.”
Harrington won with a takedown in overtime.
All four 113 semifinalists are sophomores.
“I’m looking forward to having a great day,” Harrington said. “I’m going to try to be the aggressor and get a big win for my team. I’ve got my eyes on a District championship.”
Nixa’s 113-pounder Sam Mayes (16-15) was pinned in 1:52 by Central’s Rylan Lashley.
Another Ozark freshman, 106-pounder Damien Mosley (34-8), pinned Logan Flemming (9-20), of Nixa in 1:47 in his only action Friday.
Moseley is one of three 106 semifinalists who hail from the COC. Moseley has posted first-period pins against each of the other semifinalists.
Nixa 120-pound junior Zan Fugitt (41-1) has never lost at home. Last year’s 113 state champion pinned Joplin’s Toryn Jones in :49 and pinned Republic’s Shea Rogers in 1:17.
“I wanted to go out and get a good warmup in, get a good sweat going and work on some moves,” Fugitt said. “I felt like I had pretty decent motion.”
Ozark 120-pounder Keaton Hurst (25-15) lost 6-3 to Ray Pec’s Connor Gatlin
Nixa senior Peyton Moore (32-4) is looking for his fourth District title. He added to his career pins total of more than 100 by pinning Central’s Jalen Ndongi in 1:38 and pinning Joplin’s Alex Short in 1:40.
Ozark 126-pounder Daniel Laney (25-17) pinned Kickapoo’s Chase Haase in 1:50, but was pinned by Lee’s Summit’s Nathan Wishne in 2:59.
Ozark’s Levi Maskrod and Nixa’s Aidan Ward both breezed to wins at 132. Maskrod (29-15) won 15-4 against Joplin’s Orion Norris and pinned Kickapoo’s Theo Holleman in 2:43. Ward (23-8) pinned Central’s Cohen Bane in 1:55 and pinned Belton’s Mario Nunez in 3:26.
In the semis, Maskrod faces Lebanon’s Andrew Bowling (29-11), who wrestled at 106 last year. Ward is 2-1 versus Maskrod and 1-0 against Bowling.
Ozark senior Nolan Moeller earned himself a rematch with Carthage’s Eli Sneed with two wins by fall at 138. Moeller (33-10) pinned Kickapoo’s Nicholas Finke in :36 and pinned Lee’s Summit West’s George Long in 3:28
Sneed (33-4) won both their regular-season matches by one point.
Nixa 138-pounder Dylan Webster (15-20) pinned Republic’s Cameron Allen in 2:44, but was pinned by Sneed in 2:16.
Ozark 145-pounder Lucas Campbell (30-9) pinned Joplin’s Johnathon Burke in 2:34 and pinned Lee’s Summit North’s Luke Steinbrugge in 1:19.
Campbell will meet Lebanon’s Bo Rosen in a semifinal. Campbell beat Rosen 9-5 at the Kincloch Classic this season.
Nixa 145-pounder Nate Brower (21-19) pinned Waynesville’s Isiah Smith in 3:27, but lost 15-10 to Republic’s Eli Van Trump.
Ozark 152-pounder Braxton Strick (40-3) reached 40 wins for the second time in his career by pinning Smith-Cotton’s Layne Grotzinger in 1:28 and pinning Nixa’s Porter Osborne (6-19) in :54.
Ozark 160-pounder Brock Sundlie returned form injury to see his first action since Jan. 20. Sundlie (21-7) pinned Waynesville’s Gunner LeGrande in :44 and won 6-1 against Central’s Gaven Bremenkamp
Sundlie advances to meet Carthage’s Davion King. Sundlie was pinned by King in 3:19 the first week of the new year. The other 160 semifinalists are both 40-win wrestlers.
At 170, Ozark’s Eric Shephard (31-12) won by 16-1 against Joplin’s Drew VanGilder and fell short of an upset by losing 7-5 to Republic’s Connor Sandridge. Nixa’s Cole Crahan (22-19) pinned in :43 by Lebanon’s Connor Brand.
Nixa 182-pounder Avry Rutherford (26-11) won 11-4 against Lee’s Summit North’s Drew Grey and pinned Smith-Cotton’s Keaton Belsha in 1:20.
Rutherford will face Lebanon’s Cade Muscia in a semifinal. Rutherford was pinned by Muscia in 1:14 in January and lost to him 5-2 at the Kansas City Stampede
Ozark 182-pounder Johnny Williams (23-17) was pinned in :50 by Kickapoo’s Tai Koyama, a District champ from last year.
At 195, Nixa’s Brennan Carey (28-8) received a bye and beat Lee’s Summit West’s Nate Moore 5-1.
Carey has won 11 in a row. He owns wins against fellow semifinalists Jaylen Nevins, of Ray-Pec, and Draven VanGilder, of Joplin.
Ozark 195-pounder Peyton Greer (24-16) pinned Kickapoo’s Paxton Wehner in 4:13, but was pinned by Ray Pec’s Jaylen Nevins in 3:49
Ozark 220-pound senior Luke Hulse (11-7) won 3-2 against Nixa’s Peyton Nevels (12-2) and pinned Belton’s Winbi Big Spring in 3:24.
None of the 220 semifinalists have more than 25 wins.
Nixa’s John Gholson answered the question of where he would wrestle by competing at 285. Gholson (33-5) pinned Ozark’s Sean Collins (17-18) in :36 and pinned Kickapoo’s Jaxon Glenn in :54.
Semifinal matches get under way today at 11:30 a.m.
