A replenished Damien Moseley was strong to the finish Saturday.
Moseley claimed the 120-pound championship and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestling at the Branson Tournament by rallying for a 7-6 title tilt win against Monett’s Simon Hartline.
Entering the tourney, Moseley found himself in the unique position of looking to gain weight to get to 120. He made a weight cut earlier in the week to 113 for Ozark’s dual at Nixa.
“I ate quite a lot to feel good and get (my weight) back up,” Moseley said. “Being able to eat as much as I wanted to and rehydrate definitely helped me a lot. I was trying to get my weight back up so I would weigh the same as (Hartline) and I think he was cutting. He didn't feel much bigger. We felt the same size.”
The Ozark junior tied the score at 6 against Hartline late in the second period with an escape and posted the only point of the third period with another escape.
Moseley's winning point came with :25 remaining.
“I knew once I got the escape at the end of the second period that I would choose bottom at the start of the third and I would get out,” Moseley said. “One thing I didn't know about (Hartline), though, is that he is pretty tough on top. But I feel my bottom is pretty good and it's gotten better.”
Moseley upped his record to 23-3, while Hartline, a former Class 2 state champion, fell to 27-2.
It was the second meeting between Moseley and Hartline. Two years ago at the Branson Tournament, Hartline got the best of Moseley.
“Skill-wise, we’re pretty equal and we both wrestle the same style,” Moseley said.
Moseley was one of the few regulars in Ozark’s starting lineup who made the trip to Branson. The Tigers never really had a chance to defend their team championship from a year ago since many of their starters sat out the tournament because their match count was too high.
Moseley was glad he got the chance to wrestle. He hadn’t won a title at the Branson Tournament.
“I wanted to win this tournament,” he said.
Ozark’s Johnny Williams (21-7) also made the final round. He lost the 190 title tilt 9-5 to Jefferson City Helias Catholic’s Logan Montoya (27-0).
The Tigers’ Teagon Patterson (16-8) finished fourth at 138.
Meanwhile, at the Willard Tournament on Saturday, Ozark’s Maelynn Sundlie captured the 130 championship.
Sundlie (25-6) recorded a 7-0 victory in the final against Marshfield’s Camryn Elliott (27-9).
