Ozark's march to the Class 4 District 3 championship Saturday received boosts by second-place finishes turned in from Johnny Williams at 190 and Peyton Greer at 285.
Williams (36-11) knocked off second-seeded Ulysses DeLeon, of Neosho, by a 5-4 count in the semifinal round.
DeLeon, who won the 190 title at the COC Tournament, pinned Williams twice earlier this season.
“I was feeling pretty positive,” Williams said of his feelings before their match. “Usually, I would be like, ‘Oh man, I believe I can win.’ But deep down there would be doubt and mental weakness. Coach Sundlie told me, ‘You should believe you can win this.’ I went out believing I could win it.”
Williams lost 8-5 to top-seeded Cade Muscia, of Lebanon in their title tilt.
Making State for the first time as a junior, Williams looked back on his freshman season and the impact Ozark grad Harper Kissee had on him. They were practice partners two years ago, when Kissee was a senior and served as a mentor to Williams.
“When Harper lost (at Districts) and didn’t get to go to State as a senior, I saw him go the locker room and he was tearing up. Myself, I was crying for him,” Williams said. "I had a special bond with him and still do. That year directed me to where I am now.”
Sixth-seeded Greer (22-11) pinned second-seeded Kwan Watkins in 2:24 in the semifinal round to clinch his berth to State.
In the quarterfinal round, Greer won in overtime 2-1 against third-seeded Levi Holes, of Ray-Pec.
Greer was pinned in 2:31 by Neosho’s Nico Olivares in their title tilt.
Earning trips to State for Ozark by taking third were Keaton Hurst (27-14) at 120 and Lucas Campbell (28-15) at 165.
Finishing fourth and also qualifying for State were the Tigers’ Caden Harrington (32-13) at 126, Levi Maskrod (25-17) at 138 and Daniel Laney (35-15) at 144.
Harrington and Laney were both fifth seeds.
