State Wrestling Wrap-Up

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Marc Schmidt wins wrestling championship.

Becomes Centralia’s first two-time State Champion.

Marc Schmidt, Centralia senior wrestler won his second Class 1 wrestling title to become Centralia’s first 2x wrestling champion in school history. Winning the 119 pound weight class in 2011, Schmidt (39-1) went 4-0 at the 2012 MSHSAA wrestling championships capping his title run in the 120 pound weight class with an 8-3 decision over Cole Kemna of Blair Oaks.

Becoming Centralia’s first two-timer was an early goal for Schmidt. “It was my goal coming into this season, I wanted to do something to recognize myself” said Schmidt. With only one lone redeemed blemish on his record this season, and being Missouri’s top ranked wrestler in his weight class, Schmidt was confidant in the outcome of his finals match. “I knew the only one to beat me would be me. Myself” said Schmidt.

Characteristically relaxed entering the finals, and after beating Kemna in two previous bouts this season, would Schmidt prepare differently considering the stakes at hand? “No” said Schmidt, “I knew I just had to wrestle my match.” Schmidt bull-dozed his way to the title match with wins by pin over Sean Hunter (St. James) and Jacob Glidewell (Lathrop) followed by a 9-4 decision victory against Dakota Smidt (Lawson). An impressive stat to consider, Schmidt’s quarter-final, semi-final and final round victories were against opponents with a combined season record of 135-21. “I can easily say that Marc Schmidt is one of the toughest kids I've ever coached” said Head Coach Mike Adkisson. “His work ethic is second to none. As a matter of fact, Marc was in the weight room on Monday afternoon, two days after winning his 2nd state title!  That says all you need to know about Marc.”

In addition to Schmidt’s first place finish, his 26 team points led the Panthers to another top 10 team finish tied for sixth with Brookflied at 78 points. Whitfield won the team title scoring 169.5 points followed by Blair Oaks 123 and Lathrop’s 100. An interesting team stat to ponder – of all teams class 1 thru 4, Centralia finished 7^th with number of pins in least amount of time – 10 pins in 18:35.

Also medaling for Centralia were seniors Austin McBride and Mitch Schmidt. Both wrestlers advanced thru the tournament placing third after falling in their respective semi-final matches. McBride (47-7) wrestled in the 145 pound class and scored 18 team points with a 4-1 record. In a semi-final match that could have gone either way, McBride trailed 4-3 to Rodney Hahn (Whitfield). Starting the third period in the down position, McBride, looking to score an escape to tie the match fell in to a tightly locked cradle and could not recover and was pinned by Hahn, the eventual champion. Following a 3-0 decision over Ramzie Cooper (Brookfield), McBride won the bronze medal with a tense 2-0 decision over Matt Mattingley (Sherwood). “I knew it was my last match” said McBride, “so I left it all out there.” Besides placing 3^rd, McBride had more to celebrate from his trip to MIZZOU Arena. In the opening round of the tournament, McBride pinned Mykell Hudspeth of Brentwood in 3:56 to earn his 100^th career victory. A milestone not every wrestler achieves.

Mitch Schmidt (42-7) scored 21 team points wrestling in the 132 pound class and like McBride, his trip to the finals was a near miss. Dominating wins by pin in both the opening and quarterfinal rounds, Schmidt faced Austin Smith (Whitfield) in the semi-finals. Scoring the first takedown to lead 2-0, Schmidt looked on course to have a shot at gold but ran out of steam in the third period and lost a 5-2 decision to Smith, the eventual tournament champion. Wrestling in the consolation side of the bracket, Schmidt won his 3^rd place medal with a 9-1 major decision against Anthony Cupp (Brookfield) and injury forfeit from Logan Mudd of Blair Oaks.

“Mitch and Austin both had tough semifinal matches” said Adkisson. “We knew going in that we would have to wrestle our best match to win either one of those!  They were both great semifinal bouts.” Rebounding after such an emotional and meaningful match is difficult for even the highest caliber wrestler but Centralia wrestlers are both mentally and physically prepared.  “They responded like champions to come back and win third as seniors” added Adkisson.  “I would bet that if you look back on how many seniors come back to win third after losing a semifinal match, you would find that number to be low.  It takes a lot of guts and will power to go home on Friday night and find it again early Saturday morning after losing one of the biggest matches in your life.  For those two, it seemed like another day at the office and business as usual when we met at the room on Saturday morning.”

Rounding out Centralia’s state qualifying wrestlers were freshman Ethan Leighton and seniors Johnny Veazy and Ryan McCann. Leighton (26-17) competed in the 126 pound class and following an opening round 5-2 decision loss to Kyle Bell (Marceline), Leighton won two straight with wins by pin against Matt Ross (Principia) and Lane Beverlin (Trenton) before falling in the ominous bubble-match to Alex Adam (Blair Oaks). With his two wins Leighton contributed 6 team points.

Johnny Veazy (21-19) and wrestling in the 285 pound weight class faced a stiff challenge in the opening round squaring off against Keaton Shaw of Tarkio (43-8). Shaw won by pin sending Veazy to the consolation bracket to face Brandon Western (New Madrid Co. Central). Veazy was the aggressor early in the match and was on the verge of scoring a takedown with nearfall when Western rolled-through gaining the advantage to win by pin and eliminating Veazy from the competition.

Ryan McCann (21-11) scored 7 team points wrestling in the 220 pound weight class and finished the tournament with a 2-2 mark. After a two year hiatus from wrestling, McCann entered the tournament as district champion and a top 10 state ranking in Class 1. Opening with a first round win by pin against Tyler Partney (Herculaneum), McCann seemed poised to leave an indelible mark. But in the quarterfinal match, McCann’s efforts were derailed by Polo’s Harley Martin (51-3) the eventual 3^rd place medalist. McCann regrouped with a pin against Kevin Jernigan (St. James) in 1:38 but was eliminated from medal contention by Stephen Scobee of Whitfield.

Five seniors wrestled their final high school matches in front of the black and white clad Centralia faithful as the years of dedication, sweat, tears and pain culminated in dreams realized and what-if’s questioned – providing all with innumerable memories made. “Well, I can say that it has been a season that I will never forget” said Adkisson. “I was proud to wear the Black and White this past weekend, as our young men represented our school and community with pride, dignity, and a fierce attitude that Centralia has become known for.  I am so proud of our team and how far we have come together.” Adding   “I would like to thank my staff, and the parents of my wrestlers for what they have done for me, and all of these young men.”