Mid-Buchanan had one state medalist and finished 17th overall in the Class 1 portion of the Missouri State Wrestling Championships in Columbia.
The Dragons had a school-record nine qualifiers that took the mat Thursday morning at Mizzou Arena and two of them hailed from North Platte High School.
Both of those wrestlers picked up a win for the Dragons.
Justin Roth finished the year with a 40-19 record and went 1-2 at state.
The sophomore opened up against Dalton Bridges of Jefferson City Blair Oaks and lost by a pin in the first period of the 126 pound weight class.
In his second match of the night, Roth bounced back with a win with an 11-10 win against Keon Holis of Sumner Academy to stay alive.
On Friday, Roth’s season came to an end with a loss by pin to Richmond’s Rance Waigand.
The two wrestlers that beat Roth were a combined 80-15.
“He scrapped and fought all year,” Mid-Buchanan coach Daniel Kountz said. “I’m looking forward to him competing the next two years.”
The other North Platte grappler saw his career end.
RANDY SPEER/Special to the Citizen
Mid-Buchanan’s Jake Williams, a North Platte student, is taken down by Father Tolton Catholic’s Brock Mauller in a first-round match at the MSHSAA Wrestling Championships on Thursday, Feb. 15 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
Jake Williams, a three-time state qualifier, went 1-2 in the tournament and finished his senior year with a 14-8 record.
Williams had an unfortunate draw in the opening round to face off against Brock Mauller of Father Tolton Catholic and lost by a pin in 29 seconds. Mauller claimed the 145-pound championship and became a four-time state champion — one of 30 wrestlers to accomplish the feat.
Williams bounced back with a win against Palmyra’s Peyton Timbrook by a pin in 48 seconds to stave off elimination.
In the second round of the consolation bracket, he drew quarterfinalist Grafton Littell of Centralia (51-5) and lost by a 6-0 decision.
“I appreciate all the hard work he put into the program,” Kountz said.
The Dragons had 32 points and was one of 48 teams to earn points. The lone medalist for the Mid-Buchanan was Tim Speer (113), who took fifth place with a win against fellow KCI foe Tanner Dalinghaus of Lathrop. One of Speer’s losses came to Whitfield’s Connor McAtee, the eventual state champion.