The Marshfield Bluejays and the Logan-Rogersville Wildcats met at Reed’s Springs High School for duals on Tuesday, Dec. 5.
Anytime the Jays and Wildcats meet, heavy competition is sure to ensue. This round, the Bluejays won the Battle of Webster County on the Mat.
Pins from senior MJ Gritts and junior Tanner Davidson helped secure a lead for Marshfield against Logan-Rogersville. The Wildcats saw good matchups across the board and won several by decision to keep them in the dual.
“We always look forward to facing Logan-Rogersville,” said head coach of Marshfield Matt Holt. “Every year it seems to come down to the heavyweight match right at the end,”
That was the case for this year. Marshfield held a two-point lead over the Wildcats coming into the heavy weight round. In the end, Marshfield’s Peyton Woolman, a senior, defeated Logan-Rogersville’s Lucas Parris, a junior, to secure the win for the Jays.
“Woolman came out with a great reversal to secure the match,” added Holt.
Seemingly, the final match came down to experience.
“Parris is young, and still figuring out how to move,” said head coach of Logan-Rogersville Jason Carter. “He made one mistake that whole match, but it cost him.”
Marshfield defeated Logan-Rogersville 38-33 to finish the dual. The Jays also defeated Reeds Springs 47-27 the same day. Logan-Rogersville defeated Reeds Springs 46-36.
“Marshfield is a great team with a great coaching staff,” explained Carter. “We like to cheer them on when we’re not trying to beat them on the mat.”
On Saturday, Dec. 9, the Jays and Wildcats traveled to Union for one of the biggest tournaments in the state.
“The Union Tournament is incredible,” added Carter. “We got there early for practice and warmed up right alongside the Bluejays.”
Schools from Camdenton, Eureka, Farmington, Fatima, Hazelwood Central, Hillsboro, Logan-Rogersville, Marquette, Marshfield, North Point, Northwest, Pacific, Poplar Bluff, Potosi, Seckman, St. Clair, St. Francis Borgia, St. James, Ste. Genevieve, Sullivan, Union, Washington, Webb City, Webster Groves, Windsor and Winnetonka all competed in the girls tournament. Five mats were used.
The boys tournament included teams from Fatima, Fox, Hazelwood Central, Logan-Rogersville, Marquette, Marshfield, Mexico, Northwest, Poplar Bluff, St. Clair, Borgia, St. James, Ste. Genevieve, Union, Webb City, Webster Groves, Windsor and Winnetonka.
“Being over in the St. Louis area means we compete with some really big schools,” explained Holt. “Northwest Cedar Hills is one of the largest schools in the state, and St. Genavieve took home state last year.”
Logan-Rogersville saw lots of individual success, despite one athlete not making weight and another was sick. Zion Hibbert, a freshman, took home the championship for 113lbs. Jackson Snider, a senior, took second place at 150lbs. Kolbey Ballowe, a senior, took second place at second 190lbs.
“Snider wrestled great the whole tournament,” added Carter. “He faced a great competitor in the final round.”
The Bluejays took home third place at this year’s Union Tournament. Ste. Genevieve took home first, and Northwest (Cedar Hill) got second as a team. MJ Gritts took home second place at 138lbs. Davidson got first in the 144lbs after dominating the championship round and getting a pin.
The Lady Jays took second place, Northwest (Cedar Hill) took home first by 22 points. Carlynn Mynatt, a freshman and former 14-and-younger state champion, won the championship for her weight class. Alyxandria Keifert, a junior, and Trinity Lesser, a senior, took home second place. Bianca Dockery, a junior, and freshmen Gracie Hursh and Sarah Wilson all got third place in their weight classes. Payton Boyce, a freshman, Camryn Elliot, a senior, and Aby Spencer, a freshman, all received fourth place finishes.
“I’m proud of the performance our girls put on at Union,” said head coach of Marshfield’s girls program Adam Wright. "We wrestled great and are learning a lot to put us in a position to do big things at the end of the year."
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