14th Annual Metro Classic
by Randy Hinderliter

The METRO Report
March 7th, 2006

First things first, I need to apologize for the tardiness of this report. Tuesday night I was wore slick from all the emotions of the night. I had great intentions to complete my report on Wednesday but family comes first. My Mom’s had a few health issues pop up that required some attention.

What a night! I’m still pumped over the performance of Team Kansas in this event. The event was the 14th Annual Metro Classic, billed as the Battle at the Border. There were 15 bouts lined up between competitors from Missouri and Kansas. The arena was the gym of Kansas City Kansas Community College and the field of battle was a wrestling mat that divided the partisan sides and their supporters.

The Showme’s have won this event 9 times with Kansas winning only 4. Recently, the Kansan’s have taken a real beating. Team Missouri has won for the last 3 years and by a total score of 124-44.

The first bout was contested at 112 pounds and had Topeka’s Larry Perez pitted against Kyle Caswell of Lee’s Summit. If you looked at the record of accomplishments you might say Perez, was the favorite but as we know, the match takes place on the mat. Larry was working hard for the under hook and was trying to gain the takedown. But Caswell was equal to the challenge and scored his own takedown as the period ended. Perez selected to start the second in the neutral position. Caswell’s defense of the upper body tactics was pretty sound and Caswell scored a takedown and a 3-point near fall to close out the period. Again, neutral was the starting place and Larry decided to change his attacks. Perez scored two takedowns with an escape for the Showme in between. Too little, too late, Caswell earns the 4-8 decision giving Missouri the lead in the team score, 0-3.

Next we move to 119 pounds and the match between Kenneth Livengood of Blue Valley North and Oak Park’s, Jacob Nay. Sometimes, wrestlers have a hard time showing their skill against certain types of competitors. This was the case as Livengood could not figure out a way to attack Nay. Twice, an outside fireman’s victimized Kenneth, as the first stanza ended at 1-4. Livengood, who had 32 pins on the season, was in the position he probably preferred as Nay selected to wrestle from the bottom position. Livengood was firing bullets and Nay was dodging them. Kenneth got out of position a bit and the Showme capitalized by reversing the Kansan to his back for the 5-point reversal. The third period began with Kenneth on top, trailing 1-9. Again the bullets flew but the Showme’s defense was solid. A late stalling warning was of no consequence as Nay chalked up the major decision. The team score was 0-7!

At 125 pounds there was a change in the original roster for Kansas. Nick Shumate was ill and Jeff Ferguson of Blue Valley was the replacement against Mitchell Bainbridge of Odessa. Ferguson did not have the full training regiment of Team Kansas but he really performed admirably. Bainbridge scored the major decision, 6-16. The Kansan had yet to dot the board and Missouri had 11 tallies.

Traditionally, Team Kansas has excelled at the lower weights. Missouri was leading the takedown battle 2-11. From my viewpoint, there is a direct relationship between takedowns versus mat wins. In years past Kansas often had the lead after the first few bouts. But this year was going to different … how different … I had no idea!

Fort Scott’s Josh Sharp was matched against Jacob Gaston from Oak Grove. It looked to be a tough draw for Josh as Gaston held 4 single-season records for the vaunted Oak Park. This bout was the first real barnburner of the night as Josh earned the first points with a takedown directly to the back and the early 5-point lead. Gaston did earn a reversal as the period ended. Gaston opted bottom and quickly scored another reversal. One of Gaston’s school records was for pins and one could see a bit of his arsenal as he was hooking up the Spladdle. But Sharp felt it coming and expertly held off the near fall and scored himself on a reversal. The score was 7-4 as the whistle blew to start the action filled third period. Sharp started on bottom and Gaston was working the Spladdle again. Same song, second verse, as Josh reversed it and gained back points. This time Sharp allowed the escape but scored again with a takedown. Sharp wins convincingly, 15-6! Team score was now 4-11.

Kansas was showing some life as they sent Tyler Madl from Blue Valley to the mat against Cody Miller from Winnetonka. Madl shot on the whistle and scored the takedown. If Miller was asleep, he was awake now and scored on the equalizing reversal. Tyler earned the escape and was in deep on a leg attack. Tyler elevated the Showme and brought him back to the mat with a fair amount of force. I was waiting for the Missouri ref who was in charge of this bout, to signal the illegal slam but instead we awarded the takedown and began to count back points. The first period ended, Madl was awarded 3 back points, the Missouri staff and fans were hot, and the Sunflower’s were in disbelief that the pin was not earned. Tyler held the 8-2 lead and Miller closed the score with a reversal in the second. In the third, Madl was allowed the escape but the scoring and the match ended. The team score was now, 7-11.

The match up at 135 pounds had received a bit of extra excitement as St. Thomas Aquinas’s Andy Hurla was pitted against an undefeated State champ from Park Hill, Eric Graham. Hurla was also a State Champ as the wrestlers stepped to the line. It was Graham picking up the early lead as he scored the first period takedown. Missouri selected bottom and earned an escape in the second. Hurla opted down and was wrestling hard. With about 38 seconds remaining, Graham was called for locked hands. The Missouri staff contested this call but the ruling stood. The action continued with clock winding down. With 14 seconds left Hurla exploded, he scored the reversal and caught Graham on his back. As the clock read zeros, the official signaled that Hurla had gained 2 back points. This earned Andy Hurla the victory. The team score was now, 10-11. The Kansas crowd was pumped!

This dual had two sets of twins, one from Missouri and one from Kansas. The match at 140 pounds would have Park Hill’s Brian Graham pitted against Sean Flynn of Lansing. Perhaps Graham had a bit of extra incentive and opened with a takedown in the first. Flynn opted for neutral and Brian Graham again scored the takedown. The Showme was allowed to escape as the third period began and again scored the takedown and this time Flynn was allowed to escape making the score 1-7. Flynn was looking for the win and in the waning seconds took a shot, which Graham countered. The takedown earned Graham the major decision and a 10-15, team lead.

Hunter Madl represented Blue Valley as he was pitted against Brian McClure from Cameron. McClure was a 3-time State Champ. Hunter did not have the state titles but had plenty of heart and he was loaded for bear. Madl fired first and scored a takedown and had McClure in peril of giving up back points. But McClure was cool, he earned a reversal with 3 back points, allowed the escape and showed his skills and scored a takedown. After the initial shot was warded off McClure opened up his offense. McClure put on a takedown clinic, closing the match with a 10-23 point victory. Team score, 10-19.

At 152 pounds the contestants were Matt Bailes of Kansas City Turner versus Mat Koelling of Oak Park. Bailes found himself trailing the Showme as he gave up the early takedown. However, Bailes quickly got the points back with a reversal. The score was tied as the second period began with Matt working from bottom. Matt was allowed to escape and Koelling earned another takedown. Once again though, Bailes reversed and took the lead as the second period ended. Missouri opted neutral and scored the takedown on Matt again but this time, he locked up a nearside cradle. Matt did a great job fighting off the pin and earned the re-start with one minute left. Matt was trailing 5-9 and was feeling a bit under the weather. Aliensteve went to the alter and I assume, was asking for help from the R.A.O.S. but alas help must come from within. Matt was given the escape; Koelling earned the takedown, before Matt was allowed another escape. The match ended, 7-11. Good game Matt. Team score was 10-22, Missouri’s biggest lead of the night.

DeSoto’s Neil Erisman is one of the finest young men I’ve had the privilege of meeting. It was that young man who was pitted against Blue Springs Jeff Bowman. This was a match up of State Champions, at 160 pounds. Erisman is arguably as disciplined of a takedown technician as we have in Kansas and he demonstrated that skill early. But Erisman is also a “grinding” rider. The final score of this match was not indicative of the dominance this Oklahoma State signee displayed. Erisman wins, 7-3 and closes the team score, to 13-22.

At 171 pounds we had 2-time State Champ, Nolan Kellerman from Lawrence versus Joe Henson from Platte County. Again in this bout we are reminded that this is a wrestling contest and that on any given evening, anyone can be beaten. For the first time tonight we had a real contrast in body and styles. The first period ended with a scoreless tie. The second started with Henson selecting bottom, a reversal by Henson, and an escape by Kellerman. The third started with Kellerman down and quickly earning the tying escape. With 47 seconds left Kellerman was trying for the takedown but it was earned by Henson who also scored 2-points on the near fall cradle. The Showme wins 2-6 and leads, 13-25.

Our second match at 171 pounds pitted Jimmy Stewart of Paola against Chris Brewer of Lee’s Summit West. State Champ, Jimmy Stewart was in control of this match from the beginning. But probably the move that impressed me the most was a standing “merkel” (side-by-side). It was Jimmy Stewart with the decisive major decision, 13-3. The team score closes to 17-25.

At 189 pounds we have Old Dominion signee and Holton product Jesse Strawn battling against Mitch Barnett from Liberty. In the first period, it was Strawn scoring the takedown and Barnett scoring the reversal. In the second, Missouri selected bottom and remained there for the entire period. In the third, Strawn reversed the starting position and trapped the Showme on his back for a 2-point near fall. The score was 6-2 and with 1.05 remaining Barnett worked for the escape. Strawn’s conditioning was fading and with 12 seconds left, Barnett scored a takedown but Jesse held on for the win. The team score was getting interesting, 20-25.

If Team Kansas had any hope, Olathe North’s Calen Born had to keep the momentum rolling. Calen has twice been a runner-up at the State tourney and his foe, Kyle Rose of Park Hill, was also a two-time runner-up. This match was probably the final match in one of their careers and one of them would go out a winner. The bout started with both battling but the period ended scoreless. Born opted to wrestle from the bottom position and quickly worked the escape. Born opened up and scored a takedown and a 3-point near fall. The Kansas crowd was cheering and Calen acknowledged. Calen closed out the bout earning an 8-0 win. Team score, 23-25!

In 1994 with one bout remaining, the teams were tied at 24. Missouri won that dual with a pin at heavyweight.

In 2000, Kansas had the lead with the heavies to go. Missouri again won the bout and the match.

What would the result be this year? The match, the dual, and the hopes of the Sunflowers, were riding on the shoulders of a heavyweight from Ottawa.

Both sides of the gymnasium were riotous as the final combatants stepped into the ring. Team Missouri had Levi Thompson from Raymore-Peculiar. Team Kansas offered Levi Bowen from Ottawa. The pressure was intense. Whether they wanted it or not … they were in the limelight! Perhaps the pressure was too intense.

In the first period both wrestlers seemed to be tentative … not wanting to make a critical mistake. As the period was winding down, Bowen tried a toss, Thompson ended up on top but they were out-of-bounds … no score.

Thompson selected bottom and earned the critical first point in the bout. The wrestlers were battling for position as the second period ended.

It was Bowen’s choice and he opted down. Initially, the decision looked to be a mistake. Thompson threw in the legs, for the Cowboy or Surfboard and was working Bowen over. Bowen was warned for stalling about midway through the period but Thompson was getting high. Bowen earned a reversal after escaping out the back. But Thompson quickly scrambled to his feet to gain the tie. With 43 seconds left, Bowen got to Thompson’s body and cut the angle he gained control but they were out-of-bounds. Thompson was now avoiding the ties and gave up a stall warning. Regulation time ended.

Thompson left the mat circle to tend to some blood and perhaps didn’t ask for permission first. Several Kansas fans were pleading the case to win the match on that infraction. I, and a few others, didn’t want to win the bout that way.

Overtime began, the Kansans were on their feet, and the Showme’s were on theirs. The Kansas chant of Bowen, Bowen, Bowen was deafening. Bowen was digging for under hooks and Thompson was backing out. Restart. Bowen still digging, the fans were chanting, Bowen gets to the body, gains an angle, and drives for the winning takedown.

Man, what a bout … what a dual!

Final Impressions! I’ve attended all but one of the 14 duals in this series. In that time of course the tides have changed, and changed, and changed. Some years Missouri is dominant and some years Kansas reigns. Missouri does lead this dual, 9 to 5. Clearly, Missouri did not field one of their dominant teams and frankly, neither did Kansas. We held our own this year!

I truly think as a team we are doing better on our feet. You never know but I think a lot of credit goes to the coaching staff this year. From what I’ve heard from team members, the hardest practices a few wrestlers had all year, were in preparation for this competition. So a big thanks to Jeremy Goebel of Tonganoxie, Russ Hermreck of Paola, Eric DeYoe of Olathe North, and Beau Vest of Topeka High.

One final thought, two of the Kansas wrestlers, Josh Sharp and Calen Born, attended a Bronze clinic that I instructed just two days before this dual. I think it speaks volumes of these young men that they are deciding to share their knowledge.

 

14th Annual Metro Classic
 Team Rosters & Results
 

 Wt.  Kansas Wrestler Record State
Place
 School  Missouri Wrestler Record State
Place
 School Match Team
112 Larry Perez 38-2 3rd Topeka High School Kyle Caswell 37-9 5th Lee's Summit HS 4-8 0-3
119 Kenneth Livengood 43-2 1st Blue Valley North Jacob Nay 42-7 2nd Oak Park High School 1-9 0-7
125 Jeff Furguson 42-3 3rd Blue Valley West HS Mitchell Bainbridge 40-5 1st Odessa High School 5-16 0-11
125 Josh Sharp 25-6 SQ Ft. Scott High School Jacob Gaston 51-8 3rd Oak Grove High School 15-6 4-11
130 Tyler Madl 27-6 5th Blue Valley High School Cody Miller 26-6 3rd Winnetonka High School 9-4 7-11
135 Andy Hurla 31-3 1st St. Thomas Aquinas HS Eric Graham 33-0 1st Park Hill High School 5-4 10-11
140 Sean Flynn 40-2 2nd Lansing High School Brian Graham 43-1 1st Park Hill High School 1-9 10-15
145 Hunter Madl 39-8 4th Blue Valley High School Brian McClure 42-0 1st Cameron High School 12-21 10-19
152 Matt Bailes 25-5 3rd Turner High School Mat Koelling 39-10 3rd Oak Park High School 7-11 10-22
160 Neil Erisman 46-1 1st Desoto High School Jeff Bowman 55-2 1st Blue Springs High School 7-3 13-22
171 Nolan Kellerman 21-0 1st Lawrence High School Joe Henson 35-7 3rd Platte County HS 2-6 13-25
171 Jimmy Stewart 31-2 1st Paola High School Chris Brewer 39-6 SQ Lee's Summit West HS 13-3 17-25
189 Jesse Strawn 44-0 1st Holton High School Mitch Barnett 34-7 3rd Liberty High School 6-5 20-25
215 Calen Born 38-2 2nd Olathe North High School John Ott 54-4 2nd Blue Springs High School 8-0 24-25
275 Levi Bowen 28-2 2nd Ottawa High School Levi Thompson 22-6 4th Ray-Pec High School 4-2 27-25
     
  Kansas Coaches:
Jeremy Gobel--Tonganoxie High School
Russ Hermreck--Paola High School
Eric Deyoe--Olathe North High School
Beau Vest--Topeka High School
Missouri Coaches:
Gary Mayabb--Oak Park High School
Bill Erneste--Park Hill High School
Reggie Burress--Platte County High School

The meet is being held at 7:00 pm on March 7 at the Kansas City, Kansas Community College Coliseum at 7250 State Ave, Kansas City, Kansas. This will be a great one, so plan to attend. Advanced tickets can be purchased for $6 at Nill Bros. Sporting Goods, Varsity Sports, Wrestling Central, and Nutz Sports. Tickets ($8) will also be sold at the gate.

Once again the proceeds of this meet are going for wrestling scholarships to Kansas and Missouri colleges.