15th Annual Metro Classic
report from the border

Wow … what a night! Always, one of my favorite events of the year, and I get the privilege of reporting the happenings!

I’ve attended 13 out of the 15 dates of this wrestling event and if I’ve learned one thing during that tenure, that is that I can never predict the outcome.

Team Kansas, in my mind was clearly in the shadows this year. Missouri’s lineup had three 4-time State champs and was dotted with accomplished wrestlers. But as I will explain, this seemed to be the night for TEAM Kansas to shine.

We started the dual competition at 112-pounds. Turner High furnished their resident stud, namely Paulie Hansen. Hansen is a 3-time State champ and he was matched up with Matt Allen. Matt from Blue Springs South, was a 3-time State qualifier. Occasionally, what appears on paper is true, and Paulie dominated the Showme, securing the fall in 3:23.

Next we have Schlagles, Marcus Walker pitted against Cody Hogan from Richmond, Missouri at 119-pounds. Hogan was very adept at gaining a “slide-by” (a move we would see often from Team Missouri on the night) and scored 3 takedowns in the match with that move. Marcus quickly gained his feet after every takedown but could not generate any offense. Walker did shore up his defense but still loss the match by a 3-7 decision.

The team score was 6-3 as the action continued with 125-pounders. Missouri offered the first 4-timer in their lineup, one Scott O’Donnell from Oak Park and University of Virginia signee, facing Ottawa Cyclone, Jordan Miller. O’Donnell has also proven his talents on the stage in Fargo, where he was a Greco champ last year. Miller had a stellar season this year and culminated that in a runner-up finish at State. O’Donnell was in complete control of this match but Miller was putting a lot of blood and sweat into the match. The majority of the match, O’Donnell seemed content with the takedown and leg attack game but in the 3rd period he threw a successful head-and-arm. With 30 seconds to go, Miller has fighting off his back and fighting for his life when the assistant referee called O’Donnell for an illegal hold. The result, a 4-19 technical fall instead of the pin. This resulted in the team score being, 6-8.

Olathe North provided Team Kansas with Adam Almaguer, this years State champ in 6A and signee with Western State Colorado. Missouri countered with Corey Carr from Park Hill who had won State crowns in ’05 and ’06. The bout was contested at 130-pounds. A momentary lapse can cost you in these bouts and Almaguer paid dearly. Carr scored the takedown with near fall to put Adam behind 0-5. Carr escaped from beneath Adam in the second but Adam did score the takedown. The score was 2-6 going into the 3rd period and that’s what the match score stayed. Kansas loses the bout, 2-6 and trails in the team score, 6-11.

Take a deep breath Kansas!

Next in competition was Lansing Lion, Kyle Buehler as he was matched against Nathan Neske from Lee’s Summit North. Team Kansas needed to right the ship a bit and that is exactly what Buehler did. Kyle dominated this bout on his feet scoring 3 takedowns. Buehler beat Neske, Kansas beats Missouri, 6-2.

Team Kansas had closed to a 9-11 deficit. The first 140-pound bout looked to be a tough one for Team Kansas. Slated in this bout were Mark Millstead, from the wrestling Millstead family and St. Thomas Aquinas; and Aaron Senzee, Kearney, Missouri’s; 4-time State champ. The odds were in favor of Senzee and most predicted bonus points for the Showme. Those predicting a blowout by Senzee were wrong! Millstead battled to a 3-4 loss by decision. Team score, Kansas 9, Missouri 14.

Reading your opponent’s credentials was something Lance Serbousek didn’t put much stock in. Serbousek from Blue Valley Northwest had never been a State finalist. He was facing Jake Hunter of Harrisonville, Missouri 2-time undefeated State champ in this 2nd 140-pound bout. The lack of scoring did not mean there was an absence of action in this match. Scoreless at the end of the first, Hunter opted down and escaped in the second, and Lance opted down and escaped in the third. Overtime! Again on their feet both wrestlers battled. Serbousek scrambled out of a deep shot as the period closed! Missouri elected down but Kansas managed to expertly ride him out. Kansas elects down and with 0:06 seconds left in the bout, Lance earns the escape as the locals went wild! Kansas wins the 2-1 decision.

It seemed to be a recurring theme. When Team Kansas would be one match away from regaining the lead, Team Missouri would trot out a 4-time State champ. This time for Missouri it was Shane Nay of Oak Park. Nay will be wrestling for Oregon State University next year. For Kansas, it was Kyle Hudgins of Spring Hill. Hudgins was a 4-year qualifier but his highest finish at the State meet was a 4th. Nay was taking Hudgins down and letting him up. At the end of the second period, the score was 5-10 but Hudgins was making Nay earn his takedowns. To start the 3rd, Nay opted for neutral. The Showme managed two more takedowns with an escape by Hudgins in the middle. Nay was ahead, 6-14, but with a few seconds left, Hudgins managed the escape and loss by a 7-14 decision. I am not sure Kyle was aware of what he did or not but regardless that last escape saved Team Kansas a team point. Team score, 12-17.

The next bout also at 145-pounds on paper was one of the most anticipated of the night. Team Kansas would look to Sabetha High School and their star, Jason Pyle. Pyle will attend Luther College next year. Team Missouri would rely on Plattsburg’s Kenzie McClain. Both were undefeated State champs this year, both were State champs last year, both were 4-time State placers. Pyle had a career record of 132-12. McClain had a career mark of 130-11. Enough talking about the match on paper, let’s get this party started on the mat! However on the mat, it would be as closely contested as it appeared on paper! Early in the bout the Showme looked to have Pyle’s number. McClain used a pair of slick ankle picks and a re-shot to take a 3-6 lead as we started the 3rd period. Pyle opted for bottom and quickly managed the escape. Jason
 was countering McClain’s takedown attempts and late in the period scored one of his own. Overtime! In the fourth frame, it was Pyle with the sweet sweep single. Jason
 worked for the treetop and the takedown to win in overtime, 8-6.

Kansas trailed the team score, 15-17, and it was Dakota Hall of Ft. Scott matched against Lee’s Summit North wrestler, Sam Thielen. Though neither had been a State finalist both were State placers. It has Dakota Hall dominating the action and he won by an 8-1 decision.

Team Kansas had to feel good about Hall’s performance. They had finally regained the lead, albeit a slim 18-17 score. There was an intermission to ponder what was to come and there was quite the buzz coming from both sides of the gym.

Team Kansas draws from a 90-mile radius of the Metro and Team Missouri is restricted to a 60-mile radius. The population inequities make that difference necessary. Team Kansas is on one side of the Kansas City Kansas Community College gymnasium and Team Missouri is on the other.

Both sides, I estimate at 1,000 strong, root their athletes on and chide the officials. One from Kansas and one from Missouri take turns on the whistle with the other, assisting. It creates what is at times, quite the humorous exchange between the crowds!

Back to the action!!

160-pounds would be the next bout and Kansas looked to Blue Valley North’s State champ, Casey Curran. Missouri would counter with Kendall Burke of Raymore-Peculiar. Burke is a 2-time State champ and is signed to wrestle with Dana College next year. Burke had a career record of 166-22 but after tonight you can add one more loss to the total. Curran wins by decision, 6-4.

With the team score now 21-17, the next bout would be at 171-pounds. St. Thomas Aquinas, the 5A State Champs would provide R.J. Nill. Lee’s Summit High would offer, Kyle Campbell. Both Nill and Campbell were runner-ups in their respective State tourneys and someone would end their season on a high note! It was R.J. meeting the challenge as he won by a 6-1 decision.

The team score was now, 24-17. I was doing some quick math in my head trying to predict the outcome. In the back of my mind, I knew that Missouri had a pair of absolute beasts, to anchor their lineup. If Jed Mamie could muster a fall in his bout with Steele Shippy, Kansas could put the title in the bag! Jed was representing Kansas via, St. Thomas Aquinas and Steele comes to the bout at 189-pounds, via Odessa. Jed took control of the bout when in the 2nd frame he expertly countered the Peterson attempt by Shippy and gained a 3-point near fall. Mamie went on to gain the decision, 5-2.

Take a big deep breath Kansas!

Deron Winn is a name you will be hearing for years on the National scene. In fact, Winn is already a name many of us know. He is from Liberty HS, is a 3-time State champ, and a 4-time National champ at Fargo. Michael Hammer, of St. Thomas Aquinas would fall short in his bid to upset Winn in this bout at 215-pounds. Hammer loses by fall at 2:51.

The team score was 27-23. Kansas was ahead! Paola High School and Team Kansas would have an extreme challenge for Josiah Payne. Payne would have to avoid the bonus win for Blue Springs, Missouri’s, 3-times State champ, career record of 181-25, a Fargo National champ in Freestyle wrestling, and University of Missouri signee, Dominique Bradley. The challenge had been talked about and now it was at hand. The win seemed out of the question. The question was could Josiah avoid a big loss to Bradley. The whistle! Bradley may be the most agile heavyweight on the National scene right now and one of the most powerful. This bout resembled much more of a Sumo match than a Folkstyle wrestling bout. Bradley was pushing Payne around! In the first, Josiah was cautioned and picked up a stall warning. A scoreless first led to Bradley opting down and scoring an escape. A return to the pushing, with Joe trying to circle in but Joe gave up the stalling and a second point for Bradley. The third began with Payne on bottom. Where Bradley was trying for the turn. With 1:20 left in the period, Joe was charged with stalling again. Joe was working … but was it enough. No! At 0:15 Joe was charged with the 2-point penalty. As you can hopefully imagine both sides of the gymnasium were riotous. The tension was electric. The competitor’s benches were up screaming their respective athletes on. The last 15 seconds clicked off the scoreboard. Payne loses the decision, 0-5.

Team Kansas wins the 15th Metro Classic by a score of 27-26!

As would be expected in this action filled event, there was a bit of taunting as the match concluded. But really, I was pleased that nothing more came from it.

Final Thoughts: Team Kansas wrestled hard and they wrestled smart! In a dual as close as this one was, there were many opportunities for teams to gain or save team points.

Luck? Maybe! But I think if Team Kansas was lucky, that we made our luck. We minimized bonus points in a couple of loses we had! We won both of the overtime bouts!

It is unfortunate that some will only look at the final bout! Clearly, Josiah Payne did what he had to do. As did Lance Serbousek, Kyle Hudgins, Mark Millstead, and the rest of Team Kansas. In a team competition all the links of the chain are called into action. Team Missouri has a few great athletes who without question will go farther than any one member of Team Kansas. But Team Kansas … was … well a Team!