This year's Classic will be held on March 23rd at Avila University as opposed to KCK! Information found at the link below.

https://www.growrestling.org/tournaments/metro-classic/

I have heard that the Kansas roster is close to being finalized!

Correction on line-up!


2021 Kansas Metro Classic Team

113 - Trevor Andrew - Bonner Springs - 18-7 - 6th
120 - Joe Triscornia - Olathe North - 25-3 - 2nd
126 - Cade Holtzen - Louisburg - 38-2 - 3rd
132 - Cruz Lara - Bonner Springs - 28-1 - 2nd
138 - Kai Allen - Silver Lake - 40-4 - 3rd
145 - Johnny Akin - St. Thomas Aquinas - 21-6 - 4th
152 - Byron Kirkwood - Turner - 35-4 - 3rd
160 - Bobby Thomas - Olathe South - 24-7 - 4th
170 - Jacob McLain - Lansing - 36-2 - 3rd
182 - Jared Simma - St. Thomas Aquinas - 37-0 - 1st
182 - Brodie Scott - Mill Valley - 22-0 - 1st
195 - Caiden Casella - Mill Valley - 20-1 - 1st
220 - Alec Younggren - Louisburg - 37-1 - 2nd
285 - Ethan Kremer - Mill Valley - 20-1 - 1st

Bravo for getting the event to a school that sponsors the sport!

This could go 7-7 in wins.

PREDICTION:

KANSAS - 30
MISSOURI - 24

I am predicting.

KS-32
MO-26

*Things don't usually go the way I see them but we seem to be pretty close in our predictions

Starting weight is 113.

hey folks, can't seem to connect

It was one for the ages... As predicted, it was 7 wins apiece. The 220 match came down to the last 10 seconds as Alec Younggren, with a one point lead, went from "nearly taken down" to briefly touching the mat with one hand. The judgement by both referees determined that touch to be beyond reaction time and the takedown was awarded. Half the gym felt ripped off, half thought it was a mighty fine call.

That is why this dual is called THE METRO CLASSIC!

Missouri - 28
Kansas - 27

113 - Trevor Andrew - KS DEC Antonio Rizzi - MO - 3-0 KS
120 - Joe Triscornia - KS DEC Cayden Dotson - MO - 6-0 KS
126 - Korbin Shephard - MO Teched Cade Holtzen - KS - 6-5 KS
132 - Kage Lenger - MO DEC Cruz Lara KS - 8-6 MO
138 - LJ Davenport - MO DEC Kai Allen - KS -11-6 - MO
145 - Johnny Akin - KS DEC Garrett Deason - MO - 11-9 MO
152 - Gavin Gross - MO Teched Byron Kirkwood - KS - 16-9 MO
160 - Bryce Palmer - MO Pinned Bobby Thomas - KS - 22-9 MO
170 - Coleton McElliott - MO DEC Jacob McLain - KS - 25-9 MO
182 - Jared Simma - KS Pinned Jake Evinger - MO - 25-15 MO
182 - Brodie Scott - KS DEC Aaron Barnhill - MO - 25-18 MO
195 - Caiden Casella - KS DEC Hunter Newsome - MO - 25-21 MO
220 - Chris Bizzle - MO DEC Alec Younggren - KS - 28-21 MO
285 - Ethan Kremer - KS Pinned Tyson King - MO - 28-27 MO

Chief, I appreciate you explaining what you'd seen at the end of the 220 match. I left the meet with a sick feeling in my stomach, and later when I re-watched the film and tried to objectively review what I thought I'd seen live, I still didn't like what I perceived to be an incorrect judgment call. I wish I could do something to help correct the situation, to help ease the pain and disappointment and my kid's feeling that he'd let down Team Kansas, but like Alec himself said afterwards, "It is what it is."

Instead, I want to focus on the positives. I've coached kids in the past who have turned down the offer to wrestle in the Metro Classic or other senior all-star events. My kids -- Cade Holtzen and Alec Younggren (also a product of the Olathe South wrestling community) -- chose to accept this honor. They worked to make weight and try to stay in wrestling shape weeks after their seasons had ended. They made the commitment and sacrifice to represent Kansas, Louisburg High School, Olathe South High School, and those communities. They took advantage of the opportunity to bond with area wrestlers, some of whom they grew up wrestling with and against. They came together with a group of young men under the guidance of some of the best coaches in the state and made our state proud.

In a sport where micro-seconds matter and spur-of-the-moment choices are impacted by conditioning and the fact that your opponent is trying to impose his will on you at every turn, anything can happen. Those close decisions we won could have gone the other way. The tech fall losses could have resulted in pins, and the pin losses could have ended up as regular decisions. What matters is that our Kansas men gave one heck of a show last night, and I'm very grateful that they had the courage and dedication to give it a try. Our community, our state, and our sport has been blessed with some great athletes, coaches, programs, and families.