Palmyra’s Pillars reaches semifinals, three girls fighting for podium spots at state wrestling

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Palmyra wrestling team will have one wrestler chasing a state title and two others chasing podium finishes Thursday at the Class 1 state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena.

The Hannibal girls have a pair of grapplers fighting for state medals as well.

Palmyra’s Brayden Pillars, a senior wrestling at 165 pounds, made his way to the semifinals with a pair of dominant victories, while Emmett and Elly Lorenson remain alive in the wrestlebacks with a chance at a top-six finish following Wednesday’s first day of action.

Pillars opened with a 19-4 technical fall of Plattsburg’s Logan Reynolds, recording five takedowns and a four-point nearfall. In the quarterfinals, Pillars pinned Cole Camp’s Grant Rodriguez in 3:02, leading 6-2 before a second-period takedown led to the pin and the win.

Pillars (46-4) will face Tipton’s Paxton Pyle (32-6) in the semifinals.

At 120, Panthers freshman Emmett Lorenson remains alive in the wrestlebacks. Lorenson opened with a forfeit victory before getting pinned in the quarterfinals in 1:34 by Fatima’s Nolan Laux. Lorenson rebounded to earn a 13-2 major decision over Lafayette County’s Evan Chrisco in the wrestlebacks.

Emmett Lorenson (38-11) will face Adrian’s Carter Dumas in the consolation quarterfinals and will be guaranteed a top-six finish with a victory. 

In the girls 155-pound bracket, Palmyra senior Elly Lorenson opened with a 9-4 victory over Ste. Genevieve’s Anna Fischer. Lorenson was pinned in 2:57 by Clinton senior Amitria Mcnack, who is currently 49-1. She rebounded to pin Knob Noster’s Bailey Brown in 1:21.

Elly Lorenson (45-6) will face Hannibal’s Sydney Zimmerman in the consolation quarterfinals.

Zimmerman, senior, opened by pinning Park Hills Central senior Addisyn Gasaway in 3:36 before getting pinned by Maysville’s Claire Barton in 1:02. Zimmerman bounced back by pinning Sullivan’s Chloe Carson in 2:47. Zimmerman is 44-10 heading into the match with Lorenson.

Hannibal junior Riah Wigfall also reached the consolation quarterfinals. Wigfall, wrestling at 130 pounds, suffered a 22-5 technical fall to Lexington’s Elizabeth Hager in the opening round before scoring a 15-0 technical fall of Park Hills Central’s Kendra Baker and an 11-1 major decision over Adrian’s Libby Nebocat.

Wigfall (38-16) will face St. Charles West sophomore Arianna Augustyniak for a spot in the top six.

Four Palmyra boys saw their seasons end on Day 1 of the state tournament.

At 113 pounds, Palmyra freshman Blake Rife won his opening match before suffering a pair of losses. Rife earned a 14-5 major decision over St. Mary’s South Side sophomore Gabe Harrer before losing a 14-1 major decision to Trenton’s Jacob White.

In the wrestlebacks, Rife suffered a 9-1 loss to Bucklin’s Gavin Schreiner. Rife finished the season with a 35-16 record.

Palmyra sophomore Ace Harper went 1-2 at 285 pounds. Harper was pinned in 2:38 by Lone Jack’s Jax Cromwell in the opening round, then rebounded to pin LFL’s Mario Scott in 1:46. He was eliminated in the second round of wrestlebacks after suffering a 15-7 major decision to KIPP Academy’s Jabbar Granberry. Harper finished with a 31-18 record.

Panthers senior Luke Lawson lost both of his matches at 132, suffering a 10-0 major decision to Lone Jack’s Ty White and a 14-2 major decision to Fatima’s Logan Laux. Lawson finished with a 25-24 record.

Palmyra freshman Michael Hines was eliminated in the wrestlebacks at 138, getting pinned in 1:53 by Valle Catholic’s Conner Clanton in the opening round and in 3:15 in the first round of wrestlebacks by Warsaw’s Johrdan Decker. Hines finished with a 29-18 record.