Panthers finish fourth at districts, send six grapplers to state wrestling championships

VERSAILLES, Mo. — The Palmyra boys wrestling team is sending six grapplers to the Class 1 state championships after finishing fourth as a team at the Class 1 District 3 tournament at Versailles High School last Saturday.

The state tournament begins Wednesday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

Palmyra senior Brayden Pillars powered his way to the title match at 165, winning three straight matches in dominant fashion. He pinned Carrollton’s Easton Freeman in 57 seconds, scored a 16-2 technical fall over Brookfield’s Jaden Kyle and pinned Tipton’s Paxton Pile in 3:29.

In the championship match, Pillars suffered a 22-5 technical fall to Centralia’s Rex Bryson. Pillars carries a 44-4 record to state.

Panthers freshman Blake Rife won a pair of decisions to reach the title match at 113 pounds, earning a 4-3 decision over Macon’s Avery Young and securing a 14-5 major decision over Marceline’s Gavin Schreiner. Rife was pinned by Centralia’s Waylon Adkisson in 28 seconds in the title match. Rife will take a 34-14 record to state.

Palmyra freshman Emmett Lorenson dominated his first three matches and lost a nail-biter in the 120-pound championship. He scored a 16-1 technical fall over Lexington’s Justice McComas before pinning Tipton’s James Kuttenkuler in 30 seconds and Marceline’s Dane Phillips in 3:02.

Lorenson lost a 7-5 decision to Versailles’ Brandon Brewer in the title match and sits with a 36-10 record.

Panthers sophomore Ace Harper took third at 285, losing in the semifinals but responding with a pair of wins in the consolation bracket. Harper earned a 4-1 decision over Versailles’ Ryan Simpson and pinned Marceline’s Broc Cordray in 1:26 in the third-place match. Harper is 30-16 overall.

Palmyra senior Luke Lawson took fourth at 132, winning twice by pinfall before getting pinned in 32 seconds in the third-place match by Brookfield’s Ryder Techau. Lawson is 25-22.

Panthers freshman Michael Hines finished fourth at 138, winning three straight in the wrestlebacks — two by technical fall and one by pin — before suffering a 16-0 technical fall to Tipton’s Dalton Doss in the third-place match. Hines is 29-16.