‘I’m overcome with happiness and joy’: Hannibal wrestlers win Class 3 state championship

The Hannibal wrestlers celebrate winning the Class 3 state championship — the first fior any Hannibal boys athletic program in nearly a century — on Saturday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. | Photo courtesy Ron Rigdon, Cheap Seats Photography

COLUMBIA, Mo. — A perfect day with a perfect ending. A perfect place in history accompanied it, too. That’s what the Hannibal wrestling team earned Saturday. The Pirates had eight grapplers earn individual medals — three won championships — at the Class 3 state tournament at Mizzou Arena, enabling them to pile up an insurmountable…

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Depth of Hannibal lineup shows as Pirates navigate wrestlebacks to win state medals

Hannibal senior Reign Creech finished fifth at 120 pounds in the Class 3 state tournament Saturday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. | Photo courtesy Lisa Rigdon, Cheap Seats Photography

COLUMBIA, Mo. — To win the Class 3 state championship, the Hannibal wrestling team needed more than its three individual titleists to separate itself from the field. That’s where the depth in the Pirates’ lineup paid off. Senior Koen Ramage finished second at 157 pounds and four others navigated the wrestlebacks to reach the podium…

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Blue is the better Devil: Quincy’s defense turns tide in victory over Chaminade in Norm Stewart Classic

Quincy High School junior guard Bradley Longcor III goes back up for a shot after grabbing an offensive rebound during Saturday night's game against Chaminade in the Norm Stewart Classic at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. | Photo courtesy J Thomas Taylor

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The environment, with the cavernous shooting backgrounds and the legendary coach for whom the Mizzou Arena court is named sitting nearby, did little to impact the Quincy High School boys basketball team. Chaminade’s physicality took care of that on its own. “The toughness level was at a level we hadn’t seen this…

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‘There’s no better feeling’: Palmyra’s Arch captures third consecutive state championship

Palmyra’s Collin Arch wrestles Trenton’s Hunter McAtee in the Class 1 138-pound championship match Saturday night in the Missouri state tournament at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The reaction was muted. That’s how Collin Arch wants it. He’s workmanlike in his approach to wrestling, a hard hat and lunch pail kind of guy. So when he capped third consecutive undefeated high school season with his third straight state championship Saturday night at Mizzou Arena, the Palmyra junior grappler was…

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Wilson’s chance to repeat as wrestling state champ is denied, four Pirates bring home medals

Hannibal’s Trevor Wilson, right, wrestles Neosho’s Eli Zar during the Class 3 170-pound state championship match Saturday night at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Neosho wrestler Eli Zar denied Hannibal’s Trevor Wilson a spot in history. Zar used a late takedown in the third period to cement a 7-2 victory in the Class 3 170-pound state championship match Saturday night at Mizzou Arena, ruining Wilson’s chance to repeat as the state champion. Wilson won his first…

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Missouri state wrestling: Palmyra’s Arch, Hannibal’s Wilson reach championship matches

Palmyra’s Collin Arch works to pin Brookfield’s Devan Pam during the 138-pound semifinal match Friday night during the Class 1 state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Collin Arch’s mission to be one of the greatest high school wrestlers in Missouri history remains on course. Trevor Wilson’s pursuit of being one of Hannibal’s greatest grapplers ever is on task, too. Saturday, they both hope to enjoy another crowning moment. Arch, the Palmyra junior wrestling at 138 pounds, advanced to…

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