Palmyra girls need overtime to dispatch Highland, will face South Shelby for district championship

Palmyra's Candra King shoots over a Highland defender during Wednesday night's Class 3 District 6 semifinal in Monroe City, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — A 13-point halftime lead evaporated, forcing the second-seeded Palmyra girls basketball team to show some serious resolve in order to keep its season on the rails. The youthful Panthers played with poise when it mattered. Highland’s Ansley Bringer hit a 3-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation to force overtime, but…

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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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Photo gallery: Palmyra wrestlers compete in Class 1 state championships at Mizzou Arena

Palmyra’s Collin Arch wrestles Mid-Buchanan’s Clayton Rotterman during the quarterfinals at 138 pounds in the Class 1 state championships Friday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Hannibal-based photographer Mathew Kirby is spending his weekend shooting the Missouri state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena. Here are some of his images of Palmyra’s contingent of wrestlers:

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Missouri state wrestling: Seven wrestlers stay in contention after first day at Mizzou Arena

Hannibal senior Trevor Wilson takes down and eventually pins Clayton’s Dempsey Brinkman their 170-pound opening-round match at the Missouri state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

COLUMBIA, Mo. — It nearly turned out to be a perfect day for area wrestlers at the Missouri state championships Thursday. Six of the seven wrestlers from Hannibal and Palmyra won their opening-round match, and all seven remain alive heading into the second day of competition at Mizzou Arena. The two reigning state champions —…

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JWCC Show-Me Spotlight: Hannibal and Palmyra wrestlers chasing podium dreams at state tourney

Palmyra wrestler Collin Arch, right, will be chasing his third straight state championship this weekend at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. Matt Schuckman photo

The Show-Me Spotlight will appear each week to highlight Missouri area student-athletes. COLUMBIA, Mo. — For Collin Arch and Trevor Wilson, the goal is to repeat. For the rest of the area wrestlers competing this weekend at the Missouri state wrestling tournament, the goal is to join them on the podium. Arch, the Palmyra junior…

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Palmyra girls weather first-half storm, Monroe City boys take control early in CCC victories

Palmyra’s Alex Loman, left, looks to throw a pass around Monroe City’s Josiah Talton during Tuesday night’s game in Monroe City, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Monroe City girls basketball team had everyone thinking upset. The Palmyra boys never got that chance. In a Clarence Cannon Conference showcase doubleheader Tuesday, the two teams either state ranked or in that conversation walked away with victories, albeit in decidedly different manners. Outscored 16-4 in the first quarter and…

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QND Invitational: Palmyra’s Arch hits century mark during quest for championship

Palmyra junior Collin Arch, right, has his hand raised after winning the 138-pound championship match Saturday at the QND Invitational at the Pit. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Collin Arch knew a milestone was imminent, but the Palmyra junior wrestler didn’t allow it to alter his mindset or approach. His demeanor didn’t change either. After recording his 100th career victory in the 138-pound semifinals of Saturday’s Quincy Notre Dame Invitational at the Pit with a 15-0 technical fall of Chatham Glenwood’s…

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QND Invitational: Triplett wins with toughness, Belshaw likes challenge and Central could be regional threat

Palmyra's Luke Triplett, right, throws Chatham Glenwood's Jaidyn Lee to his back during the 220-pound championship match Saturday at the QND Invitational. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Luke Triplett questioned the toughness of his Illinois counterparts Saturday. “I didn’t know they were softer on this side of the river,” the Palmyra wrestler said with a smile after his semifinal match in the Quincy Notre Dame Invitational at the Pit. It turns out no one was as tough as him, certainly…

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QHS, Central, Palmyra wrestlers ready to vie for championships at Quincy Invitational

Quincy High School had five wrestlers finish undefeated in Friday night's action in pool format and position themselves to challenge for individual championships Saturday during the Quincy Invitational at the QHS gym. Photo courtesy Libby Phelps, Quippi staff

QUINCY — Weather may have altered the brackets and forced some teams to decline making the trip to compete in the Quincy Invitational, but Friday night’s opening rounds of the long-time wrestling tournament showed the cream always rises to the top. Quincy High School had five wrestlers go unbeaten during Friday’s action, while Central had…

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Bozarth’s bucket ignites game-changing run for QND boys in victory over Palmyra

Palmyra's Alex Loman, left, gets trapped by Quincy Notre Dame's Jake Wallingford, center, and Jake Hoyt during Tuesday night's game at the Pit. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Blake Bozarth’s teammates have seen his aggressive side in practice. And they know he’s more than just a spot-up 3-point shooter. “Most games, he doesn’t find the opportunity to attack off the dribble,” Quincy Notre Dame junior point guard Jake Hoyt said. “When he does, he’s pretty good at it.” Bozarth was effective…

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QND girls use experience to fend off Palmyra’s youthful, talented squad

Quincy Notre Dame's Haley Schertel, center, drives the left baseline and scores before either Palmyra's Taytum White, left, or Candra King can cut her off during Tuesday night's game at the Pit. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The edge in experience led to his team’s 60-32 victory Tuesday night at the Pit, but Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne took note of the abundance of young talent Palmyra put on the floor. It’s a reason for trepidation in the years to come. “They’re going to be a load,”…

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Monroe City’s Pennewell named Class 1’s Defensive Player of the Year by MOFBCA

Monroe City linebacker Ceaton Pennewell (24), running back Joshua Talton (11) and quarterback Kyle Hays (9) received all-state honors from the Missouri Football Coaches Association. Photo courtesy Tom Davis

MONROE CITY, Mo. — Ceaton Pennewell was named the Class 1 Defensive Player of the Year by the Missouri Football Coaches Association and led a collection of area players receiving all-state honors at the small-school level. The Monroe City junior linebacker was a first-team all-state selection and one of five Panthers to receive plaudits. Overall,…

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Jammin’ jamborees help get Missouri squads ready for season openers

Palmyra’s Nolyn Richards spins out of the arms of Hannibal’s Brady Zimmerman during the Hannibal Jamboree on Friday at Porter Stadium. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

It’s beginning to feel a lot like football season, everywhere we go. The Pirates are first and 10, the Panthers are popping again and the coaches are yelling go, go, go. It’s beginning to feel a lot like football season, kids are back in school. And the prettiest sight you’ll see is a running back…

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