By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
INDEPENDENCE - Cameron senior Camren Hedgpath was paired with a wrestler in the 285-pound championship match who had beaten him twice before - sophomore Caleb Groff (31-3) of Oak Grove.
After falling behind 1-0 after two periods, Hedgpath had an escape, a takedown and benefited from a clasp penalty called on his opponent to come away with a 4-2 win in the heavyweight title match at the Class 2 state wrestling meet in Independence.
Hedgpath ends his senior year with a 49-4 record and a gold medal after placing sixth at 195 the year before.
He ended up being one of five Dragons to medal on Thursday.
"I'm extremely proud of how the team showed out and I'm extremely proud of myself, honestly," Hedgpath said. "I knew it was going to be tough. I was always had the dream of being a state champ, and I finally got one."
Cameron finished fifth as a team with 88.5 points. The Dragons had three competitors in title matches. At 113, sophomore Caleb Husch lost his first place bout to defending state champion Sam Ewing of Pleasant Hill in an 11-0 major decision.
Husch, who placed 5th at 106 as a freshman, ended his sophomore year with a 47-4 record and a silver medal.
In the 120-pound bracket, junior Ryker Smith faced off against undefeated Jack Lage of Helias Catholic, and Lage won the match in a 4-2 decision. Smith concluded his junior year with a 48-2 record.
At 138, Cameron’s Brecken Gates comes home 6th, ending his junior year at 29-10. Gates medaled 5th at 132 last year.
At 195, Cameron’s Keegan Reynolds was pinned in his final match and comes home 6th. He ends his senior year at 50-8.
Benton's Tyler Murphy wins fourth career state medal
After finishing fifth once and runner-up twice, Benton senior Tyler Murphy was looking to add a gold medal to his impressive arsenal.
After an 8-0 major decision win in his quarterfinal match, Murphy lost to senior and eventual state champion Kade Willis of Central Park Hills 12-5 in semis.
Facing defending state champion Owen Uhls of Fulton in the third place medal match, Murphy lost a hard fought battle there, 6-3.
Maybe not the ending he wanted, but the Central Missouri wrestling signee is one of just three Benton wrestlers to medal at state all four years.
"I mean, I would love to have a championship title under my belt," he said, "but four different medals is a good go-around for me."
Murphy ends his senior season with a 24-3 record.
Lafayette's Jay Greiner wins another silver medal as a sophomore
After getting runner-up as a freshman at 145 last year, Lafayette St. Joseph sophomore Jay Greiner matured a year and moved up four weight classes in the meantime.
He got himself back into the title match at state, but fell 8-2 to junior Ethan Umfleet of Monett, who had placed third at 160 the year before.
Having already amassed two silver medals and over 100 career wins, Greiner is grateful for another successful season and state meet.
"I think it was really great and really fun," Greiner said optimistically. "I had a lot of good matches. I was a little gassed in the first match, and had a really good second match. Third one was good as well. Very fun."
Greiner won quarterfinals 20-14, and then held on for a 6-4 decision in semis. He ends his sophomore year with a 52-2 record.
Other area wrestlers who medaled Thursday
106
Savannah’s Gage Schottel comes home 6th. He ends his sophomore year at 33-5.
113
Savannah’s Bryson Damgar comes home 4th, ending his sophomore campaign at 29-15.
195
Maryville’s Keiren Watkins was pinned in semis and his 3rd place match, so he ends his career with a 4th place medal and a 39-6 record in his senior year.
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