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McCluer North’s Woods, Spartans’ Brock Win State Wrestling Titles
BY JIM WIENERS
Two high school seniors concluded their wrestling seasons with Missouri State High School Activities Association championships crowned Feb. 17 at the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Mizzou Arena.
McCluer North senior Donald Woods wrapped up his prep mat career by winning the Class Four championship at 160 pounds. Woods became McCluer North’s 17th individual state champion and was 47-0, unofficially becoming McCluer North’s first undefeated state champion since Bruce Harris won at 189 in 1989.
In rout to his state title Woods defeated Charlie Lay, Columbia-Rock Bridge (11-5), Marcus Amato, Oak Park (5-3), Robbie Hicklin, Park Hill (3-2 in overtime) and Brad Dieckhaus, Francis Howell Central (3-2). Woods had defeated Dieckhaus, 5-2, in the District Two Championship Match, Feb. 10.
Hazelwood East senior Anthony Brock wrapped up his prep career by winning the Class Four championship at 189 pounds. Brock became Hazelwood East’s 20th individual state champion and had a 44-5 record for his title season. At state Brock defeated Aaron Childs, Oak Park (10-0), Daniel White, Joplin (12-3), Ben Pister, St. Joseph Central (5-2), and Kevin Knopf, McCluer North (5-2).
Meanwhile Knopf, a McCluer North junior who defeated Brock 7-6 in the District Two finals at 189, made his way to a second-place finish at state by defeating Bret Sanders, Liberty (8-4), Tommy Tuck, Fort Zumwalt West (11-5), and Jason Kingsolver, Lees Summit (6-4 in overtime). Knopf finished at 44-9.
Woods, Knopf and senior Ryan Hatten, sixth-place medallist at 285, helped McCluer North achieve a goal of finishing in the top 10 in state, a goal coach Abe Raziq mentioned Feb. 10 after the completion of the District Two meet where eight wrestlers qualified for state. McCluer North took eighth in state with 56.5 points, the only Suburban North Conference School to finish in the top 10. Oak Park (238) won their fourth straight state title, their third consecutive Class Four title since the MSHSAA went to four classes in 2005.
Brock and junior Dominique Thornton, sixth at 145, helped Hazelwood East, who sent four to state, by sharing 15th place with Eureka (34). Hazelwood Central, who sent seven to state, had only one state medallist, junior Terrell Smart at 140, and Central shared 20th (23) with Francis Howell and Troy Buchanan.
Pattonville, who shared 18th place (28) with Mehlville, had two medallists out of four qualifiers, seniors Nathan Fine (fifth at 145) and Mike Roush (fourth at 285). McCluer South-Berkeley, who sent sixth to Class Two State, ended up with one medallist, Anthony Smith (fifth at 135) and a 31st-place finish (16.5). Hazelwood West sent six to state but ended up with no medallists and a share of 33rd place (nine points) while Ritenour and Riverview Gardens each sent one wrestler and each only scored one point while sharing 44th place with two other schools.
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