​Aumua closes out high school career with third straight state title

by Michael Smith


COLUMBIA, Mo. -- It was an emotional ending to the stellar high school wrestling career for Grain Valley senior Sevreign Aumua.

Once again, she was in the finals of the 140-pound weight division and faced off against Washington senior Annalise Obermark in the Class 2 Girls Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships Saturday at Mizzou Arena.

Aumua was going through her third straight state championship had a little bit of a challenge on her hands.

At one point, Aumua and Obermark were tied at 2-all in the first period after Obermark got a reversal in the first period. However, the Eagle senior took the lead for good when she got an escape with 7 seconds left in the first to go up 3-2.

She then put it away in the second period after benefitting from a stalling call on Obermark for a point and a takedown to put herself up by four. In the third period, she rode out Obermark until the final 16 seconds in which her opponent got an escape. She hung on for the win and her third consecutive individual state championship.

Grain Valley ended up in 10th place as a team with 53 points.

After the match, Aumua formed the shape of a heart with both of her hands and held it up in the air as she faced the Grain Valley section of the crowd.

“I just wanted to show that I love all my supporters and all of my past coaches,” Aumua said. “My family, my teammates, and my friends … I wanted to show my appreciation for them.”

Back in the tunnel area of the arena, Aumua let the tears flow as she was speaking with head coach Donald Horner and senior Justin Deweese. It had just hit her that it was her final match as a Grain Valley Eagle and she ended her career on top.

“It hit me at the end,” Aumua said. “It doesn’t feel real until it’s your last match. It’s hard to take in and hard to realize I won state. I think this year was the toughest one (to win).”

Aumua said she plans on wrestling in college but does not know where yet. She’s has spoken with recruiters of some universities but is still weighing her options.

“I plan on visiting more colleges to see which one fits me,” Aumua said.

Her teammate, sophomore Jayden Moehle (235 pounds) made it to the finals of her bracket to face off against Northwest’s Abby Chandler. To get to that match, Moehle dominated by pinning her first three opponents in the first period, including previously unbeaten Clara Rathmann of Camdenton.

Moehle matched up with Northwest senior Abby Chandler in the finals. Moehle went for a shot, which was stopped and defended. Chandler floated over the top of Moehle for a takedown and used a power half nelson to turn Moehle and get a pin in 1:34.

After finishing fourth last season, Moehle was a runner-up.

“Overall, I thought I had a pretty good tournament,” Moehle said. “I was happy with how I wrestled up until the finals match. I wish I would have been more patient with my shots.”

With the graduation of Aumua following this season, Moehle said she hopes to be a part of the successful season for the 2024-25 Eagles.

“I really want more girls to join this program,” Moehle said. “I am really going to miss Sevi and Keya (Butler) because they were my biggest supporters. I want a bigger team and I want to kick it up this summer.”

Boys
Grain Valley sophomore Zac Bleess (120) was close to making the finals of his bracket as he held a 4-1 lead over Parkway South freshman Camron Duffield.

Bleess, however, was unable to get out from the bottom position in the second and third periods and Duffield made a comeback, with the sophomore Eagle falling 5-4.

In the consolation bracket, Bleess fell to Ft. Zumwalt North junior Nathaniel Provost 4-2, but bounced back to beat Columbia Hickman freshman Hogan Benter 96 to take fifth place.

“We are here to wrestle the best in the state, or what’s even the point?” Bleess said. “I am really glad to have that kind of competition. I think I am capable of more, but it is what it is.

“My neutral, I was fine, but on top and bottom – the mat wrestling – I am not quite there yet, but that’s OK.”

Senior Gavin Parks (126) finished his career with his second state medal of his career. He had to exit out of the fifth-place match with Jackson senior Landon Vassalli. He injured his should and had to be escorted to the tunnels with coaches and trainers after having to drop the match due to injury forfeit as he took sixth.

Photo credit: Clara Jaques