​Aumua wins second Kansas City Stampede tournament

by Michael Smith

 
The Kansas City Stampede is a high school wrestling tournament many consider even more difficult to win than the Missouri state tournament.
 
That is because some of the best wrestlers from around the Midwest area and even other states come to the event to face some of the best competition available.
 
There were teams at the tournament this weekend from Georgia, Tennessee, Colorado, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Iowa, Alabama and Missouri.
 
Even against high-level competition, Grain Valley senior Sevi Aumua (140 pounds) dominated. She pinned all five of her opponents, including Columbia Rock Bridge senior Socorro Rodriguez in 1:52 during the championship match of her bracket, winning her second consecutive individual Stampede championship.
 
“This was definitely one of the more difficult tournaments I have had this season,” Aumua said.
 
Her teammate Jayden Moehle (235) also made it to the championship match but took second place after falling to Liberty’s Alexis Stinson.
 
As a team, Grain Valley placed 15th with 77 points. Nixa won with 219.
 
Aumua, who is the favorite to win her third straight state title in February, showed why she is one of the best wrestlers in the state over the weekend. Her toughest match came against Yukon, Oklahoma’s Trysten Rittberger in the semifinals, a match in which she got a pin in 5:18. Every other pin came in the first period.
 
“I think I did well on my movement and my shots,” Aumua said. “I stayed aggressive and when I was on top, I knew what I was going to go for.”
 
Moehle had pins in her first three matches before winning via an ultimate tiebreaker, 5-4, against Aaliyah Grammer of Lafayette Wildwood. She then fell to Stinson in the championship match, 6-3.
 
“I wrestled pretty good (in the semifinals),” Moehle said. “In (the championship match) I could have done better because I did a desperation dive on my shot. My shots are something that I have been working on.”
 
Sophomore Adalia Del Real (155) was another Eagle who placed in the top eight as she took eighth place after going 3-3 in the tournament.
 
On the boys side, Gavin Parks (126) and Sjoeren Aumua (144) had the most success for Grain Valley, both finishing with a 3-2 mark. No boys Eagles wrestlers placed in the top eight.

​Grain Valley senior Sevi Aumua pinned all five of her opponents to take first place at the Kansas City Stampede tournament in the girls 140-pound weight class. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley sophomore Jayden Moehle took second place in the 235-pound weight division. Photo credit: Michael Smith