​Blees’s hard work leads to 100th career win, Eagles fall to Pirates 39-36

by Michael Smith
 
Grain Valley junior Zac Bleess has been the heart and soul of the Grain Valley boys wrestling team for the past three years.

Even when he came to the Eagles as a freshman, head coach Donald Horner said he knew he was going to be a major part of the team and was going to be a leader.

He came into the program with a lot of experience as he had been wrestling since he was in kindergarten.

Those traits played a factor in Bleess’ milestone he accomplished in a dual against Platte County Tuesday on the road.  While Grain Valley fell in a close dual with the Pirates, 39-36, the Eagles junior earned his 100th career victory after pinning Platte County freshman Ian Giess in the 132-pound weight class.

“It means a lot to me. It just shows the work I have put in the past couple of years,” Bleess said of the milestone. “It’s just another match. Nothing else matters aside from the district and state tournament. But it’s a reminder of what I have been doing the last couple of years and it motivates me to keep working.”

He credited senior Colston Parks for some of his success.

“Colston has been my lifelong partner,” Bleess said. “His dad was my first coach. Without them, I probably would have quit a long time ago.”

And head coach Donald Horner is glad he didn’t as Bleess has been an integral part of the Eagles.

“He did the right things, had the right attitude and worked his tail off (as a freshman),” Horner said. “He went to Fargo (Nationals) before he ever went to high school. Zac is the type of kid every coach wants on their team. He’s an amazing human being and is super coachable. The other guys want to follow him because he’s a good kid.”

Sophomore Sjoeren Aumua agreed.

“Zac is a leader and a role model for our team,” Aumua said.

Senior Gavin Barker (215 pounder) joined Bleess as one of seven Eagles to win a match. He dominated his match with Peter Tremain and won by fall in 52 seconds.

“I went to the double wrists to turn him over,” Barker said. “I kicked (his legs) over because I couldn’t get over with my arm. His hips went over really hard, so I just jumped over and got him to his back. I thought he was slipping so I hooked his head backward with my arm, posted out and got the pin.”

Aumua (150) chipped in with a win of his own as he controlled his match from start to finish, winning by fall in 3:20 over Isaiah Seymour.

“I thought I could have done better,” Aumua said. “I was not on my game. I couldn’t get to my attacks, but I was able to get wrist control.”

Also picking up wins for Grain Valley were freshman Brady Jones (113), who pinned Lennon Fitzpatrick in 1:11; Junior Justin King (126) defeated Hank Marriott 9-4; Parks (138), who pinned Jackson Woolsey in 2:54; and freshman Kobe Hughes (144) edged Grant Fadler.

Despite Grain Valley winning seven out of 12 contested matches, it was unable to pick up a Suburban White Conference win. The Eagles led the dual 36-33 going into the final bout, but junior Cole Johnson pinned Alec Fenstermaker (285) to give the Pirates the win.

Grain Valley was missing two wrestlers who are normally in the lineup. Junior Tyler Jones (120) didn’t make weight and senior Mason Bertrand (175) was out with a shoulder injury.

We didn’t have (a 190 pounder) but we can’t use that as an excused,” Bleess said. “It was a very winnable dual. I fully feel like we could have won by 10 or 15 points. We have some areas we need to work on, but I think we’ll get there.

Girls
The Grain Valley girls wrestling team had seven opens, which gave Platte County 42 free points. It was too big of a deficit to overcome as the Eagles fell 63-12.

​Junior Jayden Moehle (235) pinned Madeleine Stone in 4:30 and senior Adalia Del Real (155) won by forfeit.

The Grain Valley boys and girls wrestling team celebrate junior Zac Bleess' 100th career victory after a dual Tuesday at Platte County. Photo credit: Michael Smith