​Eagles’ Barker nets first tournament win at Grain Valley Invitational

by Michael Smith
 

Grain Valley senior Gavin Barker hadn’t won a varsity wrestling tournament in his career leading up to the Grain Valley Invitational.
 
That changed Saturday as he came out on top in a defensive battle against Mexico’s Grant Walker 2-0 in the championship match to finish first in the 215-pound division at Grain Valley High School.
 
His victory helped the Eagles fifth with 112.5 points. Fort Osage took first with 159 points.
 
“I needed a lot of stamina in that match,” Barker said. “I dropped from 245 pounds, so that helped my stamina. I went on a diet; it was really strict. My stamina is a lot better from last year.”
 
Barker was a win away from qualifying for state last season as he was in the bubble match against Lee’s Summit North’s Drew Gray but he was disqualified. This season, he will have one final chance to qualify for the first time.
 
“My goal is to get to state and place,” Barker said. “I want to face harder people like (Walker). He was really good.”
 
In addition to Barker, Grain Valley had five other wrestlers finish in the top three of their divisions. Three of them were wrestlers who were wrestling at the varsity level for the first time. Freshman Brodie Davis (165) had a sparkling debut. He pinned his first two opponents to get up a championship match with Cy Wilmes. In that match, he fell 17-2 to take second place.
 
“I have to work a lot on neutral, I was pretty sloppy there,” Davis said. “Otherwise, I thought I fought hard on top and bottom. I just need to continue to keep improving before districts.”
 
Junior Chase Brenner (144) mirrored Davis’ varsity debut as he took second place, as well. He won his first match by pin and he topped Fort Osage’s Joseph Davis 8-5 in the semifinals to set up a final bout with Lee’s Summit West’s Jaxton Fetters, which he lost 11-3.
 
“I definitely need to work on setting up my offense better,” Brenner said. “I need to work on my shots more and my defense probably.”
 
Grain Valley junior Tyler Jones (120) had varsity experience coming into the season, but it was previously with Lincoln College Prep. He transferred to Grain Valley and had a solid debut. He finished 4-1 in the tournament and took third after he overcame a 6-2 deficit to pin Fort Osage’s Kaiden Johnson in the consolation finals.
 
“I tell myself I am not going to lose after being taken down,” Jones said. “I had been cramping in my arms and calves all day. The whole time, I wasn’t able to grip him like I wanted to. He’s long, so I couldn’t get around to his legs for takedowns. I knew if I could get him to take a bad shot, I could use my weight to my advantage.”
 
Junior Zac Bleess (132) and senior Colston Parkers (138) both finished third in their respective brackets, as well.

​Grain Valley junior Tyler Jones waits for the official to raise his hand after pinning Fort Osage's Kaiden Johnson in the consolation finals of the 120-pound weight class of the Grain Valley Invitational wrestling tournament Saturday. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley senior Colston Parks gets ready to pin Blue Springs South's Matt Thomas in the consolation finals of the 138-pound bracket. Photo credit: Michael Smith