Eagles dominate Blue Jays 64-15 in Suburban White Conference battle

by Michael Smith

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To say the Grain Valley wrestling team was dominant would be an understatement.
The Eagles hosted Suburban White Conference foe Raytown Wednesday at home and won 10 out of 12 contested matches as they cruised to a 64-15 victory.
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Both Grain Valley’s experienced wrestlers and newcomers mostly had strong performances. Three of the Eagles returning state qualifiers all won their matches, including senior Justin Deweese (165 pounds), who pinned Roman Butler in just 13 seconds with a cradle.

“I was just trying to get in and out real quick,” Deweese said. “That might be my fastest pin.”
Returning state medalists, sophomore Zac Bleess (120) and Gavin Parks (126) also had dominant wins. Bleess used a chicken wing to roll over Atilano Madrid to get a pin in 1:04 and Parks used a cradle to win by fall against Josiah Smith.

Grain Valley also had a pair of wrestlers with limited varsity experience get some big wins. Senior Camden Nelson (157) did not wrestle his junior year after competing at the junior varsity level as a sophomore. He’s returned to the team for the 2023-24 season and is beginning to make an impact for the Eagles.

On Wednesday, he used the barbwire technique to pin Edgar Orozco in 57 seconds.

“I came off a little quick and almost got a takedown,” Nelson said. “I slowed myself down and worked my moves and was able to get the win in the end,” Nelson said. “I pinned him with a barbed wire, which is one of my favorite moves. It puts them in a position where they can’t move at all.”

Grain Valley junior Trenton Rock (132) bounced between varsity and junior varsity during the 2022-23 campaign, but is now a full-time varsity competitor. He got an impressive win against one of Raytown’s better wrestlers as he pinned Kaseem Bedford in 2:52.

“I think I did well in neutral and I got that first shot off,” Rock said. “I started working on my double wrists and was able to turn him using that.”

Other Eagles to get victories were senior Ethan Jones (138), who used a waist lock to control Kalem Williamson and get a pin in 43 seconds; junior Colston Parks (113), who used a power half to turn David Ayala for a  fall in 1:39; freshman Sjoeren Aumua (144), who took a 10-0 major decision over Paul Wolken; senior Jace Worthington (190), who blocked a double underhook Supplex attempt from Sam Pilkington and countered it for a pin in 2:20; and junior Gavin Barker (215), who had a close match with Josiah Pilkington before getting a pin with four seconds left in regulation after being up 5-2.

“He was more of a defensive wrestler, so I was working on my offense,” Barker said. “When I kept on trying to get to my single (leg takedown), he kept on wiggling out of it, so I had to bail on the shot. I should have just went with it and took him down but I ended up getting it at the end. I used a outside head shot to get the pin.”
 
Girls
Junior Mackenzie Davis took care of business in the only contested match on the girls side.
Davis (125) overcame a 6-3 deficit due to a stalling call on her opponent, Ulalia Butler, and she got an escape and late takedown to earn a 7-6 decision, helping the Eagles take a 45-6 win as a team.

Val Bleess (110), Keya Butler (130), Camary Schmalzbach (135), Sevi Aumua (140), Addison Cross (145), Adalia Del Real (155) and Jayden Moehle (235) all won by forfeit for Grain Valley.

Grain Valley sophomore Zac Bleess goes for a chicken wing from the top position against Atilano Madrid in Wednesday's Suburban White Conference dual against Raytown Wednesday at home. Grain Valley won the dual 64-15 and Bleess pinned Madrid in the first period.
​Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley junior Trenton Rock runs though the tunnel as fireworks and smoke shoot out at his sides. Rock pinned his opponent, Kaseem Bedford, in the second period.
​Photo credit: Michael Smith