Eagles top Blue Springs 52-27 on Senior Night

by Michael Smith
 
Grain Valley senior Gavin Parks sets high standards for himself.
 
He said his emotions got the best of him during the Grain Valley wrestling team’s Senior Night match against Blue Springs Wednesday at home.
 
Parks said he didn’t wrestle his best, but he still managed to get a third-period pin against freshman Jackson Paulsen. He was one of three seniors to earn wins in the Eagles’ 52-27 victory over Blue Springs.
 
The returning state medalist was up 10-2 against Paulsen before he was able to win by fall with just 5 seconds left in the match in the 126-pound bout.
 
“It was a big night,” Parks said. “I am going to get in the room and do better. I wasn’t proud of my performance. I am going to handle my business next time.”
 
Fellow senior Jace Worthington impressed in his first match of the season at 175 pounds. He got a quick takedown against freshman Kade Schmidli and used a wrist and a half to turn him and got a pin in the first period.
 
“I went out there and got the W. That’s what I wanted, but I am never satisfied,” Worthington said. “I feel like I executed my snatch single very, very well and when I was on top I executed my wrist and a half very well.”
 
Senior Ethan Jones (138 pounds), who is in his second year wrestling on the varsity squad, got an impressive win as he pinned senior Korbin Schmidli from the top position in the second period.
 
Jones said wrestling on Senior Night had a different feel to it than a normal match.
 
“There’s definitely a lot more momentum coming into this match,” Jones said. “It’s definitely something special. I had most of my family here. It was a bigger match for me personally but the team did well as a whole.”
 
Grain Valley head coach Donald Horner said he was proud of the way his seniors wrestled, including Camden Nelson, who fell by tech fall against Blue Springs senior Greg Dillon.
 
“Camden came back from two years of not wrestling and did well against a really tough opponent,” Horner said. “I couldn’t be happier for our seniors. They have helped build this program and are helping it in the right direction.”
 
Other Eagles to earn victories were freshman Sam Garrett (106) by forfeit, junior Colston Parks (113) by a first-period pin, sophomore Zac Bleess (120) by a first-period pin, freshman Sjoeren Aumua (145) by a first-period fall, sophomore Caine Nelson (150) by a second period pin and Gavin Barker (215) by a 15-5 major decision.
 
Girls
 
Grain Valley and Blue Springs split a pair of contested matches, but the Eagles had four forfeit wins as it took a 30-3 team victory.
 
Two-time state champion Sevi Aumua (145), a senior, pinned sophomore Ari Bartholomew in 39 seconds.
 
Juniors Adalia Del Real (155) and Mackenzie Davis (125), sophomore Jayden Moehle (235), and freshman Lucy Dampf (135) all won by forfeit for the Eagles.

​Grain Valley sophomore Caine Nelson gains control of his opponent, Grady Wooderson of Blue Springs as he went on to get a pin in the second period. Photo credit: Clara Jaques

Grain Valley senior Ethan Jones, top, went on to win by fall against Blue Springs senior Korbin Schmidli during his team's 52-27 victory Wednesday at home on Senior Night. Photo credit: Clara Jaques