​Experienced freshmen help Eagles boys wrestling trounce Northmen 54-18

by Michael Smith


The Grain Valley boys wrestling team had a solid mix of youth and experience.

The Eagles have six underclassmen and eight under classmen in their lineup, with the former including five freshmen.

Those freshmen had standout performances in Tuesday’s dual against Oak Park as four of the five freshmen picked up wins as Grain Valley cruised to a 54-18 victory at home.

It helps that many of the freshmen on the team have had previous wrestling experience at the youth level. Brody Davis (165 pounds) is one of those freshmen. He has wrestled since he was five years old. In his match against Cameron Broeker, his experience was apparent.

He had a takedown, a four-point near fall, and a reversal to earn a 9-0 major decision.

“Wrestling at the youth level really set me up for high school,” Davis said. “Going from youth to high school is different. You can be a dog at the youth level and be a state champion and still have a difficult time in high school. The opponents aren’t as easy as you think to beat.

“I think we can build a good team with all the incoming freshmen. We might have some ups in downs in between weight classes, but I think we will be successful in the next two to three years.”

Fellow freshman Kaeler Byrd (106) and Brady Jones (113) picked up impressive wins as well. Byrd began the season on the junior varsity squad before working his way to varsity. He showed he belonged as he got a quick takedown and pin of Calvin Watson in 1 minute and 11 seconds.

“I just had to work harder and get my weight up, so I can compete against bigger competition,” Byrd said. “I had a bad tournament recently, so I have to keep working and keep getting stronger.”

Jones, like Davis, is someone who came to the team with experience at the youth level. That’s helped him find success this season and he showed his experience in his match with Michael White. He had two takedowns, two near falls and an escape to earn a 15-0 tech fall in 2:28.

“I tried to pin him in the first period. I didn’t get it,” Jones said. “I think overall, I did well technique wise.”

Freshman Kobe Hughes (144) also had a big day as he earned six points by pinning Logan James in 3:12.

Other Eagles to pick up wins were junior Tyler Jones (120), who won by tech fall 19-4 over Giovanny Neale; Junior Zac Bleess (132), who used an armbar to turn Noah Boswell and get a pin in 1 minute; Senior Colston Parks (138), who pinned David Tolliver in 3:12; Junior Chase Brenner (150), who used a cradle to pin Julian Hergert in 1:29; Sophomore Brody Braa, who earned a 13-3 major decision over Charles Sipp; and Gavin Barker (215), who pinned Vance Salazar in 1:46.

Girls
The Grain Valley girls wrestling team started with five opens and Oak Park had two, so it had to overcome an 18-point deficit.

The Eagles did just that by winning five out of six contested matches to win 40-36.

Junior Jayden Moehle won the match that decided the dual as she pinned Cerina Woods in 1:26 after Grain Valley trailed 36-34.

“I feel like I stepped a little too far out at the beginning and I can always work to improve on my wrestling,” Moehle said. “I have also been working on other moves aside from my outside single (leg takedown). That has been my go-to move. My doubles were there, I just need to hit them.”

Sophomore Lucy Dampf (140) also earned a pivotal win to help her team overcome surrendering 30 points due to forfeits. She had a touch match against Diamond Keytue, but ended up pulling away in the third period as she took a 16-9 decision.

“I thought I did good,” Dampf said. “I just had to make sure I knew what I was doing. I have wrestled that girl before and lost. I knew what I needed to work on after the last match I had against her. It helped me do better in this match.

Others to win contested matches for the Eagles were sophomore Val Bleess (120), who pinned Aliyah Lowe in the third period; Senior Adalia Del Real (155), who pinned Bailee Wardlow in 2:21; and Evie Wyatt (170), who pinned Kaitlyn Willard in 2:37.

​Senior Mackenzie Davis (125) and sophomore Ceci Del Real (145) both won by forfeit for Grain Valley.

Grain Valley freshman Brody Davis (165), top, hooks in an armbar to score some back points against Oak Park's s Cameron Broeker in a 9-0 victory. Grain Valley won the dual 54-18. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Freshman Brady Jones (113), top, works from the top position to try and pin Oak Park's Michael White. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Senior Adalia Del Real (155) works to pin Bailee Wardlow. Photo credit: Michael Smith