​Five Eagles wrestlers punch ticket to State

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News


The Grain Valley boys wrestling team repeated its success from the postseason from a year ago.

During the 2023-24 season, the Eagles qualified five wrestlers for the Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships. This season, history repeated itself.

Junior Zac Blees qualified for state for the third time, senior Colston Parks will make his second trip and senior Gavin Barker, along with juniors Tyler Jones and Justin King will make their first trips to the big tournament after all five placed fourth or higher in the Class 4 District 4 Tournament Saturday at Grain Valley High School.

The top four finishers in each weight class qualified for the state tournament. The Class 4 state tournament will begin Friday and will finish Saturday.

Jones (120 pounds) is a transfer from Lincoln College Prep and never made it to the state tournament as a Tiger, but this season, he broke through. In the bubble match of the consolation bracket, Jones pinned Fort Osage senior Kaiden Johnson in 2:35 to punch his ticket to Columbia.

He fell in the third-place match to No. 1 seed Parker Leverknight after getting pinned in the second period
and took fourth.

“This has been a long time coming,” Jones said. “I have been waiting for a long time for this. I didn’t start last year. I didn’t get it done at Lincoln Prep. I finally got the opportunity to shine and what I am made up.”

He said his match with Johnson was a tougher one since he had already wrestled him twice in the regular season.

“He knows what I want to do,” Jones said. “I want to double leg him. They train against us. At the end of the day, it came down to who had the most heart and who really wants it.”

King (126) had to win a thriller against Liberty North sophomore Noah Perez in his bubble match to make it to state. He went into overtime in that match and got a takedown to win 6-3. He fell in his consolation finals match to Liberty junior Cade Dunn after losing by fall in 2:02.

“This is my first-year wrestling varsity. I did everything I could to make it to state,” King said. “He took a shot in overtime, and I got my legs back, went around the corner and got behind him for the takedown.”

Senior Gavin Barker (215) fell in the consolation bracket last year after a disqualification against Lee’s Summit North’s Drew Grey. This season he faced a childhood friend and competitor Isaac Fields in the bubble match for a chance to qualify for state. Barker got a pair of takedowns and an escape to win 7-3. He fell in the consolation finals to Lee’s Summit North junior Barrett Lawless 13-4.

“He shows what it means to be a Grain Valley Eagle,” Bleess said of Barker. “He does the work in the practice room; he’s a great leader and he does the right things. Even after last year’s set back with the disqualification, he still fought and tried hard. He’s an awesome guy.”

Bleess (132) will make his third trip to state and will look for his third medal. He pinned his first three opponents, including a win by fall over Park Hill’s Kennan Beatty in the semifinals. In the finals, he faced off against No. 1-ranked Devon Harrison of Liberty and fell 17-2, taking second.

“Devon is the kid to beat for a reason,” Bleess said. “My focus right now is to take of business and beat the kids I know I can beat. I am excited. Hopefully there will be a rematch between me and him in the finals.”

Parks (138) also finished in second place, and he will make his second trip to Columbia. He won 15-8 against Rockhurst senior Kade Tholen to set up a match in the finals against Liberty freshman Ross Davis. Parks fell in that bout 15-5. 

Grain Valley junior Justin King will wrestle in the state tournament for the first time this weekend after finishing in fourth place in the 126-pound weight division during the Class 4 District 4 Tournament Saturday at Grain Valley High School. King won his bubble match 6-3 against Liberty North sophomore Noah Perez in overtime to qualify. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Grain Valley senior Colston Parks, middle, took second place in the 138-pound weight class after finishing 3-1 in the tournament. Photo credit: Michael Smith