“font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;”>One of the most anticipated matches of last weekend’s Missouri Class 4 state wrestling championships in “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;”>was the finals of the 285-pound class between Parkway South’s Donnell Walker and defending champion Evan Boehm of “font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;”>West.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Boehm had defeated Walker 4-2 in the state semifinals on his way to winning the state championship at the 2011 state championships.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Walker
provided a
different outcome last Saturday night as he pinned Boehm in
stunning fashion to win the state championship and earn a measure
of revenge in the process. Walker pinned Boehm in four minutes and
50 seconds to win his first state title and finish his senior year
with a 39-1 record.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The state title ended a great three-year run for Walker at the state tournament. He finished sixth as a sophomore and fifth as a junior to earn All-State medals. Now, he will conclude his career as a state champion.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Another first-time state champion was junior Chris Wilkes of Whitfield, who won the Class 1 state title at 126 pounds. Wilkes had an easy time in the finals as he defeated Troy Kyser of Knob Noster 18-6 in the state finals to finish the season with a 49-1 record.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Wilkes also sparked the Warriors to the Class 1 team title, which was their third state title in five years. Wilkes adds his state-championship medal to the two third-place medals he has earned in two previous trips to state.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>McCluer High’s Jon Cain and McCluer South-Berkeley’s John Williams earned state runners-up medals after advancing to the state finals. Cain placed second in the Class 3 meet at 220 pounds. He finished with a 37-3 record. Williams earned a second-place medal in the Class 2 tournament at 120 pounds. His only loss of the season came in the state championship match against Cody Hummer of Savannah.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>McCluer North’s Darrell Pampkin and Gordon Phillips earned All-State medals in the Class 4 state meet. Pampkin finished fourth at 126 pounds while Phillips finished sixth at 182.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Daniel Vaughn of Hazelwood West took home a fifth-place medal at 285 pounds in Class 4. In Class 3, Akintunde Odunleye of Hazelwood East finished sixth at 182.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>At the Illinois state championships in Bloomington, Mascoutah High senior Lavion Mayes made history by becoming the first individual state champion in the history of the school. Mayes defeated Cahokia’s Bernard Gantt 15-6 to win the Class 2A state title at 145-pounds.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Mayes finished the season with a 43-1 record. He defeated Gantt three times this season, including victories in the regional and sectional tournaments this month. Mayes finished third in the state tournament as a junior last year.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Junior Mech Spraggins of Belleville West finished fourth in the Class 3A state tournament at 126 pounds. Spraggins becomes the first wrestler in Belleville West history to win three consecutive state medals. He finished third in his two previous appearances at the state meet.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>David Frazier of Cahokia earned a state medal with a fourth place finish in Class 2A at 152 pounds. Kameron Harris of Belleville Althoff finished third in Class 1A at 182 pounds while Althoff teammate Michael Harris finished sixth at 126.
