It was a day of redemption and brotherly love at last weekend’s Missouri State High School Activities Association State Wrestling Championships in Columbia.
Top area wrestlers Demarco Kemp of University City and brothers Terrel and Brandon Wilbourn brought home individual state championships. Kemp won the Class 3 state championship at 285 pounds. Brandon Wilbourn won the Class 4 state title at 152 pounds while younger brother Terrel Wilbourn won the Class 4 state title at 130 pounds. The Wilbourns also helped Francis Howell Central win a third-place trophy in the team standings.
For Kemp and Brandon Wilbourn, winning state titles proved to be a great example of persistence as they closed their brilliant careers on top. Both athletes had experienced great disappointment during their past two state tournament appearances in which state championships eluded their grasp.
Kemp was the state runner-up in 2008 and 2009 after losing both championship matches 2-1 in heartbreaking overtime fashion. This time, Kemp emerged as the victor as he defeated Trey Grovenor of Cape Girardeau Central 3-2 in the finals to finish his season with a perfect 50-0 record. Kemp edged George McKinney of Neosho 2-1 in the semifinals. In the first two rounds, he pinned Joshua Carlyle of Sikeston and Austin Donnelly of Ozark.
Brandon Wilbourn defeated Gateway Athletic Conference rival Jeff Shell 5-3 to win the championship. Wilbourn could have easily been a three-time state champion, but injuries suffered at the state meet put a halt to his state-championship dreams over the past two years. As a sophomore, Wilbourn suffered an injury while winning the state title match, so he had to settle for second place.
He was not going to be denied this year as he closed out the season with a 52-1 record. Wilbourn won his first two matches by fall before defeating GAC rival Trevor Wiest of Fort Zumwalt West 3-0 in the semifinals.
It was the second consecutive state title for Brandon Wilbourn who won the championship at 112 pounds last year as a sophomore. The standout junior had a relatively easy time in repeating as a state champion. He defeated Russell Coleman of Park Hill by majority decision, 14-6, in the finals. In the semifinals, he scored another major majority (12-4) decision over Spencer Courier of Lee’s Summit. He pinned Casey Gore of Wentzville Holt in the first round and Gage Shaddox of Liberty 13-2 in the quarterfinals.
Several other area wrestlers brought home individual state medals after placing in the top six last weekend. Antoine White of Hazelwood West finished fifth at 112 pounds in the Class 4 meet. Shawn Williams of Ritenour finished sixth at 119 pounds while Willie Essex of McCluer North finished fourth at 125. Kirkwood High’s Marcus Brownlee finished as a runner-up at 160 while Meldrick Woods of Hazelwood East finished third at 160.
Julian Smith of Hazelwood Central finished third at 215 pounds after finished second last year as a junior. Smith finished the season with a 46-1 record. Sophomore Donnell Wallace of Parkway South finished fifth at 285 pounds.
In Class 2, Marshon Eddings of McCluer South-Berkeley finished sixth at 189 pounds. In Class 2, Marquis West of Trinity finished third at 119 pounds while Chris Wilkes of Whitfield was third at 112.
