Tiger grapplers fare well at districts

Nevada High School qualified four wrestlers for the state tournament this weekend. From left: Slade Stiles, Tanner Charles, Scotty Bough and Todd Brier. --Steve Brier/Special to the Daily Mail

"Pretty good weekend." A very pleased Nevada High School wrestling coach Devin White came back from the Class 2 District 3 tournament Friday and Saturday with a lot to be happy about.

Four wrestlers -- twice as many as last season -- brought home top-four finishes and earned a trip to the state tournament. First-time qualifiers Scotty Bough and Slade Stiles joined repeat qualifiers Todd Brier and Tanner Charles for a trip to this year's big stage at Mizzou Arena.

Dominic Habjan and Zach Shepherd both came close to making it six qualifiers for the Tigers, but ultimately fell just short, losing one match before the medal rounds. Despite their short roster, the Tigers fared well as a team, taking seventh place overall with an overall team score of 96 points.

Pleasant Hill won the tournament with an overall score of 142, followed by Reeds Spring at 139, Odessa with 138, Bolivar with 130.5 and Harrisonville with 118.

Stiles and Charles both shared the best performance of the tournament for the Tigers as they each took first place in their respective brackets while Bough and Brier both took third. The state tournament will be held at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo., this Thursday through Saturday.