Charles, Shepherd lead Nevada wrestling at Seneca

Monday, January 30, 2012
Nevada's Tanner Charles won the 126-pound bracket at Seneca. submitted photos

Charles, Shepherd lead Nevada wrestling team at Seneca tournament

Nevada Daily Mail

SENECA -- Tanner Charles and Zach Shepherd won individual titles for the Nevada High School wrestling team at the Seneca Tournament on Saturday.

Nevada's Zach Shepherd won his bracket at the Seneca tourney.

A senior, Charles won the title at 126 pounds, beating Andy Wasson of Seneca by fall in the championship match. Charles is now 42-1 on the season.

Charles earned byes in the first two rounds and then defeated Jacob Dalton of McDonald County 5-4. Before the title match Charles earned pins over Remi Renfro of Diamond, Brooke Williams of Neosho JV, Colton Crowder of Carl Junction and then Jason Box of Neosho JV in the semifinals.

Also a senior, Shepherd won the title match at 145 with an 11-5 decision over McDonald County's Cody Priebe. Shepherd improved to 43-4 this season.

Shepherd won his first four matches by fall, pinning Juan Franco of Neosho JV, Tyler Bower of Diamond, Brad Thomas of Blair Oaks and Jake Truelove of Seneca JV. Shepherd beat Nick Mulcahy of Rogers by major decision, 12-1, before pinning Colton Stewart of Rogers in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Shepherd earned a 7-4 decision over Seneca's Bryce Byrne.

Next, Nevada's Slade Stiles was the runner-up at 113. In a showdown of the top two ranked wrestlers in Class 2, Seneca freshman Will Roark defeated Stiles 6-4 in overtime in the title match. A junior, Stiles is now 47-2.

After receiving a bye in the first round, Stiles won his next five matches by fall. He pinned Lane Reid of Clinton, Alex Gaydos of Blair Oaks, Keaton Weber of Mac County, Blake Barth of Carl Junction and Ricky Rodriquez of Rogers. In the semis, Stiles earned a tech fall victory over Weber of Mac County. Before the tourney, Stiles was ranked first in the division, with Roark second. The title bout was tied in OT when Roark scored a takedown.

Next, Nevada had several other wrestlers finish in the top five at the tourney.

At 152, Dalton Shunkwiler won the fifth place match by fall against Trevor Metheny of Rogers Heritage. Austin Huggins won the fifth place match at 160 with a 9-8 decision over Terry Woolwine of Mac County. Lucas Denman won the fifth place match at 182 by pinning Tyler Rivas of Clinton. Colby Smith was fifth at 195 after a win by fall over John Karsten of Blair Oaks.

Others who competed at the tourney for Devin White's Tigers were Daxtyn Osburn (ninth at 120), Kyle Bennett (ninth at 138), and Levi Wilson (seventh at 220).

Nevada finished seventh in the team standings. Host Seneca won the 49th annual event.

The Tigers host Carl Junction on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

People's Bank of Seneca tourney

Team scores: 1. Seneca 381.5, 2. McDonald County 365, 3. Blair Oaks 332.5, 4. Carl Junction 330, 5. Rogers 257.5, 6. Neosho JV 249.5, 7. Nevada 246.5, 8. Clinton 238.5, 9. Diamond 167.5, 10. Rogers-Heritage 124, 11. Jeff City 88, 12. Seneca JV 88, 13. Neosho JV2 27, 14. Diamond JV 16, 15. Rogers-Heritage JV 16, 16. Mac County JV 3.5, 17. Jeff City Jays JV 2.

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