BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Three Cassville wrestlers swept their way to gold medals at the Big 8 Conference Tournament on Saturday, with only one of 12 matches going the distance and all 11 others ending in pins.

The Wildcats had three medalists out of 12 competitors: Riley James at 150 pounds, Tristan Thompson at 157 pounds and Colton Roark at 165 pounds.

As a team, the Wildcats took fourth place with 235 points. Seneca won the event with 385 points, McDonald County was second with 328, and Marshfield was third with 306.

Nathan Fortner, Cassville wrestling coach, said it was exciting and entertaining to watch his trio work through their pools.

“Riley got a tough win in the final,” Fortner said. “It was the second time he’d wrestled that kid, and the last time went to an ultimate tiebreaker. This time, he got away and got a point in the last 30 seconds to get the win. We’ll see that same kid at districts again.

“The finals were really fun to watch. Riley won, then Tristan and Colton pinned their opponents quickly. Colt was in a pretty tough bracket and ran through it well. He has two tough opponents at his weight, who are also in our district, and he pinned them both.”

Beyond the back-to-back-to-back golds, Fortner said the young Wildcats may have succumbed to nerves in difficult moments.

“Some underclassmen struggled and dropped a couple matches they could’ve won,” Fortner said. “Kaleb [Artherton] beat the kid who took second, but because he took fifth because of an early loss in pool play. Our heavy, [Ethan Sizemore], was also thrown for a loop because he just had a bad day. But, that could be the best thing for him. He has a chance to qualify for state, and I hope this motivates him.”

Cassville is in Class 2, District 3 with 15 other districts. The tournament will be hosted by Eldon High School Feb. 16-17.

“The three who won conference have a really good shot to get to state, and Kaleb and Ethan have an outside chance,” Fortner said. “It’s a really tough district, and you never know what will happen.”

Full Big 8 Conference Tournament results include:

106: Kaleb Artherton (22-8) placed 5th and scored 19.5 team points.

• Round 1 – Kaleb Artherton (Cassville) 22-8 won by fall over Ryan Southern (Hollister) 4-12 (Fall 0:17)

• Round 4 – Adam Bogart (McDonald County) 17-16 won by decision over Kaleb Artherton (Cassville) 22-8 (Dec 13-6)

• Round 5 – Kaleb Artherton (Cassville) 22-8 won by decision over Brody Zimmerman (Logan-Rogersville) 12-9 (Dec 12-6)

• 5th Place Match – Kaleb Artherton (Cassville) 22-8 won by tech fall over Mason Neil (Nevada) 17-18 (TF-1.5 4:33 (15-0))

113: Rylen Holman (9-22) placed 6th and scored 10.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Aidan Branch (Monett) 14-9 won by fall over Rylen Holman (Cassville) 9-22 (Fall 1:46)

• Round 3 – Rylen Holman (Cassville) 9-22 won by decision over Cole Escobar (Hollister) 11-12 (Dec 6-5)

• Round 4 – Zion Hibbert (Logan-Rogersville) 25-2 won by tech fall over Rylen Holman (Cassville) 9-22 (TF-1.5 2:00 (16-1))

• 5th Place Match – Eberson Perez (McDonald County) 15-13 won by major decision over Rylen Holman (Cassville) 9-22 (MD 14-4)

120: Bradley Stumpff (20-16) placed 5th and scored 17.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Simon Hartline (Monett) 27-1 won by fall over Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) 20-16 (Fall 2:39)

• Round 2 – Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) 20-16 won by fall over Kayden Shepherd (Nevada) 24-12 (Fall 0:22)

• Round 4 – Beau Reyes (Marshfield) 20-10 won by fall over Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) 20-16 (Fall 5:11)

• 5th Place Match – Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) 20-16 won by major decision over Izaiah Watkins (Logan-Rogersville) 11-16 (MD 11-2)

126: Kole Fry (11-21) placed 7th and scored 6.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Brant Laughlin (Seneca) 29-3 won by fall over Kole Fry (Cassville) 11-21 (Fall 1:40)

• Round 2 – Mac Mohnen (Marshfield) 23-12 won by fall over Kole Fry (Cassville) 11-21 (Fall 0:49)

• Round 3 – Trenton Sanders (Hollister) 9-12 won by fall over Kole Fry (Cassville) 11-21 (Fall 0:52)

132: Jaret Hinson (23-12) placed 5th and scored 17.5 team points.

• Round 1 – Eli Manley (Seneca) 23-7 won by fall over Jaret Hinson (Cassville) 23-12 (Fall 3:06)

• Round 2 – Takoda Gritts (Marshfield) 22-11 won by fall over Jaret Hinson (Cassville) 23-12 (Fall 1:21)

• Round 4 – Jaret Hinson (Cassville) 23-12 won by tech fall over Miles Hodges (Reeds Spring) 13-19 (TF-1.5 4:26 (16-0))

• 5th Place Match – Jaret Hinson (Cassville) 23-12 won by fall over Corbin Neil (Nevada) 9-15 (Fall 2:13)

138: Jonathan Lopez (5-7) placed 9th and scored 3.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Rowen Homburg (Logan-Rogersville) 13-12 won by fall over Jonathan Lopez (Cassville) 5-7 (Fall 2:25)

• Round 2 – Chad McKinley (Nevada) 9-19 won by fall over Jonathan Lopez (Cassville) 5-7 (Fall 2:59)

• Round 3 – Chris Spears (Monett) 13-22 won by fall over Jonathan Lopez (Cassville) 5-7 (Fall 1:49)

• Round 5 – MJ Gritts (Marshfield) 33-2 won by fall over Jonathan Lopez (Cassville) 5-7 (Fall 3:11)

• 9th Place Match – Jonathan Lopez (Cassville) 5-7 won by fall over Gage Harris (Hollister) 1-22 (Fall 0:17)

144: Mason Rillstone (5-13) placed 8th and scored 3.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Tanner Davidson (Marshfield) 30-4 won by fall over Mason Rillstone (Cassville) 5-13 (Fall 2:38)

• Round 3 – Bryson Whitman (Hollister) 18-2 won by fall over Mason Rillstone (Cassville) 5-13 (Fall 0:20)

• Round 5 – Anthony Ocampo (McDonald County) 14-10 won by fall over Mason Rillstone (Cassville) 5-13 (Fall 3:23)

• 7th Place Match – Brayden Morgan (Nevada) 10-10 won by decision over Mason Rillstone (Cassville) 5-13 (Dec 5-2)

150: Riley James (35-3) placed 1st and scored 41.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Riley James (Cassville) 35-3 won by fall over Anthony Macrelli (Marshfield) 16-15 (Fall 0:55)

• Round 4 – Riley James (Cassville) 35-3 won by fall over Caymen Cornelison (Aurora) 12-16 (Fall 0:53)

• Round 5 – Riley James (Cassville) 35-3 won by fall over Daniel Settles (Reeds Spring) 16-12 (Fall 2:46)

• 1st Place Match – Riley James (Cassville) 35-3 won by decision over Jackson Snider (Logan-Rogersville) 18-7 (Dec 5-4)

157: Tristan Thompson (35-2) placed 1st and scored 45.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Tristan Thompson (Cassville) 35-2 won by fall over Aidrik White (Logan-Rogersville) 3-23 (Fall 1:38)

• Round 2 – Tristan Thompson (Cassville) 35-2 won by fall over Zachary `Zach` Preston (Reeds Spring) 22-14 (Fall 4:52)

• Round 4 – Tristan Thompson (Cassville) 35-2 won by fall over Henry Reed (Monett) 12-11 (Fall 2:27)

• Round 5 – Tristan Thompson (Cassville) 35-2 won by fall over Leo Soas (McDonald County) 17-13 (Fall 0:26)

• 1st Place Match – Tristan Thompson (Cassville) 35-2 won by fall over Kason Clark (Nevada) 20-9 (Fall 1:19)

165: Colton Roark (28-3) placed 1st and scored 41.0 team points.

• Round 2 – Colton Roark (Cassville) 28-3 won by fall over Ezekiel Norris (Hollister) 1-16 (Fall 2:07)

• Round 5 – Colton Roark (Cassville) 28-3 won by fall over Henry Campbell (Nevada) 22-7 (Fall 0:51)

• 1st Place Match – Colton Roark (Cassville) 28-3 won by fall over Levi Fuller (Marshfield) 30-6 (Fall 0:50)

215: Jesse James (21-15) placed 4th and scored 22.0 team points.

• Round 1 – Jesse James (Cassville) 21-15 won by fall over Bradley Smith (Hollister) 2-12 (Fall 1:16)

• Round 2 – Sebastian Michaud (Reeds Spring) 28-7 won by decision over Jesse James (Cassville) 21-15 (Dec 14-7)

• Round 3 – Jesse James (Cassville) 21-15 won by fall over Isaac Campbell (Nevada) 17-14 (Fall 0:57)

• 3rd Place Match – Peyton Woolman (Marshfield) 21-12 won by fall over Jesse James (Cassville) 21-15 (Fall 2:15)

285: Ethan Sizemore (20-12) placed 6th and scored 10.0 team points.

• Round 3 – Spencer Michaud (Reeds Spring) 23-8 won by fall over Ethan Sizemore (Cassville) 20-12 (Fall 5:55)

• Round 5 – Jayce Hitt (McDonald County) 26-3 won by fall over Ethan Sizemore (Cassville) 20-12 (Fall 0:46)

• 5th Place Match – Lucas Parris (Logan-Rogersville) 13-15 won by fall over Ethan Sizemore (Cassville) 20-12 (Fall 4:26)