The Cassville wrestling program tossed around its weight in the Big 8 last week, testing the waters against potential road blocks in the fast-approaching district and state tournaments.
Cassville’s boys and girls squads hosted Seneca for a dual on Jan. 23, then traveled to Monett for a dual on Jan. 25.
The Lady Wildcats won a pair of positive results, winning five of eight contested matches en route to a 60-12 win over Seneca and 54-6 win over Monett.
A highlight of the week came in the second bout against Seneca, when 2023 state runner-up Faith James, at 135 pounds, pinned Seneca’s Tessa Kinslow in 3:30, marking 150 career wins for the two-time state medalist. James is 38-2 this season.
The three losses for Cassville in the pair of duals all came against heavy hitters in Class 1, District 3. Against Seneca, at 120 pounds, Cassville’ Breanna Gordon fought more than 3 minutes before getting pinned by Seneca’s Louzella Graham (30-7), who was third in districts and fifth at state at 115 pounds last year.
The other loss came at 190 pounds to one of the most decorated wrestlers in Class 1, when Seneca’s Isabella Renfro (32-0) pinned Cassville’s Heather Hall in 17 seconds. Renfro is a three-time state medalists, taking sixth at 174 pounds in 2021, second place at the same weight in 2022 and first at 190 in 2023. She has placed first in every tournament she’s entered this season, plus went 6-1 for Missouri Fire at the 2023 Junior National Duals, where James went 6-2 with MoWest Championship Wrestling.
Against Monett, the lone loss came at the hands of 2023 state qualifier Mary Jastal, earning a pin over Cassville’s Isabelle Bauman in 1:21.
The duals were the last of the season for the girls, with the 34-team Class 1, District 3 tournament set for Feb. 9-10 in Nevada.
In boys action, the Wildcats also faced multiple state-level contenders, especially against Seneca, where Cassville won three of 10 matches and fell as a team, 56-28.
The first was a pin of Cassville’s Kole Fry by Seneca’s Brant Laughlin, a freshman who is poised to make his first state appearance this season with a record of 31-3.
A potential medal match in district and state was between Cassville’s Riley James (37-4) and Seneca’s Andrew Manley (35-0) at 144 pounds. As his record indicates, Manley emerged victorious, earning a 13-5 major decision over James, who was fifth in Class 2 at 150 pounds last year. Manley is a three-time state medalist, taking fifth at 132 in 2021, third at 138 in 2022 and runner-up at 144 in 2023.
Another heavy hitter came in the heavier weights, as Seneca’s 215-pounder Jace Renfro (31-2), earned a pin in 38 seconds over Cassville’s Jesse James. Renfro is a sophomore and took fourth at 190 in Class 2 last season.
The Wildcats bounced back from the Seneca bouts with a 46-33 result over Monett, winning five of the 10 matches and against one Missouri wrestling standout.
At 120 pounds, Cassville’s Bradley Stumpff was pinned by three-time state medalist Simon Hartline in 1:36. Hartline is 33-2 this season and was second at state at 106 in 2021, first at 106 in 2022 and fourth at 120 in 2023.
The Wildcats also competed in the Seneca Tournament on Saturday. Champions included: Kaleb Artherton, 106 pounds; Tristan Thompson, 157 pounds; and Colton Roark, 165 pounds. Riley James took second at 150 pounds, and Jesse James was fourth at 215 pounds.
Cassville has a tri with Logan-Rogersville and Bolivar on Tuesday, and the 16-team Class 2, District 3 tournament will be hosted by Eldon High School on Feb. 16-17.
Seneca and Monett are in the same district as Cassville for boys and girls.
Boys results against Seneca:
106: Kaleb Artherton (Cassville) over Jaxen Rhoads (Seneca) (MD 18-6)
113: Paxton Bruegal (Seneca) over Rylen Holman (Cassville) (Fall 3:23)
120: Keatin Burleson (Seneca) over Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) (Fall 1:55)
126: Brant Laughlin (Seneca) over Kole Fry (Cassville) (Fall 1:20)
132: Eli Manley (Seneca) over Jaret Hinson (Cassville) (MD 10-2)
138: Trentyn Raney (Seneca) over Tyler Rattigan (Cassville) (Fall 0:38)
150: Andrew Manley (Seneca) over Riley James (Cassville) (MD 13-5)
157: Tristan Thompson (Cassville) over Aiden Kitch (Seneca) (Fall 1:21)
165: Colton Roark (Cassville) over Landon Commons (Seneca) (Fall 1:14)
215: Jace Renfro (Seneca) over Jesse James (Cassville) (Fall 0:38)
Extra: Jaxson French (Seneca) over Mike Yang (Cassville) (Fall 2:27)
Forfeits awarded in Cassville’s favor included: Mason Rillstone, 144, and Ethan Sizemore, 285.
Boys Results against Monett:
106: Kaleb Artherton (Cassville) over Luis Sanchez (Monett) (Fall 0:39)
113: Aidan Branch (Monett) over Rylen Holman (Cassville) (Fall 1:46)
120: Simon Hartline (Monett) over Bradley Stumpff (Cassville) (Fall 1:36)
126: Kole Fry (Cassville) over Josue Salas (Monett) (Fall 1:11)
132: Jaret Hinson (Cassville) over Ethan Dockery (Monett) (Fall 0:29)
138: Chris Spears (Monett) over Jonathan Lopez (Cassville) (Fall 4:40)
150: Riley James (Cassville) over Jack Lamastus (Monett) (Fall 3:10)
157: Tristan Thompson (Cassville) over Henry Reed (Monett) (MD 13-3)
165: Colton Roark (Cassville) over Isaiah Dowery (Monett) (Fall 2:21)
215: Aidan McCall (Monett) over Jesse James (Cassville) (Dec 13-6)
285: Porter Reed (Monett) over Ethan Sizemore (Cassville) (Fall 3:05)
Extra: Dyson Cutbirth (Monett) over Boni Lopez (Cassville) (Fall 3:48)
Forfeits awarded in Cassville’s favor included: Mason Rillstone, 144; Bruce Hilburn, 175; and Kaleb Farris, 190.
Girls results against Seneca:
120: Louzella Graham (Seneca) over Breanna Gordon (Cassville) (Fall 3:26)
135: Faith James (Cassville) over Tessa Kinslow (Seneca) (Fall 3:30)
155: Rebekah Fry (Cassville) over Harley Lankford (Seneca) (Fall 4:46)
170: Elisa Ardos (Cassville) over Morgan Barber (Seneca) (Fall 4:31)
190: Isabella Renfro (Seneca) over Heather Hall (Cassville) (Fall 0:17)
Forfeits awarded in Cassville’s favor included: Riley Stumpff, 100; Isabelle Bauman, 105; Alexis Lopez, 110; Jackelin Cervantes, 115; Hailey Roark, 140; Saige Holman, 145; and Delight Otto, 235
Boys results against Monett:
105: Mary Jastal (Monett) over Isabelle Bauman (Cassville) (Fall 1:21)
120: Breanna Gordon (Cassville) over Natalie Canales (Monett) (Fall 0:46)
170: Elisa Ardos (Cassville) over Alexyia Sullivan (Monett) (Fall 2:49)
Forfeits awarded in Cassville’s favor included: Riley Stumpff, 100; Alexis Lopez, 110; Hailey Roark, 140; Saige Holman, 145; Rebekah Fry, 155; Heather Hall, 190; and Delight Otto, 235.
