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There are not many moments in high school sports as electric as when a wrestler pins their opponent to win a state championship.

As a result of one of my many roles here at the Cassville Democrat, I have had the privilege of being mat-side for all four of Cassville’s individual titles: Zach Coenen and Annie Moore in 2021, Faith James in 2024, and now Colton Roark as of Thursday.

I grew up playing, refereeing and watching soccer, and love watching football and hockey, as well as March Madness basketball — but my last few years covering the MSHSAA Wrestling State Championships have turned it into one of my favorite sports to watch live.

Seeing those athletes reach the pinnacle of achievement in prep sports has even made my eyes water a bit.

One of the more challenging, yet more rewarding, parts of my job reporting sports is not only to capture the specific plays that contribute to glory — like Roark’s spladle move in his 165-pound championship Thursday — but to venture beyond the visual and find the story within the story.

Sometimes it’s easy. In 2021, Coenen won three consecutive overtime matches to claim his state title, and Moore was the first-ever state champion from Cassville, a designation she held for about 30 minutes before Coenen became No. 2.

Last year, it was the fact Faith James took second place in 2023 and used that loss as motivation to pin her way through the 2024 field, exerting her utter dominance in her weight class.

This year, the behindthe- scenes story is a little more complicated, and it begins the week prior to the trip to Columbia.

For the boys team, the last three years have centered around the “Three Musketeers” of Wildcats wrestling: Tristan Thompson, Riley James and Roark. All three in their junior year, the group has eight state medals between them, and they are primed for three more in their senior seasons if all goes to plan.

Dubbed “murderer’s row” by coaches last season, the Thompson-James-Roark lineup has always been in consecutive weight classes, and this year, the 165 competition was a heated one.

This year, Thompson settled into his normal 157-pound class, but James and Roark both came in at 165, meaning one would have to give up 10 pounds and wrestle at 175. It’s rare for that to occur at state, and even rarer for the athlete giving up the weight to succeed.

Roark had been wrestling at 175 all season, but per team rules, he was allowed to challenge James for the 165 spot, and he won.

In interviews I did with both on Monday, James was the first to admit he could have put in more effort in practice leading up to state. He was also nursing an injury that could have been a contributing factor.

Roark, on the other hand, kicked it into high gear ahead of the tournament, according to his coach. Even his teammates ribbed him a bit on his approach.

“You only worked that hard for a month,” James jested at Roark.

“Well, it worked, didn’t it?” Roark replied.

For Roark, that challenge match win may have been just as important as any in the postseason. It allowed him a better path to the top of the podium. For James, the loss was equally impactful. His path became that much harder.

As I was talking to them about it, Thompson chimed in. Paraphrasing his comments, Thompson said he felt like challenge matches were just as difficult, if not more so, than state matches. Teammates know one another’s moves inside and out after so many years of wrestling together.

For example, in 2024, James won a state match with a spladle pin, and this year, Roark used a spladle to pin his title match opponent, a move his teammates on Monday described as “risky business.”

I’m not sure exactly how Roark beat James in the challenge match prior to districts, but I can guarantee you neither one of them would let the other lock in a spladle.

One thing is for certain: no amount of pre-tournament drama could tear these Wildcats apart. After winning the championship, Roark hugged and high-fived Coaches Nathan Fortner, Chris Fortner and Matthew Allen, and as he left the arena floor for the tunnel, he broke into a jog and halfway hugged Coach Troy Thompson before leaping into the arms of his friend and teammate — Riley James.

James did not have the state tournament he had hoped for, settling for fifth place at 175 after semifinal and consolation semifinal losses on Thursday. Yet, he was there, front and center in the tunnel, supporting his teammate and celebrating in his ultimate victory.

Cassville’s wrestling program has been improving steadily yearby- year. A major factor in that success is certainly the level of talent among its athletes, but in my opinion, an even greater factor is the mindset the Wildcats have as a team in a largely individual sport.

Thompson, James and Roark set an example for that mindset that goes beyond the mat and headlong into life.

All three have their sights set on state titles in their senior seasons, and I can’t wait to watch them do it together.

Kyle Troutman has served as editor of the Cassville Democrat since 2014 and owner/publisher since 2023. He was named William E. James/Missouri Outstanding Young Journalist for daily newspapers in 2017, and he is a two-time ISWNE Golden Dozen award winner. He may be reached at 417 847-2610 or ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com.