The Wentzville School District high schools saw great success during this season of boys wrestling. Every school sent athletes to state, school records were set and broken, and we are seeing students commit to continuing their careers on the collegiate level. The following is a recap of boys wrestling across the WSD. 

 

Holt High School (HHS) had a stupendous season of boys wrestling this year, capping it off by sending six athletes to state and returning home with one state champion and three additional medalists. 

 

Boston Howard and Aiden Bonin ended as state qualifiers (both first-time qualifiers), Andrew Peppin and Richard Meyer took 5th, Nicholas Chambers took 4th, and Logan Rubinstein was a State Champion at 144 lbs. HHS boys wrestling took 5th place at the district tournament as a team and 11th place in the state tournament as a team. The team is losing some great seniors; Andrew Peppin, Richard Meyer, and Nicholas Chambers. However, they have a large, exciting, and hungry group of kids returning!

 

• All-Conference Awards 

  • 132 lbs - Nick Chambers - First Team

  • 144 lbs - Logan Rubinstein - First Team

  • 165 lbs - Drew Peppin - First Team

  • 215 lbs - Richard Meyer - First Team

  • 150 lbs - Boston Howard - Second Team
    

    • Academic All-Conference Awards 

• Boston Howard

• Jacob Ketterman

• Logan Rubinstein
  
  

• All-State Honors

  • 144 lbs - Logan Rubinstein - State Champion

  • 132 lbs - Nick Chambers - Fourth Place

  • 165 lbs - Drew Peppin - Fifth Place

  • 215 lbs - Richard Meyer - Fifth Place
    
    

    • Academic All-State Honors 

• Logan Rubinstein

• Boston Howard

(Photos provided by Coach Jacob Hawks)

 

Liberty High School (LHS) boys wrestling had a phenomenal season that was capped off by sending five athletes to the state championship. The team was plagued with a lot of injuries at the beginning of the season, but nothing will stop a properly motivated Eagle from getting back to 100 percent. “Hard work and tenacity were the main staples in the Liberty wrestling room,” said head coach Kevin Haynes. LHS was not going to let injuries deter them from achieving their goals this season. The team came in every day and left it all on the mat. 

 

The LHS boys worked their way through countless tournaments during the season. Senior Matt Craig was able to capture his 150th career win, finishing the season with a few extra under his belt. At the season's end, LHS ended up with its 100th varsity win since the school’s inauguration in 2013. 

• All-Conference Awards 

  • 285 lbs - Matthew (Matt) Craig - First Team 

  • 165 lbs - Trenton Williams - Second Team 

  • 120 lbs - Brendon Kelly - Second Team

  • 175 lbs - Aidan Summers - Second Team

• All-State Honors

• 120 lbs - Brendan Kelly - two-time qualifier 

• 126 lbs - Aidan Kelly - three-time qualifier 

• 157 lbs - Justin Little - two-time qualifier 

• 165 lbs - Trenton Williams - two-time qualifier 

• 285 lbs - Matthew (Matt) Craig - four-time qualifier 

LHS’s Aidan Kelly committed to continuing his education and wrestling career at Baldwin Wallace University, and Trenton Williams committed to continuing his journey at Missouri Baptist University.

(Photos provided by Coach Kevin Haynes)

North Point High School (NPHS) had an electric second season of boys wrestling. They saw wrestling at all levels this year and a huge jump in athletes ready and willing to join their ranks. The NPHS team was all about dedication this season, hitting practice hard and matches even harder, the positivity and team bonding was infectious amongst the team. The coaches are more than pleased with how their athletes performed this year. 

 

NPHS got to experience it all this year, with their freshman and JV teams being able to host the first annual North Point tournament and varsity sending several athletes to state. Varsity dominated the division, taking a second-place finish at the Westminster Tournament, a third-place finish at the Pacific Tournament, fourth place in Districts, first in the GAC North Division, and tenth place as a team at the Class 3 State Tournament. Additionally, NPHS clutched a seventh-place ranking in the state from Missouri Wrestling. 

 

Since their program is so young, NPHS saw a lot of growth this year from many of its athletes. Senior Jackson Sapp is the first student in the school's history to commit to compete at the collegiate level. Sophomore Kaden Purler not only finished the season with a 43 - 1 record, but he is also coming into his own as a leader and demonstrating the spirit of what it means to be a Grizzly. Sophomore Leo Buchheit in just his second year of wrestling, has an unparalleled hunger for competing, which pairs nicely with his drive in the classroom as well. Sophomore Chad Benwell showed real determination over the summer, unwilling to let an injury take away any opportunity from him, and finished with an impressive 26-4 record. 

 

“Our season was one to remember. We improved the program in all aspects from our inaugural season, and we look forward to continuing to build on the foundation that we have now,” said Coach Christopher Purcell.

 

• All-Conference Awards

  • Team - GAC North Champions

  • 120 lbs - Kaden Purler - First Team 

  • 132 lbs - Chad Benwell - First Team

  • 138 lbs - Leo Buchheit - First Team

  • 165 lbs - Jackson Sapp - First Team

  • 144 lbs - Logan Redel - Second team

  • 157 lbs - Brody Wilmes - Second team

  • 175 lbs - Brody Williams - Second Team

  • 190 lbs - Domenic Colombatto - Second Team
    

• Academic All-Conference Awards 

  • Kaden Purler 
  • Chad Benwell 
  • Logan Redel 
  • Charlie Stanfill 
  • Brody Wilmes 
  • Domenic Colombatto 
  • Evan Berkbuegler 
  • Ben Barfield 
  • Reid Struckmann 
    
• All-State Honors

  • 120 lbs - Kaden Purler - State Champion

  • 132 lbs - Chad Benwell - State Runner Up

  • 165 lbs -  Jackson Sapp - Fourth Place
    
    

    • Academic All-State Honors 
      • 132 lbs - Chad Benwell 
        
        
• School Records Broken

  • Sophomore Win Record - Kaden Purler/Leo Buchheit - 43 

  • Senior Win Record - Jackson Sapp - 34 

  • Career Wins - Jackson Sapp - 114

  • Takedowns - Leo Buchheit - 74

  • Nearfall 2 - Leo Buchheit - 36

  • Escapes - Chad Benwell - 30

  • Major Decisions - Leo Buchhiet/Logan Redel - 5

  • Technical Falls - Leo Buchheit/Kaden Purler - 5

  • Falls - Jackson Sapp - 26

  • Dual Team Points - Kaden Purler - 88

  • Tournament Championships - Kaden Purler - 6

  • First State Champion - Kaden Purler

  • Most State Medals - Kaden Purler, Chad Benwell, and Jackson Sapp - 2 medals

  • Consecutive Conference Team Champions - GAC North - 2 times

NPHS’s Jackson Sapp committed to continuing his pursuit of education and wrestling at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

 

(Photos provided by AD Jake Adams)

 

Timberland High School (THS) started the season with several individual championship titles. At their first tournament, Westminster, Ethan Wasson (190 lbs) and Ty Shelton (144 lbs) were crowned champs. As their season continued, they saw even more success, with Ty  Shelton being the man to beat on the mat. At the St. Charles Tournament, THS claimed several spots on the podium; Ty Shelton (138 lbs) placed first, and Ethan Wasson (175 lbs) placed first. Gannon Kuhn (106 lbs) placed second, and Jacob Paige (113 lbs) placed second. 

 

Then at districts, Ty Shelton was champion at 138 lbs. Gannon Kuhn and Sam Yuede both medaled as well and qualified for state. Ethan Wasson earned his way to state and, in so doing, got a varsity career win 100. At state, Ty Shelton wrestled well and finished fourth at 138 lbs. 

• All-Conference Awards 

  • 138 lbs - Ty Shelton - First Team 

  • 106 lbs - Gannon Kuhn - Second Team 

  • 175  lbs - Ethan Wasson - Second Team
    
    

    • Academic All-Conference Awards 

• Ryan Bakota

• Aaron Bell

• Luke Ferrell

• Jeffrey Fetterhoff

• Nathan Martin

• Gannon Kuhn

• Cole Matlick

• Caleb Murray

• Jacob Paige

• Ty Shelton

• Jamison Shrum

• Zach Thornburgh

• Stephen Bell

• All-State Honors
  • 138 lbs - Ty Shelton - Placed Fourth 

• School Milestone Reached

  • 175 lbs - Ethan Wassen - 100 Win

 

(Photos provided by Coach Jeffrey Renz )