Centralia Captures 2nd at State Wrestling, Macon’s Phillips Wins Program’s First Title

Four KRES-area grapplers earned a state championship Saturday at Mizzou Arena. Centralia claimed second in Class 1, Macon’s Caden Phillips clinched the young Tiger program’s first-ever title, and two Father Tolton wrestlers repeated as champions.

Centralia head coach Luke Gramke reacted to the team trophy.

Centralia freshman Brayden Dubes wrestled in the first title match and lost by fall opposite a Whitfield freshman. Senior Grafton Littrell lost the 182 lb finals against a Whitfield sophomore. Centralia senior Trevor Bodine and freshman Brayden Shelton both finished third.

Macon senior Caden Phillips defeated Palmyra’s Weston King with a takedown in sudden victory in the heavyweight division.

The KRES All-Star offensive lineman signed with Northwest Missouri State football three weeks ago.

Father Tolton junior Teague Travis secured his third state championship. Travis overpowered a Knob Noster junior 12-7 at 145 lbs.

The Oklahoma State verbal commit previously stood atop the podium at 120 lbs as a freshman and 132 lbs as a sophomore. Travis’ Father Tolton junior teammate Brant Whitaker later survived a match of undefeateds at 160 lbs. Whitaker outlasted a Gallatin grappler 6-5 after the opponent tied it with 33 seconds left.

Whitaker’s opponent let him up to maximize the time for a takedown. The junior Whitaker boasts consecutive championships after he wrestled for Boonville at 152 lbs last year.

Palmyra freshman Collin Arch captured the area’s first title Saturday with a 12-2 major decision in the 120 lb finals.

Arch’s brother Ross lost the 152 lb finals 5-4 on a last second takedown. Ross Arch won the state championship as a sophomore and received second as a freshman. Palmyra landed fifth in Class 1.

Marceline senior Cullen Bruner lost 4-2 in the finals. The three-time KRES All-Star football player reflected on his career on the mat.

Bruner placed fifth last year.

Earlier Saturday, Moberly’s Zach Lewis and Tristan Morris both placed third for the Spartans. Hallsville’s Gavynn Carpenter and Andrew Huddleston also placed third for the Indians. Mexico’s reigning state runner-up Keith Ransom took home third in Class 2, and Boonville’s Peyton Hahn collected his first state medal with a third place finish.

See the full results, and hear interviews with wrestlers and coaches.