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Nevada's three state wrestlers preparing for the big stage
The Nevada Tigers are sending two young men and one young woman to the MSHSAA Classes 1 and 2 State Wrestling Championships next week at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence.
This year’s state series has been quite different due to COVID-19. In the past, at least on the boys side, wrestlers would compete in one of four super districts where the top four finishers from each weight class would then move on to the state tournament held on a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, usually the week of Valentine’s Day, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. All four boys classes and the girls would compete during the same time frame.
This year, though, there will be five separate state tournaments: the girls on Tuesday, March 9, followed by the boys Class 1 on the 10th, Class 2 on the 11th, Class 3 on the 12th, and Class 4 on the 13th.
For those of us who love wrestling and have been making the trip to Columbia to watch the best wrestlers in the state, as well as nationally ranked wrestlers, this year is bitter sweet. I have been attending the state championships for 10 straight years, eight as a coach and two as a fan.
I was able to talk with 106-pound Nevada freshman Kynndrick Brooks and his brother, Braylin Brooks, a 113-pound junior, about the upcoming state tournament.
Braylin said that he has been wrestling since the second grade. I asked him what was the highlight of this season so far and he said, “Pinning a district match in a leg cradle."
I asked him what he was looking forward to the most at state this year: “The experience, just being there is awesome. Getting to see all the top dogs go at it. The thing I am looking forward to the most is placing at state."
I asked what challenges he thought he would have to overcome in order to perform well at state.
“A challenge I will have to overcome is being the aggressor," he said. "I have to go out to every match with zero doubt. I have to go in there looking to win no matter what. I have to keep my goals in mind and get on that podium.”
Braylin will open up against Creek Hughes from St. Clair. Hughes is a freshman with a 21-12 record and was a second-place finisher in his sectional.
If Braylin can get by Hughes, he would face Carter Prenger, a 29-8 sophomore from Helias, in the quarterfinals. Prenger was a sectional champion.
Braylin will enter the state tournament with a 23-9 record and is now a two-time state qualifier.
Kynndrick will open up against Gage Gross from St. Genevieve. Gross is a freshman who went 26-2 this season and was a second-place finisher in his sectional.
If Kynndrick can get by Gross, he would face Gage Lock from Helias.
Kynndrick, a freshman, will enter the state tournament with a record of 28-2. He has been wrestling for nine years.
I asked him what the highlight of the season was so far, and he said, “Winning districts."
When asked what he is looking forward to the most at the state tournament: “Placing third or higher."
When asked what challenges he would need to overcome to perform well: “Getting my conditioning up and working and drilling on my shots more.”
The Nevada Lady Tiger wrestling team's lone representative in Independence will be Claire Pritchett, who qualified for her second state tournament after earning all-state status by placing sixth last year.
This is Pritchett’s second year wrestling and first year wrestling full-time, as last year she also was a member of the Nevada Lady Tiger basketball team.
When asked what was the highlight of her season so far, Pritchett said, “Beating the girl from Branson after losing to her two weeks prior.”
When asked what she is looking forward to at state: “I look forward to all of it, getting there, weighing in and seeing all my competition in the same room, warming up, all the nerves leading up to a match. It is such a good feeling.”
When asked what challenge she thinks she will need to overcome in order to perform well: “My biggest challenge will be having a good mindset and having confidence. I have to stick with my goals, trust God, and do what I know."
Pritchett will face Mari Lopez from Eureka in the first round. Lopez is a 28-5 senior who finished second in her sectional.
If Pritchett can get past Lopez, she will face Kyla Cornine, a 30-1 senior from Tipton, in the quarterfinals.
All three of these great athletes are prepared mentally and physically and are ready to go get some medals and the honor of being all-state. Each has paid their dues this year and is ready to perform at a high level next week.
MSHSAA.tv will broadcast the tournaments for a fee if you would like to watch our Tigers compete. Go get ‘em! Good luck at state!