SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Cole Ritter of the No. 8-ranked Maryville wrestling team earned his first tournament title of the season, winning the 174-pound class at the Drury Open in Springfield, Mo., on Saturday.
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Ritter was one of eight Saints to place at the event.
Sam Shafer took second at 125 pounds, while four Saints finished fourth:
Kody Ketchum (141),
Evan Morris (174), Dalton Litzinger (184), and
Orest Nazarchuk (285).
Nick Baer finished fifth at 157, and
Caden Gousetis placed sixth at 184.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Ritter, who is ranked at No. 4 in 165, started his day with a bye, using that rest to secure two straight falls in his first two matches. A major over Zane Colman of Central Oklahoma in the semis set Ritter up for yet another Broncho foe in the finals, a match he won 4-1.
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Shafer began his day with aggression, scoring a tech fall in his first match of the day. A pair of decisions in the quarters and semis sent him to the finals where he dropped the match via fall.
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Ketchum overcame a quarterfinals loss to finish his day 4-2, including two falls. Morris has a similar journey at 174, ending his day 3-2 with a tech pin victory in the quarters and a tech in the consolation bracket. Litzinger started his day with a bye, earning extra-point wins in two of his five matches, ending his day 3-2.
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At heavyweight, Nazarchuk started his day 3-0, earning two extra-points wins along the way. He suffered setbacks in the semis and the third-place match to wrap up his day.
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Baer finished 3-2, and Gousetis went 3-3 to round out the placers for the Saints.
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UP NEXT
The Saints will head to Kearney, Neb. for Younes Hospitality Open hosted by the No. 6 ranked Nebraska-Kearney Lopers.
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