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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Baer finished 3-2, and Gousetis went 3-3 to round out the placers for the Saints.
 
UP NEXT
The Saints will head to Kearney, Neb. for Younes Hospitality Open hosted by the No. 6 ranked Nebraska-Kearney Lopers.