After going 1-2 at state as a junior, current Warrenton senior Max Teson put in a lot of …
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After going 1-2 at state as a junior, current Warrenton senior Max Teson put in a lot of hard work over the summer to not only get back to state, but to do more when getting there.
Last weekend at the MSHSAA state championships at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Teson did exactly that, finishing third at 157 pounds.
“It just feels great that all the work has led to something tangible,” said Teson of his off-season efforts. “This feels so good, it’s amazing. Honestly, I would rather have third than second. I finish out on a win. I couldn’t be happier. Everybody wants a state (Championship), but I think this is the next best way to finish.”
In the third-place match, Teson (38-5) beat Poplar Bluff’s Zekey Camden by a 4-0 decision.
The drama in his match came at the end of the second period. After an earlier escape gave him a 1-0 lead, it was ruled that Teson scored the three-point takedown in the last second of the middle period.
“I got to my shots and controlled on top,” Teson said. “After the second period, I knew I had the match. It was incredible.”
In the fifth-place state match involving a Warrenton wrestler, senior Nathan Donovan finished fourth at 113 pounds.
After allowing an escape and takedown by Willard’s Brandon Gerhard, Donovan responded with a takedown of his own to cut the lead to 4-3 before losing by fall at the 52-second mark.
Donvan said he didn’t wrestle the way he wanted to in his final match of the season and his high school career.
“I rushed it during the match,” Donovan said. “I got too greedy and the result was the throw (leading to the pin). This is going to sting now, but later on, I’ll look back, and I’ll be fond of all of this.”
The efforts by both Teson and Donovan (25-7) filled Warrenton Coach Clayton Olsson with pride.
“This feels great, as a coach,” Olsson said. “I couldn't care less how the results reflect on me. These kids work hard; we’re the hardest-working sport in the school. These kids deserve the success they’ve earned. Seeing these guys do this and seeing them get their results, it makes this all worth it.”
Along with the top trio, four other Warrenton wrestlers made their way to the Class 3 state tournament.
Sophomore Colton Tinker (120) went 2-2 at the event. In between losing his first match and a third-round wrestleback, he defeated Pacific’s Mason Link by fall in 46 seconds and earned a 1-0 decision over Fort Zumwalt South’s Joel Gumahin.
Senior Korben Johnson (190) also went 2-2. He defeated Cape Central’s Conner Poole by fall in 2:38 and Washington’s Camden Dewert by fall in 1:38 before losing in the third round of wrestlebacks.
Seniors Daniel McChristy (285) and Jamarion Fulton (165) both lost their two state matches.
Also at the boys tournament, Wright City senior Quincy Rice (215) finished the Class 2 portion of the event with a 1-2 record. He defeated Sullivan’s Jaxson Blankenship by a 15-8 score.
