Republic’s wrestling team placed fifth Saturday at the Class 4 District 3 tournament, with three state qualifiers leading a deep and competitive effort. Republic was in the top third of the 16 teams at the meet in Ozark.
Keaton Overcast (138 pounds) finished second, qualifying for state for the third consecutive year. Chase Hicks (215) and Kameron Sutton (165) also earned state berths, with Hicks breaking through after three years of near-misses.
Beyond the state qualifiers, multiple wrestlers scored key points for the team. Coy Chrihfield (106) won two matches, including a technical fall. Shea Rogers (132) picked up three victories, including a major decision and a fall. Daniel Gonzalez (144) added points with a technical fall and a pin in consolation rounds. Cam Allen won three matches at 175, and Cooper White picked up two victories with a pin and major decision.
The Tigers finished with 91.5 points. Neosho won the team title with 267.5 points, followed by Ozark, Willard, and Nixa.
For Hicks, the state qualification carried special meaning. “After the last three years of just barely missing it, it felt great,” he said. “This is my last year and my last chance.”
Overcast enters his third state tournament with a measured approach. “My strategy is to manage my weight and drill the attacks I know I’m going to hit,” he said.
Sutton secured his spot with a strategic pin, countering a takedown attempt. “I practice my chin whip a lot,” he said. “When he got in on the high C, I knew exactly what to do.”
