The 2016-17 wrestling season was filled with highlights. The team finished 9-4 in dual meets, won the Fort Zumwalt North tournament and had several wrestlers receive individual accolades.

However, those highlights don’t matter anymore.

It’s the finish that matters.

The team has four wrestlers that are going to state–Andrew Marler (Senior), Jacob Warren (Junior), Ryan Yarnell (Junior) and Grant Pauli (Freshman). For the second year in a row, Warren is looking to medal at the state meet. Last year, Warren finished in fourth place.  Ryan Yarnell is a returning state qualifier. Yarnell came within a whisker of medaling last season.  

Meanwhile, senior Andrew Marler gets his first shot at the state meet in his final year of high school.

Marler said, “It’s an awesome feeling knowing that I’ve achieved what every high school wrestler wants to achieve by making it to state.”  

For somebody such as Warren, the expectations are extremely high.

Warren said, “ I’ve been practicing hard, eating right, lifting weights and doing everything to make me a better wrestler every day to bring me to the top this year. My goal is to win it all.”

The state meet begins today at 5 pm and goes through Saturday evening. The finals begin at 4:30 pm on Saturday at Mizzou Arena.