Sophomore Carter Brown and his opponent, Masen Bindel from Liberty High School battled to score the first points of the 215 pound State Championship match. Brown broke the ice and made the first shot to score a takedown for three points midway through the first period.
“Once I got the first takedown, I knew I probably had it,” Brown said.
After the takedown, Brown left Bindel behind and became a State Champion by a 10-0 major decision.
Brown was one of 11 Lafayette wrestlers — from both the boys and girls teams — to earn a medal at the MSHSAA State Wrestling Tournament, held Feb. 28-Mar. 1 at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, MO. As a team, the Lafayette boys placed third in Class 4, scoring 125.5 points, and the girls finished seventh in Class 2 with 66 points.
“It shows we are here to stay,” boys wrestling head coach Joe Wier said. “We got fourth a couple of years ago, second last year, third this year. We are always in the conversation, and we’re not anyone that anyone wants to face soon.”
Originally competing at 190 pounds, Brown moved up to the 215-pound weight class midway through the season. Brown said the change ultimately worked in his favor, as he closed out the year with a 39-4 record.
Brown said the adjustment to a heavier weight class forced him to adapt his approach.
“People at 215 are a lot bigger, so usually they get tired quicker,” Brown said. “I had to switch [my strategy] up. Instead of scoring more points, I try to score once or twice and then control from there.”
215lb wrestler Carter Brown wins over Liberty wrestler, Masen Bindel by major decision, 10-0. Brown is the boys Class 4 State Champion. pic.twitter.com/P7YYK5p4lD
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) March 2, 2025
Lafayette’s boys team saw several other wrestlers reach the podium. Sophomore Riley Sumner lost in the semifinal match but was successful in the Wrestleback bracket, winning both of his next matches to place third in the 120-pound weight class. Sumner finished his season with a 38-6 record.
Riley Sumner speaks on his 3rd place finish at State. pic.twitter.com/v3uR2Zic8O
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) March 1, 2025
After losing his quarterfinal match, Junior Calum Brown wrestled back, and won three consecutive matches to place fourth at 126 pounds, ending the year 33-7.
Callum Brown finishes 4th at State for the 126 weight-class after losing by decision to Keaton Hurst, 4-2. pic.twitter.com/NCvLrpTI4h
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) March 1, 2025
Sophomore Caleb Frankenberger lost in the semifinal round and wrestled back to finish fifth at 132 pounds, ending the year 37-10.
132lb wrestler Caleb Frankenberger wins over Neoshow wrestler, Kelton Shaffer by technical fall. Frankenberger has finished fifth at the MSHSAA Class 4 Wrestling State Championship. pic.twitter.com/hSAhacyDWN
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) March 1, 2025
Also losing in the semifinals, Sophomore Max Rowe wrestled back and earned fifth place at 106 pounds with a 35-12 record.
Senior Jackson Tenny placed fifth at 113 pounds after losing his quarterfinal match and winning three matches in the Wrestleback bracket. Tenny recorded his 100th career win during the tournament and closed his high school career with a 101-36 record.
113lb wrestler Jackson Tenny beats Seckman wrestler Dorrian Clark by 4-3 decision. Tenny has placed fifth in the MSHSAA Class 4 Wrestling State Championship. pic.twitter.com/m7IJrlUcsm
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) March 1, 2025
Along with Tenny, senior Aidan Schoen lost his quarterfinal match and won three matches in the Wrestleback bracket to take fifth at 150 pounds, finishing 38-6.
150lb wrestler Aidan Schoen wins over North Point wrestler, Kaden Purler by a 5-1 decision. Schoen has finished fifth at the MSHSAA Class 4 Wrestling State Championship. pic.twitter.com/f3ri2vfcjJ
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) March 1, 2025
Senior Jeremiah Drake placed sixth at 157 pounds with a 35-13 record after losing his semifinal match and competing in the Wrestleback bracket.
On the girls side, three Lafayette wrestlers earned medals. Senior Hannah Henderson made her way to the State final and placed second at 120 pounds, wrapping up her season with a 40-7 record.
120lb wrestler Hannah Henderson loses to Belton wrestler, Sydney Stifter by 9-1 decision. Henderson has finished second at the MSHSAA Class 2 State Championship. pic.twitter.com/PrIW3w6JG0
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) March 2, 2025
Senior Aaliyah Grammar also made it to the State final and competed in a neck-and-neck, double overtime match and placed second at 190 pounds, finishing her high school career with a 42-2 season record.
In the Class 2 190 girls weight-class final, Aaliyah Grammer lost by decision to Kendall Angelo of Oak Park, 4-2. The matched was tied 1-1 after the first three rounds, but Angelo pulled ahead in overtime to take the win. pic.twitter.com/jpMM3OZ18n
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) March 2, 2025
Junior Ella Kimbrough placed sixth at 235 pounds with a 29-4 record after losing her semifinal match and competing in the Wrestleback bracket.
Carter Brown on his State title and strategy going into the match. pic.twitter.com/9ZdshMWTfZ
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) March 2, 2025
Wrestling head coach Joe Wier talks about Lafayette’s 3rd place finish and eight State medalists. pic.twitter.com/JQzsX8aX7f
— The Lancer Feed (@thelancerfeed) March 2, 2025
