SportsFebruary 18, 2016
2016 state wrestling qualifiers
2016 state wrestling qualifiers
Southeast Missourian
Brendan Wilkens, soph., Cape Central
Weight: 113 pounds
Record: 7-10
How many times have you been a state qualifier: First time
First-round opponent this year at state: Trenton Legrotte, Grain Valley
Age you started wrestling: 14
Nickname: B-Wilk
Best wrestler you went up against this year: Jacob Gerow, McDonald County
Something about you most people don’t know: I’m 5-foot-4
My biggest fear: Spiders
Place I would most like to go on vacation: Hawaii
Favorite memory from the season thus far: Placing second in the district
The most influential person in my life: Dad and Mom
Favorite sport outside of wrestling: Baseball
Favorite musical artist: G-Eazy
Favorite toy as a child: Playstation
My dream job: Professional athlete
Pinning an opponent is...: One of the best feelings in the world
The best part about wrestling is...: It makes me a better person
The worst part about wrestling is...: Not being able to eat junk food
Wrestling is...: One of the hardest sports mentally and physically
Gabriel Dudley, sr., Jackson
Weight: 160 pounds
Record: 30-7
How many times have you been a state qualifier: This is my first time qualifying
First-round opponent this year at state: Anthony Mabery, Staley
Age you started wrestling: 7
Nickname: Big Duds
Something about you most people don’t know: I enjoy doing origami
My biggest fear: Heights
Place I would most like to go on vacation: San Diego
Favorite memory from the season thus far: Qualifying for state
Favorite sport outside of wrestling: Football
Favorite toy as a child: A ball
My dream job: Cardiothoracic surgeon
Pinning an opponent is...: Awesome
The best part about wrestling is...: Winning one on one
The worst part about wrestling is...: Not being able to eat what you want
Wrestling is...: An extreme dedication and life changing
Gus Guilliams, jr., Jackson
Weight: 120 pounds
Record: 45-5
How many times have you been a state qualifier: Two
First-round opponent this year at state: Austin Kolvek, Park Hills
Age you started wrestling: 4
Nickname: Mus
Best wrestler you went up against this year: Sidney Oliver, Holt — He’s very strong and technical
Something about you most people don’t know: “Gus” is a nickname
My biggest fear: Drowning
Place I would most like to go on vacation: Jamaica
Favorite memory from the season thus far: Winning districts
The most influential person in my life: My dad
Favorite sport outside of wrestling: Football
Favorite musical artist: Fetty Wap
Favorite toy as a child: Tractors
My dream job: Mechanical engineer
Pinning an opponent is...: A goal for every match
The best part about wrestling is...: Bonding as a team
The worst part about wrestling is...: Losing
Wrestling is...: Something that has shaped me as a person
Jake Byrd, sr., Jackson
Weight: 126 pounds
Record: 45-3
How many times have you been a state qualifier: Four
First-round opponent this year at state: Connor Langdon, Nixa
Age you started wrestling: 6
Nickname: Potbelly
Best wrestler you went up against this year: Devin Schwartzkopf, Francis Howell Central
Something about you most people don’t know: I’m in a rap group
My biggest fear: Snakes
Place I would most like to go on vacation: Atlantis, Bahamas
Favorite memory from the season thus far: Having Luke go with us to districts
The most influential person in my life: Luke Rayburn
Favorite sport outside of wrestling: Football
Favorite musical artist: Futuristic
Favorite toy as a child: Super Smash Bros. (video game)
Any superstitions before a match: Ankle band on my right ankle
My dream job: Software developer
Pinning an opponent is...: The best feeling in wrestling
The best part about wrestling is...: The tournaments
The worst part about wrestling is...: The practices and cutting weight
Wrestling is...: Life
Bryce Dickerson, jr., Jackson
Weight: 220 pounds
Record: 13-8
How many times have you been a state qualifier: This is my first time
First-round opponent this year at state: Ali’i Loyola, Lee’s Summit
Age you started wrestling: 6
Nickname: Dickerson
Best wrestler you went up against this year: Mason Costa, Lindbergh
Something about you most people don’t know: I really like video games
My biggest fear: Drowning
Place I would most like to go on vacation: The beach
Favorite memory from the season thus far: Winning in fourth overtime to go to state
The most influential person in my life: My parents
Favorite sport outside of wrestling: Football
Favorite musical artist: Kevin Gates
Favorite toy as a child: Anything Star Wars
My dream job: A chiropractor
Pinning an opponent is...: Fantastic
The best part about wrestling is...: Winning and improving
The worst part about wrestling is...: Losing
Wrestling is...: Life changing
Carson McCord, sr., Jackson
Weight: 170 pounds
Record: 38-4
How many times have you been a state qualifier: Three
Best finish at state: 6th
First-round opponent this year at state: Sam Wood, Marquette
Age you started wrestling: 4
Nickname: McCoordination
Best wrestler you went up against this year: Chris Prosser, Edwardsville
Something about you most people don’t know: I’m actually the most athletic person ever
My biggest fear: Spiders
Place I would most like to go on vacation: PCB
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Favorite memory from the season thus far: Receiving the Outstanding Wrestler award at conference
The most influential person in my life: My grandpa
Favorite sport outside of wrestling: Frisbee golf
Favorite musical artist: Futristic and Devvon Terrell
Favorite toy as a child: My guns
Any superstitions before a match: Have to wear the same clothes and do the same routine
My dream job: Chef
Pinning an opponent is...: Expected
The best part about wrestling is...: Seeing Lucas Rayburn’s smiling face after I win
The worst part about wrestling is...: Cutting weight
Wrestling is...: The only thing I know
Zachary Norrick, sr., Jackson
Grade: 12
Weight: 195 pounds
Record: 26-8
How many times have you been a state qualifier: First time
First-round opponent this year at state: Cody Curnutt, Ozark
Age you started wrestling: 4
Nickname: Good Morning Norrick
Best wrestler you went up against this year: Dylan Komperda, Francis Howell
Something about you most people don’t know: I have a foot fetish, and I love singing
My biggest fear: Letting my parents down
Place I would most like to go on vacation: Italy
Favorite memory from the season thus far: Yelling “BOOM” every time my team won a match at SEMO Conference
The most influential person in my life: Ty Crowden and Jarrett Reisenbichler
Favorite sport outside of wrestling: Sand volleyball
Favorite musical artist: Fetty Wap or G-Eazy
Favorite toy as a child: Lincoln Logs or LEGOs
Any superstitions before a match: Put my ankle band on my right ankle and pace while listening to music
My dream job: Being a lawyer and having my own firm
Pinning an opponent is...: A habit
The best part about wrestling is...: Coach Rayburn and his talks; and our trainer Jason Moore
The worst part about wrestling is...: The mornings
Wrestling is...: Almost over
Payne Guilliams, jr., Jackson
Weight: 138 pounds
Record: 28-4
How many times have you been a state qualifier: One
First-round opponent this year at state: Steven Landow, Fort Zumwalt West
Age you started wrestling: 5
Nickname: Paynus
Best wrestler you went up against this year: Tyler Stegall, Northwest
Something about you most people don’t know: I can’t hear out of my left ear
My biggest fear: Snakes
Place I would most like to go on vacation: Hawaii
Favorite memory from the season thus far: Cheering mat-side at conference for every match
The most influential person in my life: My grandpa
Favorite sport outside of wrestling: Football
Favorite musical artist: Beethoven
Favorite toy as a child: G.I. Joe
Any superstitions before a match: I put the ankle band on my left ankle
My dream job: Engineer
Pinning an opponent is...: The best feeling
The best part about wrestling is...: Winning
The worst part about wrestling is...: Cutting weight
Wrestling is...: A tough sport for tough people
Micah Collier, sr., Jackson
Weight: 145 pounds
Record: 31-8
How many times have you been a state qualifier: Two
First-round opponent this year at state: Gavin Londoff, Holt
Age you started wrestling: 5
Nickname: Daddy
Best wrestler you went up against this year: Gavin Londoff, Holt
Something about you most people don’t know: I have a HUGE crush on Rhonda Rousey
My biggest fear: Insects and snakes
Place I would most like to go on vacation: Jamaica
Favorite memory from the season thus far: Cheering mat-side at conference
The most influential person in my life: Brother Clay
Favorite sport outside of wrestling: Beach volleyball
Favorite musical artist: Fetty Wap
Favorite toy as a child: Lincoln logs
My dream job: Food critic
Pinning an opponent is...: A wonderful thing
The best part about wrestling is...: Winning
The worst part about wrestling is...: Cutting weight
Wrestling is...: By far the toughest sport
Bruce Ha, jr., Notre Dame
Weight: 145 pounds
Record: 27-9
How many times have you been a state qualifier: This is my first
First-round opponent this year at state: Tanner Sparks, Kirksville
Age you started wrestling: 15
Nickname: Vietnamese Vortex or Asian Steve or 3-bowl-of-soup
Best wrestler you went up against this year: Micah Collier, Jackson — he’s good
My biggest fear: My mom and dad
Place I would most like to go on vacation: Cape Girardeau
Favorite memory from the season thus far: Putting Evan in the trash can
The most influential person in my life: Bruce Wayne
Favorite sport outside of wrestling: Sleep (it’s a hard workout)
Favorite musical artist: Blake Angle
Favorite toy as a child: Playdoh
Any superstitions before a match: I like to jump rope and get my head focused
My dream job: Travel the world and get money from it
Pinning an opponent is...: Super duper coolio
The best part about wrestling is...: Eating food after weigh-in
The worst part about wrestling is...: Cutting weight
Wrestling is...: Awesome
Evan Dowdy, fresh., Notre Dame
Weight: 113 pounds
Record: 20-23
How many times have you been a state qualifier: One
First-round opponent this year at state: Jet Tryon, Oak Grove
Age you started wrestling: 7
Best wrestler you went up against this year: Shaun Beeman, Fort Zumwalt North
Something about you most people don’t know: My first name is Damon, like my dad
Place I would most like to go on vacation: North Korea
Favorite memory from the season thus far: Placing in districts
The most influential person in my life: My father
Favorite sport outside of wrestling: Track
Favorite toy as a child: Playstation 2
My dream job: Discover an oil field and never work a day in my life
Pinning an opponent is...: One of the best feelings in wrestling
The best part about wrestling is...: The guys you become friends with
The worst part about wrestling is...: The practices
Wrestling is...: A great sport
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