NMCC captures Priory Invitational Championship with two individual titles and three runner-up finishes

CREVE COEUR, Mo. — New Madrid County Central wrestling won the 14-team Priory Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 27, dominating the competition with a 165-point haul.

Standout performances came from Caleb Moore and Jesse Perry, winning individual titles at the 113 and the 132-pound weight classes, respectively.

Moore (12-1) pinned both opponents, Priory’s Cameron Nelson (11-5) and St. Mary’s Myles Hawkins (9-13), in just over three minutes.

Perry (12-1) secured his title with five consecutive pins over Edwardsville’s Conor Jones (0-5), North Callaway’s Dillion Smith (1-13), St. Mary’s Amir Johnson (7-13), Maplewood’s Leon Lungu (20-18), and John Burroughs’ Johnny Brison (15-9).

The Eagles’ success extended beyond individual titles, with three wrestlers finishing runner-up in their weight classes: Tharon Harper (120), Connor Henderson (175), and Jason Jones (190).

Tharper (12-4) started strong with a 7-0 decision over St. Mary’s Clark (13-8), then pinned STEAM Academy’s Neven Dinwiddle (3-12) in just 26 seconds. He edged out a close 8-5 win against Bishop DuBourg’s Harrison Newcombe (2-2) to reach the final. However, his run ended after being pinned by Maplewood’s Daishaun Wilbourn in the championship match.

Henderson started aggressively, pinning North Callaway’s Urich Lobb in 1:17. He continued his dominance with a pin in 19 seconds against Priory’s Gavin Gittemeier, and another pin in 1:06 pin over Parkway North’s Landon Berger to reach the championship.

However, despite strong efforts, he fell 8-4 to St. Mary’s Kyan Clymer in the final.

Jones (6-2) steamrolled to the final, showcasing both technique and power. He crushed Wright City’s Cody Crushing (10-6) with a 15-2 decision, then flattened STEAM Academy’s Henry Bryan (9-21) and McCluer’s Camron Hooks (6-21) with lightning-fast pins (0:29 and 4:47, respectively).

He dominated Edwardsville’s Caleb Probasco with a 14-0 shutout before being pinned by Priory’s Buddy Essen (17-10) in the championship.

Rounding out the NMCC's impressive showing, Aveon Treadwell (9-5) secured a strong third-place finish at 215.

He started his run with a dominant pin against Maplewood's Alex Kastanias (6-20) in 2:37 and continued his momentum with another pin over Parkway North's Ian Delano (8-20) in 5:28. While his run to the championship was halted by a pin in the semifinals against Roosevelt's Damond Johnson (10-3), Treadwell bounced back with a pin in just 2:38 over Wright City's Quincy Rice (16-17).

NMCC will compete in the Lift for Life Winter Classic on Saturday, Feb. 3.