Three Jackson wrestlers advance to state championship's final day

Three Jackson wrestlers will get the opportunity to wrestle on the final day of the MSHSAA Wrestling State Championships after battling through Day 2 action at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri, on Friday.

Gus Guilliams (120 pounds), Jake Byrd (126) and Carson McCord (170) all entered the day still in the championship bracket. All three lost their quarterfinal bouts, but won two more consolation matches to stave off elimination and advance to the third-place semifinals in their respective weight classes.

The trio is guaranteed at least a top-six finish, and have the opportunity to finish as high as third.

Guilliams dropped a 6-0 decision to Battle'S Klayton Anderson in the championship quarters before earning a 2-1 result over Will Edgar of Christian Brothers College in the wrestle-backs, and then edging Jett Merlo (Blue Springs South), 5-4, to stay in the competition.

Byrd was pinned in just 19 seconds in the 126-pound championship quarterfinals by Holt's Mike Brown, but rebounded to dominate Northwest's Jacob Mirly with a tech fall in the consey second round and then defeated Jefferson City's Christian Mayberry 5-3 to move into the third-place semifinals.

McCord suffered a tight 5-4 loss at the hands of Staley's Monterio Whiles in Day 2's championship action, but then scraped past Jonathan Fogarty (Lafayette Wildwood) 6-5 in the consolation bracket before controlling Eureka's Kyle Dickhaus 5-0 to guarantee his best showing ever at the state meet.

A state qualifier for a third straight year, McCord finished sixth as a sophomore. He is now guaranteed to at least match that.

In the final day of grappling, Guilliams will face Staley's David Berryman, Byrd will take on Corey Wait of Francis Howell Central and McCord will challenge Canten Marriott of Park Hill.

Three other Indians wrestled on Friday in the consolation competition, as Payne Gulliams (138 pounds), Gabriel Dudley (160) and Zach Norrick (195) all fell in the second round of the wrestle-backs to see their tournaments come to an end.

Class 4

Championship Bracket

Quarterfinals

120 — Klayton Anderson (BATT) dec. Gus Guilliams (J) 6-0

126 — Mike Brown (HO) pin Jake Byrd (J) :19

170 — Monterio Whiles (STAL) dec. Carson McCord (J) 5-4

Consolation Bracket

Second Round

120 — G. Guilliams (J) dec. Will Edgar (CBC) 2-1

126 — Byrd (J) tech fall Jacob Mirly (NW) 3:46 (18-3)

138 — Micheal Cassidy (WAY) dec. Payne Guilliams (J) 6-3

160 — Austin Stofer (LAFW) pin Gabriel Dudley (J) 4:40

170 — McCord (J) dec. Jonathan Fogarty (LAFW) 6-5

195 — Jacob Sobbing (FH) dec. Zach Norrick (J) 4-2

Quarterfinals

120 — G. Guilliams (J) dec. Jett Merlo (BLSPS) 5-4

126 — Byrd (J) dec. Christian Mayberry (JEFF) 5-3

170 — McCord (J) dec. Kyle Dickhaus (EUR) 5-0