COLUMBIA, Mo. – Levi Perry-South wrestled for 14 years waiting for the opportunity that stood before him Thursday afternoon.
He did not waste time seizing it.
The St. Charles senior built a huge first period lead in his 132-pound semifinal match and cruised to a 19-4 technical fall over Cassville senior Akhileus Arguelles to earn a spot in the Class 2 championship match at Mizzou Arena.
“He came to wrestle. That’s a different level of wrestling that we’ve seen out of him,” St. Charles coach Kevin Dill said.
Perry-South (40-8) will face Seneca senior Brady Roark (55-0) in the 132-pound title match when the Class 1 and 2 boys and Class 1 girls begin their state championship matches at 5:15 p.m. Thursday.
Perry-South entered attack mode from the outset of his semifinal match, taking shots, securing takedowns and building a 10-3 lead after one period.
“Just watching how (Arguelles) wrestled in the state tournament, I tried to see what his weaknesses were and tried to stay away from his strengths,” Perry-Smith said.
The instinct to wrestle cautiously and hold onto his sizable lead never crossed his mind. Perry-Smith kept his foot on the pedal, added a takedown early in the second period and began doing mathematics in his mind.
“I was trying to add up how many points I needed to tech fall him,” Perry-South said.
It was an aggressive approach that Dill enjoyed watching.
“We train our kids that that the best defense is a good offense. If you never give your opponent a chance to get his offense going, that’s how you win matches,” Dill said. “He never gave (Arguelles) breathing room to do anything.”
Leading 17-4 after two periods, Perry-South chose the neutral position, secured a takedown 10 seconds into the third period, and was overcome by emotion.
“As soon as (the referee) said “two,” I was super-happy. It brought me to tears instantly,” Perry-South said. “I’ve been working for this moment for the past four years of high school and making it to the finals really means a lot to me.”
Perry-South began his high school journey in Oklahoma, where he became a state qualifier as both a freshman and sophomore but did not reach the medal stand. He moved to St. Charles as a junior and placed sixth in Missouri at 126 pounds.
“Moving (to Missouri) was a big change, but I had to keep moving and keep up the sport,” Perry-South said.
He will enter his 132-pound state title match Thursday night beaming with confidence.
“He’s a kid you have to laugh with and keep him light on his feet,” Dill said. “He hasn’t been thinking about who he’s wrestling, he’s just focused on doing what he does best.”
His opponent will be two-time defending state champion Brady Roark of Seneca (105, 120), who will enter the match with a 55-0 record. Roark also placed second as a freshman (106).
“(Perry-South) is going to have his hands full in the final, but if he wrestles like he did in that semifinal match, he’s going to give himself a shot,” Dill said.
Perry-South added, “I’ve been wrestling since I was four years old to get to this moment right here.”
Defending champions St. Clair seniors Ryan Meek (120) and Brock Woodcock (157) will also wrestle for Class 2 titles.
St. Charles senior Alyssa King (105), North Point junior Cassidy Benwell (120) and Festus senior Lauren Mills (125) will wrestle for state titles in Class 1 girls.