COLUMBIA, Mo – Those who say sequels are never as good as the original have not watched the epic matchups between Seckman senior Cole Ruble and Lafayette junior Andrew Wier this season.
The two 190-pound wrestlers met for the fourth time Saturday, this time on the biggest stage at the Class 4 MSHSAA state championships at Mizzou Arena.
Wier had won the first three matchups, each more dramatic than the previous one, and they saved the best for last.
In a back-and-forth affair, Ruble earned the go-ahead takedown with 1 minute 10 seconds remaining and held on for a 6-5 victory over Wier to claim his second consecutive state title.
“My mentality going into the match was that my record against him was zero and zero. I knew this was my last time stepping on a mat for the rest of my life and I had to go out the right way,” said Ruble, who will play football at Southeast Missouri State.
The match was tied 4-4 midway through in the third period when Ruble made his move.
“Getting that takedown, I had the feeling that this is over, but he got that escape and I already had a stall call. Those last 30 seconds were the slowest 30 seconds I’ve ever had in my life,” Ruble said.
Wier won a 9-4 decision over Ruble at the Lafayette Fred Ross tournament on Jan. 7, won by pin in the final 12 seconds to clinch a Lafayette dual meet victory over Seckman on Jan. 18, and claimed the Class 4 District championship in a 5-3 thriller one week prior to the state tournament.
But on Saturday, it was Ruble who had his hand raised.
Ruble (38-7) joined senior John Bamvakais in making Seckman history as the first two Jaguars ever to win titles at the same state tournament. Bamvakais earned a 3-1 decision over Liberty freshman Trey Craig in the 157-pound championship match.
“I watched his whole match and that really pumped me up,” Ruble said. “When he won, I thought, ‘It’s my turn.’”
Smith goes back-to-back with OT win
Troy senior Brett Smith won his second consecutive state title with a 3-1 sudden victory over Liberty sophomore Peyton Westpfahl in the 175-pound bracket. Smith cruised into the championship round with two technical falls and a second period pin but found himself locked in a defensive battle with Westpfahl heading into overtime.
“I just tried to keep my composure as best as possible. I was telling myself right there, ‘This is what you worked for all year, it’s time to go get it.’” Smith said.
Smith (43-2) avoided several near takedowns by Westpfahl in the extra session, then made his move, securing the win with 10 seconds remaining in the sudden-victory portion of overtime.
“That moment fit the way I wanted this season to end so perfectly. It makes my heart so full,” said Smith, who will continue his wrestling career at Northern Illinois.
Smith, who finished fifth as a freshman, second as a sophomore and won the 170-pound bracket last season with a 2-0 victory over Hayden Trezek of Francis Howell, experienced a different season as a senior than when he was chasing his first title.
“I was putting in even more work than last year because I knew I had a target on my back,” Smith said. “It was a long season, I was banged up, but the stars aligned. It’s a great feeling.”
Hernandez, Shepard win titles to help Howell Central claim second place team trophy
Francis Howell Central senior Aidan Hernandez also made the most of his overtime opportunity.
Hernandez (29-1) earned a reversal and near fall in the second overtime period to defeat defending champion Eli Zar of Neosho 7-2 to capture the 165-pound title.
It was the first championship match appearance for the highly-accomplished Hernandez, who placed fifth as a freshman (138), sixth as a sophomore (152) and third as a junior (152).
“It means a lot for me, but to be honest, that (win) might have locked up second place as a team. Coach (Steve) Cross has been with me the last 14 years. To win that one for him means a lot,” Hernandez said.
Tied at 2 in the second overtime, Hernandez started on bottom, found his way free and then used his signature move to win the final match of his career.
“I think everyone in the state knows cradle is my move. I was just trying to get my one (point), and I saw the opportunity. I thought, ‘State finals, what do I have to lose? It’s my last match ever. I might as well go out with a bang.’” Hernandez said.
Shepard (40-7) won the 126-pound title with a 5-3 decision over Lafayette junior Dylan Roth.
Shepard built a 5-0 lead through two periods, then held off Roth in the third to add a state title to his fourth-place medal as a freshman and fifth-place finish as a junior.
“I makes me feel happy that I stuck with it, kept working and it finally happened,” Shepard said.
The day was doubly special for Shepard, who has been wrestling alongside Hernandez since second grade and has had similar close calls in previous state tournaments.
“We both got the job done, finally,” Shepard said. “It feels great to accomplish it with him.”