Riley Sumner excels within the noise, the chaos and the sensory overload of a state wrestling setting.
It is the silence between Day 1 and Day 2 that he would like to conquer.
The Lafayette junior has placed third at state the last two years, losing both times in a semifinal match after a night of pondering what the following day would bring.
“I definitely got in my head before those matches,” Sumner said.
Sumner will join defending state champion Carter Brown (215) and fifth-place medalist Max Rowe (113) as part of a eight-member contingent of Lancers at the 2026 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships Feb. 27-28 in Mizzou Arena.
Sumner, a junior, has won eight of his 10 matches during the past two state tournaments, with his only losses coming in semifinal bouts – a 7-0 loss to Kaison Schrier of Fort Osage at 106 pounds and a 5-1 loss to Hogan Benter of Hickman at 120.
“I just got too nervous and wouldn’t perform great. I was wrestling to not lose,” Sumner said. “This year is a lot different. I have a big switch in mindset.”
The three-point takedown has been helpful in that mindset switch for the lightning-quick Sumner, who outscored his opponents 36-4 in winning the 126 title at the Class 4 District 1 championships Saturday. He will enter Mizzou Arena focused solely on his gameplan and not the results.
“I’m just looking to score points. I’m not even thinking about the outcome,” Sumner said.
Part of his mindset shift has come from playing golf, a hobby that satisfies his competitive nature while forcing him to remain calm when he enters a rough patch.
“With golf, I have to control myself when I hit a bad shot. It has helped me stay composed and not freak out if something goes wrong,” Sumner said.
In addition to striving for individual success, Sumner will try to help Lafayette earn its fifth consecutive team trophy, awarded to the four teams that accumulate the most total points over the two days.
“So many wrestlers on our team made huge jumps this year. The talent in our room makes us all so much better,” Sumner said. “We’re hoping to bring home another plaque.”
And with his change in mindset, Sumner feels ready to remove the semifinal obstacle that has stopped him the previous two seasons.
“I’ve been there,” Sumner said. “It’s time to go.”
Class 4 Local State Qualifiers
106 – Kaenen Orine, Seckman
Damian Rodriguez, Pattonville
Max Lindquist, Timberland
Jace Ravellette, Fox
Omran Ghuneim, Lafayette
Dominic Ferranto, Fort Zumwalt North
Gavin Kell, North Point
Mason Turner, CBC
113– Max Rowe, Lafayette
Jack Bals, Fort Zumwalt North
Wyatt Dannegger, Francis Howell North
Paul Burkeen, Eureka
Eli Porter, Northwest Cedar Hill
Colton Gray, Francis Howell Central
120 – Kosta Hatzigeorgion, CBC
Ahmed Ghuneim, Lafayette
Colton Russell, North Point
Jace Prabha, Pattonville
Dale Maxville, Kirkwood
126– Riley Sumner, Lafayette
Chase Gray, Francis Howell Central
Braden Williams, Seckman
Dalton Lilledahl, Francis Howell
Eugene Wu, Parkway West
Brody Apenbrinck, North Point
Waylen Burress, CBC
132 – Carson Owens, Seckman
Caleb Frankenberger, Lafayette
Noah Brown, Francis Howell North
Carsten Burkemper, Fort Zumwalt North
Keyan Koenig, Hazelwood West
Michael Poulette, CBC
138 – Jacob Vanderiet, Seckman
Chevy Rosales, Francis Howell
Brody Kell, North Point
Connor Stephens, Eureka
Tristan Murphy, Liberty/Wentzville
144– Matthew Wilson, Lafayette
Patrick Provost, Zumwalt North
Elijah Woods, Seckman
Daniel Presley, Francis Howell
Ahmet Mamakhor, Fox
Alberto Malare, Liberty/Wentzville
150 – Chance Ruble, Seckman
Darron Bell, Ladue
Tyson Forbes, Hazelwood West
Drake Weston, Fort Zumwalt North
Connor McBride, Marquette
157 – Colin Rutlin, CBC
Colton Fowler, Seckman
Paxton Hughes, Liberty/Wentzville
Colton Rasnic, Northwest Cedar Hill
Lincoln Breen, Francis Howell
165 – Mike Williams, SLUH
Josh Whitebread, Troy
Nicky Giacalone, Seckman
Cole Aguirre, Fort Zumwalt North
Mason Todd, CBC
Jeremiah Clines, Northwest Cedar Hill
175 – Carter Welsh, Lafayette
Samuel Golden, Francis Howell Central
Tanner Faulkner, CBC
Noah McCollum, Eureka
Cole Dillon, Howell North
Charlie Chapman, Fox
Damarion Smith, Hazelwood Central
190 – Trey Craig, CBC
Isaiah Cullen, Oakville
Deacon Moran, Fort Zumwalt North
Josh Schindler, Pattonville
Kaleb Belcher, Northwest Cedar Hill
215 – Carter Brown, Lafayette
Braydon Horn, North Point
Maddoxx Jones, Liberty/Wentzville
Garo Sams, Francis Howell Central
Anthony Busby, SLUH
Kaden Updike, Oakville
Ashton Schwab, Hazelwood West
285 – Benjamin Mitchell, Francis Howell
Noah McCollum, Eureka
Marco Herrera, Troy
Joe Kopp, CBC
Caleb Otte, Hazelwood West
Albert Reinberg, SLUH
Wrestling Schedule – Boys Class 4:
Friday, Feb. 27
5:45-9:15 p.m.– Boys Class 4 – First round, quarterfinals, wrestlebacks (280 matches)
Saturday, Feb. 28
12:15 – 2:00 p.m – Boys Class 4 – Semifinals, 3rd and 4th round wrestlebacks (84 matches)
3:30-4:00 p.m- Medal matches – 3rd and 5th place
5:15 p.m. Finalist march
5:45 p.m. Championship matches begin
Class 4 brackets can be found here: https://www.flowrestling.org/nextgen/events/15112549/brackets