COLUMBIA, MO – Carsten Burkemper pictured the scene in his mind.
While attending the Class 1 and 2 state championships two days earlier, the Fort Zumwalt North junior imagined himself being announced to the mat, running through smoke machines and wrestling in the very spot where the 132-pound championship would take place.
“I visualized myself out there as they called those names,” Burkemper said. “I dreamt for this moment, visualizing the championship match and making sure I’m the one that comes out on top.”
Burkemper’s mental picture became reality when he defeated Seckman sophomore Carson Owens by 11-7 decision to capture the 132-pound state title during the 2026 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships Saturday at Mizzou Arena.
Burkemper (44-6), who lost to Owens earlier this year, avenged four of his six losses by defeating the same wrestler in a rematch later in the season.
After a scoreless first period in the 132-title match, Burkemper earned the first takedown, then added a reversal and nearfall to build a lead going into the third.
“Getting those points early put me in the best position possible. Then. my endurance took over,” Burkemper said.
His gas tank never departed from ‘full’ during the third period. His hand fighting and high energy continued to push the pace, made possible by morning cardio workouts until the team departed for the Columbia.
“We do a postseason push, cardio-only practices at 6 a.m. for a month until the week of the state tournament. He refused to take any day off,” said Fort Zumwalt North coach Josh Cooper, who celebrated his first state champ as Panthers’ head coach.
Burkemper qualified for the state tournament as both a freshman and sophomore and won one match in total. He spent each offseason competing in high-level tournaments and continued to build his skill set.
“That’s where you learn. Inside the room is where you perfect your craft, but you really jump levels the more you compete,” Burkemper said. “I’ve had my nose to the grindstone the last couple years, and it finally paid off.”
Burkemper won the highly competitive Kyle Thrasher tournament in late January, then won the Class 4 District 2 tournament with a 3-2 decision over Hickman junior Hogan Benter in the title match.
“After I got first in districts, I told myself that I’m going to be a state champ. Knowing that I put in the work and that I belong here is what made the difference,” Burkemper said.
Cooper added, “He dedicated himself to the process, and he conquered the mental side of it. I’m so proud of him.”
Orine adds to family legacy by capturing 106-title with late reversal
Seckman sophomore Kaeman Orine joined brothers Kai and Draegen Orine as Missouri state champions with a 5-4 decision over Ozark freshman Parker Hanson in the 106-title bout.
Trailing 4-3 after a third period Hanson takedown, Orine squirmed loose and executed a reversal with 18 seconds remaining in the match.
“This was my mission at the beginning of the year,” said Orine, who sported bleached blonde hair along with his Seckman teammates.
“That was the guys’ idea, but I didn’t want to be the only one left out. I kind of like it,” he said.
Last season as a freshman, Orine was much lighter than the 106-pound weight class in which he wrestled. He was a state qualifier but did not place. This year, a stronger, more explosive Orine accumulated 35 points in his first three matches – a pin and two major decisions – before facing Hanson, a wrestler he defeated at Winnetonka by tech fall earlier this year.
But Hanson was ready for the rematch. He battled Orine to a scoreless draw in the first, earned an escape in the second and delivered to go-ahead takedown midway through the third.
“That (Winnetonka) match was a lot of me capitalizing on his mistakes. (Saturday), he was a lot more cautious, he wrestled a lot smarter, and come the state tournament, anything can happen,” Orine said.
But Orine (42-5) discovered a dominant trait that lives within the family genes – finding a way to stand atop the same state podium where Kai stood three times and Draegen stood as a senior.
“A lot of relief. A lot of weight off my back,” Orine said with a smile.
Fort Zumwalt North placed 7th as a team with 84.5 points and claimed four medalists, including: Cole Aguirre (2nd at 165), Deacon Moran (3rd at 190) and Patrick Provost (4th at 144).
Seckman placed 8th as a team with 75 points and claimed three medalists, including: Carson Owens (2nd at 132) and Chance Ruble (3rd at 150).
For a photo gallery of the 2026 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships, click this link: https://benvessa.smugmug.com/Class-3-Boys-Wrestling-Championships/Boys-Wrestling-2026