Platte County sits on the brink of claiming a Suburban Conference White Division championship on the strength of a deep roster making up for lack of experience with sheer numbers and developing talent.
Platte County senior EmmaLyn Burnett works for a turn in the 125-pound match of a dual with Grain Valley on Wednesday at Grain Valley North Middle School.
On Wednesday night, Grain Valley won five of six total matches in a dual at Grain Valley North Middle School, but the Pirates were an easy 48-25 winner thanks to seven byes and a pin for senior star EmmaLyn Burnett at 125 pounds. She came back this season as the only member of the roster who previously qualified for the Class 2 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships, going 1-2 at state last season after becoming the third district champion in program history.
Platte County also returns five other starters, but only one received a match against Grain Valley, leaving much of the mat time for freshmen and standouts from other sports new to the program.
Platte County junior Alivia Juarez (170 pounds) and sophomores Karrington Friddell (100 pounds), Gabriella Ciccarelli and Nicole Fernandez — a quartet of second year starter — all took forfeits against Grain Valley, which only had six in the lineup but included state-ranked standouts Sevreign Aumua and Jayden Moehle. The Eagles immediately fell behind 12-0 and never led. Notably, Friddell continued her drop to 100 pounds to leave the Pirates with only one open, the fullest the Pirates have ever been in the program’s six years.
Platte County junior Adrianna Ciccarelli takes a shot during the 115-pound match of a dual with Grain Valley on Wednesday at Grain Valley North Middle School.
Friddell and Gabriella Ciccarelli took the first two forfeits, and junior Adrianna Ciccarelli quickly fell behind Valerie Blees in the 110 match. Ciccarelli had multiple chances at takedowns in the third period but lost a 12-3 major decision.
Grain Valley was then open at three of the next five weights, as well. The Eagles also forfeited two of the final three weight classes with both teams not having a wrestler at 155.
“It is what it is,” Platte County coach Reggie Burress said. “I’d like for all of our girls to get matches that don’t get matches. It’s one of those things where the future of the sport is teams get more and more girls.”
Platte County sophomore Gwendolyn Duncan took the forfeit at 115 followed by sophomore Charley Sims at 120 to increase the lead to 24-3. At 125, Burnett dominated start to finish and turned Grain Valley’s Mackenzie Davis twice, scoring the fall midway through the first period for what would be the only contested win on the night.
Burnett currently ranks No. 3 at 125 pounds as the regular season winds down and heads up Platte County’s postseason hopes after junior fellow state qualifier Giada Cucchiara suffered a season-ending knee injury during fall soccer.
Platte County freshman Anna Wiesehan wrestles in the 130-pound match of a dual with Grain Valley on Wednesday at Grain Valley North Middle School.
“(Burnett)’s getting where we need her to be at the right time,” Burress said. “That’s a very positive thing and all you can ask for.”
Platte County freshman Anna Wiesehan reached the third period in the 130 match but ended up pinned before junior Annabel Beeman took a forfeit at 135 for the Pirates. Grain Valley junior Sevreign Aumua — a returning Class 2 state champion ranked No. 1 at 140 — then recorded a first period fall against Mila Cucchiara, another Pirates freshman. The Eagles then closed within 36-19 after Keya Butler outlasted junior Taylore Lavery for a 3-0 decision at 145.
However, Juarez and Fernandez’s forfeit wins closed out Platte County’s scoring ahead of a matchup between junior Madeleine Stone and Grain Valley’s Jayden Moehle, ranked No. 4 at 235. Stone scored an initial reveals and went into the second period down just 3-2. However, Moehle scored an escape, takedown and pin in the next few seconds to earn a win.
Stone (swimming), Beeman (cross country and soccer) and Sims (track and field) have all made strong transitions to wrestling after starring in other sports during their high school careers.
Platte County freshman Mila Cucchiara wrestles in the 140-pound match of a dual with Grain Valley on Wednesday at Grain Valley North Middle School.
“There’s a lot of growth there,” Burress said.
Platte County improved to 3-0 in White Division duals and face off against Belton, ranked No. 10 in Class 2, this Thursday with the conference title on the line. The Pirates will celebrate senior night on Wednesday at home against Park Hill South.
William Chrisman Triangular
The Pirates dominated a pair of conference matchups with William Chrisman and Raytown on Monday at William Chrisman High School in Independence.
There were only nine matches wrestled total in the two duals. Platte County opened against William Chrisman and came away with a 54-21 victory with individual wins for Friddell, Fernandez and Burnett. All three were pins with Friddell at 100 for the first time on the season.
Platte County topped Raytown 60-9 in the next dual with only three matches wrestled total. Stone came up with the only victory for the Pirates, pinning Melanie Jimenez in the 235 match.
