Platte County came so close to a memorable senior night in a decisive scenario unfairly dependent on the final match.
Platte County senior Nicole Fernandez wrestles in the 235-pound match of a dual with Belton on Tuesday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
A pair of early pins for Platte County provided an opening, but Belton rallied late for a 45-36 dual victory Tuesday night at Pirate Fieldhouse. Platte County went into the 235-pound bout needing a bonus point outcome from senior Nicole Fernandez to deliver another unlikely three-way split of the Suburban Conference White Division title.
Instead, Belton’s Malena Borja recorded a second-period pin in a dramatic conclusion to another tight matchup between the two teams.
“No extra pressure on Nicole,” Platte County coach Reggie Burress said. “Nicole went in focused on her and what she needed to do. She gave us everything she had, and we just didn’t quite have enough.”
A year earlier, Platte County sprung an upset of Belton in what ended up a share of the White Division title that also included Fort Osage. Belton won the conference outright this season thanks to a 42-39 victory over Fort Osage in December and then surviving this week against Platte County, which went into the dual shorthanded and giving away forfeits at 155, 170 and 190 pounds.
Platte County sophomore Harper Golden wrestles in the 110-pound match of a dual with Belton on Tuesday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Having lost to Fort Osage 49-30 the previous week, Platte County opened up an initial 24-0 lead Tuesday night with a key series of results.
Ariel Humphreys continued a standout freshman season and needed just 30 seconds to pin Aimar Torres Hinojos at 100 pounds, and senior Karrington Friddell took a forfeit at 105, the only opening in Belton’s formidable lineup. The biggest swing came at 110 from Platte County sophomore Harper Golden, who stayed scoreless after two periods with Africa Fabian.
Golden took down to start the third period and reversed Fabian to her back, scoring the fall at the 4:49 mark.
“Ariel took care of business,” Burress said. “Harper gave herself a chance, and that was huge for her. Those were the results we needed to have a chance.”
Platte County senior Charley Sims, one of two returning state qualifiers on the roster, dominated her 115-pound match for the fourth straight maximum points result.
Platte County sophomore Ava Blankenship wrestles in the 135-pound match of a dual with Belton on Tuesday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Belton closed the gap with a pin for state medalist Sydney Stifter over Platte County’s Gabriella Ciccarelli, another of five seniors in the lineup, and then a decision for Abigail Hayes at 125 against first-year sophomore Katelyn Newberry. Platte County stayed in contention with senior Anna Wiesehan (130) and sophomore Ava Blankenship (135) both recording pins in what ended up the final victories for the hosts.
Another state qualifier, Blankenship stayed down a weight in wake of a season-ending elbow injury to freshman Mattie Blankenship, her younger sister. Belton closed with three pins plus the forfeits to erase a 36-9 deficit in short order.
Fernandez reached the second period against Borja, who used her choice to take the top position. She turned Fernandez and scored the pin at the 2:37 mark.
“I knew it was going to be hard, but they fought hard and did a great job,” Burress said. “If Mattie’s in the lineup, that might look different.”
Platte County senior Charley Sims records a pin in the 115-pound match of a dual with Belton on Tuesday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Platte County sits at 12-6 overall in duals with a 4-2 record in the White Division heading into Tuesday’s regular season finale at Truman before more than a week off before hosting the Class 2 District 4 tournament Friday and Saturday, February 13-14 at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Last year, Platte County finished second to Fort Osage in the final team standings for Class 2 District 4.
Throwdown in Joe Town
Platte County finished seventh out of 25 teams with four top-four finishers in a straight bracket tournament Friday at Civic Arena in St. Joseph. The Pirates were without both Ciccarelli and Ava Blankenship but still totaled 107 points — just 11 1/2 behind fourth-place Lathrop.
The top seed at 115, Sims (40-8) continued her strong run of performances with an individual title. She pinned her first three opponents without going to the second period and then won a 14-1 major decision over Central (St. Joseph) senior Abby Donovan in the final.
Platte County freshman Ariel Humphreys wrestles in the 100-pound match of a dual with Belton on Tuesday at Pirate Fieldhouse.
Humphreys (100) and Golden (110) both came back from semifinal losses to place third.
Now at 46-8 on the season, Humprheys piled up a 16-0 technical fall in the first round and then pinned Adrian freshman Danika Keyton in the first first period before a loss to Plattsburg sophomore Isabella Hofmeister, the eventual runnerup.
Humphreys then won her final two matches, including a first-period pin of Kearney freshman Rebecca Lafollette in the third-place match.
Golden’s loss came to 110-pound champion Macey Greene, a senior from Holden. Golden went 4-1 on the day with all four victories by fall, including a pair against Mid-Buchanan freshman Brooklee Thomas (quarterfinals and third-place match).
Fernandez went 2-2 with just nine wrestlers in the 235 bracket. She pinned Central (St. Joseph) freshman Chloe Cameron in the quarterfinals and Adrian sophomore Tori Chamness in wrestlebacks before a loss in the third-place match.
