Platte County built the fullest — and probably best top to bottom — lineup in the program’s history this season. The Pirates put the depth on display in the regular season finale Wednesday night, coming away with a tidy 45-24 victory over Park Hill South in the Panthers’ gym.
Platte County senior Haley Burge takes a forfeit at 110 pounds during a dual with Park Hill South on Wednesday at Park Hill South High School in Riverside.
With seven matches contested, Platte County took wins in four while also outpointing the hosts on forfeits to pull away. The Pirates might have taken a loss in the past due solely to lack of numbers, but the dynamic has changed in the fifth year since the state started sponsoring the sport.
“It’s a great team effort,” Platte County coach Reggie Burress said. “One thing you know you’re going to get from us is we’re never going to quit wrestling.”
Platte County finished with a program-best 8-2 record in duals and placed second to Belton in the Suburban Conference White Division standings. The Pirates now have more than a week to prep before hosting the Class 2 District 4 tournament next weekend with a chance not make more history.
The win over Park Hill South ended up being a swift and dominant comeback. Starting at 155, Platte County went ahead 12-6 after an exchange of three forfeits, but the Panthers took the lead with pins for Aniya Coleman (100 pounds) over freshman Gabriella Ciccarelli and Zella Gray (105 pounds) over sophomore Karrington Friddell in the first two matches.
Platte County junior EmmaLyn Burnett works for a pin in the 125-pound match of a dual with Park Hill South on Wednesday at Park Hill South High School in Riverside.
Platte County erased the 18-12 deficit with a forfeit for senior Haley Burge at 110, and senior Lilly Brower needed just 26 seconds to pin Mylee Lentz. The Pirates led 24-18 at that point and wouldn’t trail again.
“You know when we get to 110 through 135, they’re going to fight and claw and kick,” Burress said. “The two younger girls at the bottom, they’re still learning a lot and trying to get stronger. Hopefully, next year they’ll be helping us out in that situation.”
With senior Hannah Mand out of the lineup, Platte County senior Ashlyn Iman took a forfeit at 120 in what will likely be her final appearance. The Pirates continued the momentum with a pin for junior EmmaLyn Burnett in 19 seconds at 125 before the most competitive match of the night.
Platte County junior Sarah Humburg gave up the opening takedown to Lucia Henriquez but didn’t give up another point. Humburg secured a takedown in the final second of the second period to tie the score 2-2 then came up with the winning takedown in the waning seconds of regulation to take a 4-2 decision at 130.
Platte County sophomore Giada Cucchiara finishes off a pin in the 135-pound match fo a dual with Park Hill South on Wednesday at Park Hill South High School in Riverside.
“She’s doing a little better job of staying in better position, not giving up a lot of early scoring,” Burress said. “You have to have that, and she finds a way to win.”
Platte County’s lead went all the way to 45-24 when sophomore Giada Cucchiara pinned Cypher Troutner in 1:19. Park Hill South’s final win came from senior Maddie Kubicki, who improved to 150-0 in her career with a pin of sophomore Caitlyn Roudebush.
Now, the focus turns to Platte County maximizing qualifiers for the Class 2 Missouri State Wrestling Championships in the first season with a split of schools into a small and large tiers. The Pirates graduated all three wrestlers to advance out of districts last season — Elizabeth Humburg, Audrey Call and state champion and three-time medalist KayLyn Munn.
The three qualifiers were a program record, but Platte County could eclipse that this year with an intriguing mix of talent.
A fourth-year senior with the most experience, Burge made solid advancements in larger districts each of the past two seasons and will be seeking a state debut. Mand is a second-year senior who rapidly developed into a threat, while Burnett also goes into her second postseason with a legitimate opportunity, as well.
Platte County junior Sarah Humburg squares off with her opponent in the 130-pound match of a dual with Park Hill South on Wednesday at Park Hill South High School in Riverside.
Also a second-year junior like Burnett, Humburg actually ended up out of the lineup for districts last year, squeezed out of a bunched lineup, and will have her final shot, too. She plans to graduate early, making this her last go-round.
Cucchiara made her debut for Platte County just two months ago but has already displayed the raw talent to make a push.
“You wouldn’t look at her and say she’s a first-year kid at all,” Burress said. “She’s got great partners, and they’ve brought her along quickly. She had that spell where she was out for three weeks (with an ankle injury), and it’s eating at her. Now, she’s back and hungry to learn and get after it.”
Brower will be the intriguing piece, having recently regained eligibility and come back to the sport after a hiatus. She reached the state finals and finished as a runnerup her freshman year at Excelsior Springs and should be one of the favorites to oppose Park Hill sophomore and defending state champion Angelina Vargas in this year’s Class 2 115 championship match. They will also likely be the top two seeds in District 4.
In addition, Platte County wants to see the improvement from Ciccarelli, Friddell, Roudebush, sophomore Alivia Juarez (155), and freshman Nicole Fernandez (190) as the Pirates not only want to focus on the now but also sustained success in the future.
“I would say confidence is high with our kids right now,” Burress said. “Yup — for sure. They’re getting better all the time.”
