Sims forces way onto podium, continues Platte County’s state medal streak

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Charley Sims took the direct route to forcing a way onto the podium and continue an important streak.

Capping a breakout season, Platte County’s junior 115-pounder opened Friday in the Class 2 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships with back-to-back wins at Mizzou Arena to earn a spot in the semifinals. She wound up sixth in the bracket, and the Pirates have now brought home at least one state medal in each of the past six seasons.

A first-time qualifier, Sims became Platte County’s fifth medalist overall and matched the finish of EmmaLyn Burnett, a 2024 graduate, at 125 pounds from last season.

“Just keeping on building the team. Hopefully, this brings in more girls and amps up next year,” said Sims, who went into the tournament at No. 6 in Missouri Wrestling’s pre-state rankings and finished with a 30-9 record.

Platte County brought three qualifiers after setting a program record with three finalists in the Class 2 District 4 tournament two weeks earlier. While Sims earned the medal, senior Giada Cucchiara closed an accomplished but brief career with her first two state wins in a meaningful second chance, while freshman Ava Blankenship received valuable experience in an 0-2 debut at 140 pounds.

A second-year wrestler, Sims continued a trend of rapid development in Platte County’s program, upsetting the order with a dominant win over Eureka junior Kirra Dunscombe in the 115 quarterfinals. Dunscombe came back to defeat Sims in the fifth-place match with the top-six finishers matching the rankings coming into the tournament.

“I’d say definitely the coaches and the team,” Sims said of the key to inexperienced wrestlers thriving at Platte County. “All the older girls are super helpful, and it’s just like a sister bond and the coaches are the best.”

Sims opened with a tidy 4-0 decision over Francis Howell senior Evie Ryan (20-10) before matching up with fifth-ranked Dunscombe. Sims recorded the opening takedown within 30 seconds and piled up points on the way to a 14-3 major decision.

With the medal secured, Sims showed emotion when greeting assistant coaches Matthew Schmitt and Joe King in the corner after what turned out to be the final win of Sims’ season.

“I think I was just relieved that I could kind of relax a little bit; no matter what happened I would place,” Sims said.

In the semifinals, Lebanon senior Jessa Joiner (44-1) secured a 16-0 technical fall late int eh second period on the way to becoming a four-time finalist and three-time state champion. This sent Sims to the backside where she nearly earned the first win in three tries against William Chrisman senior Maya Saldivar (32-3), who lost in the other semifinal to Branson freshman and eventual state runnerup Alyssa Salemie (40-4).

Sims took a 4-0 lead with an escape and takedown in the second period but gave up an escape in the closing seconds.

Saldivar, who defeated Sims in the 2023 district semifinals and the district championship match two weeks ago, chose neutral to start the third period. She secured a tying takedown and put Sims straight to her back for a seven-point move in the closing seconds of regulation to win an 8-4 decision.

In the fifth-place match, Sims faced a rematch with Dunscombe, who scored a reversal in the final seconds for her only points in a 2-1 win.

“This is what (Charley) needed,” Platte County coach Reggie Burress said. “She wrestled really well right up until the end in those last two matches. Hopefully, she can build on that momentum and bring more girls along with her.”

Cucchiara became only the fifth district champion in program history to earn a second state berth but first since her sophomore season. She missed all of 2023-24 while rehabbing a torn ACL suffered in offseason soccer that put her on a 18-month hiatus from the sport.

Recently committed to continue her career at Baker University, Cucchiara (31-16) went 2-2 in the 135 bracket and missed a state medal by just one match. She opened with a 5-0 decision over Seckman junior Nadia Steinhoff (25-17) after going 0-2 as a first-year sophomore in the first trip to state.

However, Cucchiara then faced Francis Howell Central senior Nevaeh Smith (44-10), a fourth-time qualifier and returning third-place medalist at 130 pounds. Smith pinned Cucchiara late in the first period, but she came back to earn a fall against Lindbergh sophomore Quinn Hope in 3 minutes, 40 seconds to keep her tournament alive and advance to the second day.

Needing one more win to earn a medal, Cucchiara gave up all three takedowns in a consolation semifinal with Francis Howell North junior Aubrey Peterson (27-9), who seemed to tire late but held on for a 10-6 decision. Cucchiara scored the final three points on a reversal and penalty for stalling but ran out of time with wrestleback matches shortened to five minutes compared to the championship side six.

Peterson went on to finish fifth.

“The year away probably cost (Giada), but she’s resilient,” Burress said. “I’m really proud of her. She’ll bounce back.”

A district runnerup after wrestling a total of less than 2 minutes total in the two-day tournament, Blankenship (24-20) lost matches to the fifth- and fourth-place finishers at 140 pounds, although neither opponent entered ranked. Troy senior Brooke Dollard (37-18) pinned her in the first period in Friday’s opener, and Carthage sophomore Irish Lee (31-12) recorded a fall in 1:51 of the first round wrestleback matchup.

Blankenship advanced to the Class 3 District 4 championship match with a quick pin in the quarterfinals before advancing to the title bout after her opponent failed to make weight on the second day.

“I think this will probably help (Ava) greatly, more than we know,” Burress said.

Platte County fielded the deepest lineup in program history with Cucchiara and Madeleine Stone heading up a seven-member senior class that helped the Pirates earn a share of their second-ever conference championship. They filled all 14 weight classes at points early in the season and sent 13 to the postseason.

A 2024 state qualifier, Stone (28-6) — another Baker commit — seemed a strong bet to advance and possibly medal at 235 pounds before suffering a high ankle sprain in her first match at districts. The injury ultimately contributed to unexpectedly early end to her Platte County career, while the Pirates managed a second-place team finish in Class 2 District 4 despite the setback.

Cucchiara ended up as the lone senior at state this season, making up for lost time and joining KayLyn Munn, Sarina Bertram and Burnett as Platte County’s only two-team qualifiers. She also served as an unquestioned leader after not missing any workouts, practices or competitions as a junior and took on roles of team manager, unofficial coach and ardent supporter of her teammates while out of action.

“We’re really excited (about what’s ahead), but it’s also bittersweet (with Giada not medaling),” Sims said. “We’re never going to get this group back. They were the most helpful, the best girls. Almost all of them are in (Mizzou Arena) right now. I just love them.”