COLUMBIA, Mo. — Dylen Propes assured himself of a medal early, going from fourth at Class 4 District 4 to the medal stand at the Missouri State Wrestling Championships this past weekend.
Propes opened with District 1 champion Carson McCord of Jackson and built an early lead on the way to a 6-3 decision victory. In his quarterfinal, Propes took Francis Howell Central’s Zach Litzinger to his back early in the first period for five points and held on for a 10-6 win in a match that featured late unnecessary roughness.
All four of the state qualifiers from Class 4 District 4 ended up in the semifinals.
After finishing fourth last week, Propes drew district champion Colston DiBlasi of Park Hill in his half of the state bracket. The inter-district rivals met for the third time this season with a familiar result.
DiBlasi turned to Propes to his back early but didn’t initially score the pin. He switched to a cradle and stuck Propes just 1 minute, 20 seconds into the first period. All three matchups this season ended with first-period pins.
But Propes already had a medal locked up at that point. He went 1-1 on the final day and closed his career with a 4-1 decision against Waynesville’s Todd Angel in the fifth-place match.
Propes finished 45-14 on the season.
Carter Thomas, Park Hill South’s only other qualifier, went 1-2 in the 113-pound bracket.
After a loss by fall in the opening round, Thomas came back to win a 4-3 decision against CBC’s Cevion Severado but lost 1-0 to Cameron Wegener of Lafayette (Wildwood) to end his tournament. Thomas was 22-18 this season.