Photos by Cody Thorn
Four of the six Tiger wrestlers are still in the running for medals at the Class state tournament in Columbia.
Zach Dickens and Shayne Piles each advanced to Day Two by winning their opening matches. Brandon O’Connell and Johnathon Beckett each lost their openers, but followed it up with wins in the consolation bracket during the evening session.
Republic’s two underclassman qualifiers––Michael Taylor and Hunter Pyle––dropped both their matches to bring their seasons to a close. Taylor finishes his freshman year with a 37-11 record. Pyle finishes 22-10 as a sophomore.
Piles advanced to the heavyweight quarterfinals with a pin of Alex Jetton of Fort Zumwalt North.
Dickens is in the quarterfinals after a first-round win over Ryan Gardiner of Webster Groves. Dickens won a 7-5 decision.
Brandon O’Connell kept his season alive after an opening loss to William Siebert of Farmington. He pinned Kendal Whited of Ladue Horton Watkins in the first round to advance to Day Two.
Johnathon Beckett lost to Mavrick Alexander of Grain Valley in his first match, but followed it up with a pin of Cody Thorne (St. Charles).