The month of December was an eventful one for California Pintos and Lady Pintos wrestling. California participated in five events, including two tournaments, and won 10 medals and nine duals.
First, California made a road trip down Highway 50 to Knob Noster for the Ray Stockdale Invitational Tournament, where California won three medals and placed seventh out of 17 teams on Dec. 3. Junior Kwynnon Duvall led the Pintos with a first-place finish in the 165-pound bracket.
Sophomores Patrick Morrow and Tristan Balsley each placed second -- Morrow at 120 pounds and Balsley at 138 pounds. Senior DJ Schneider and junior Alexis Anguiano each won fourth place in their weight classes, while freshmen Reece Mitchell and Timothy Holtsclaw took sixth place in their weight classes.
It was then off to the Versailles Invitational Tournament, where the Pintos had another strong day by finishing 10th out of 28 teams on Dec. 10.
Morrow, who won the 120-pound division in 2021-22 season, repeated as champion this season. Freshman Cody Schneider had one of his best tournaments and finished second place in the 150-pound division. Duvall and Balsley each took from a medal for California with a third-place finish in the 138-pound and 165-pound divisions, respectively.
Other finishers included Anguiano and freshman Bryce Brown, who each took fifth in their weight class. Freshman Jackson Bernard finished eighth place in the 132-pound division, freshman Jose Martinez finished ninth place in the 126-pound division and freshman Alex Bews finished 11th at 113 pounds.
On Dec. 9, it was the Lady Pintos' turn to hit the mat at the Excelsior Springs Girls Tournament.
The Lady Pintos had three medalists at the tournament. Freshman Madalyn Ferguson took second place in the 235-pound division, while sophomores Ivy Scroggins and Sonya Grotjan each took third place in the 145-pound and 155-pound divisions, respectively. Junior Camryn Wingate also placed fifth at 105 pounds.
California closed out its 2022 schedule with Dec. 12 duals against Warsaw and Knob Noster.
Winners in the Warsaw dual were Morrow, Martinez, Balsley, Scroggins, Duvall, junior Alexis Anguiano (215 pounds) and senior David "DJ" Schneider (285 pounds). The winners in the Knob Noster dual were Balsley and Duvall.
California's next meet will be Saturday at the Chillicothe Tournament.
Freshman Tristan Balsley (left) won the silver medal in the 138lb division at the Ray Stockdale Invitational Tournament on Dec. 3. (Photo submitted by Danielle Morrow)
Sophomore Patrick Morrow finished second place in the 120lb division at the Ray Stockdale Invitational Tournament on Dec. 3. (Photo submitted by Danielle Morrow)
California Wrestling's medal winners at the Ray Stockdale Invitational Tournament. From left to right: Sophomore Patrick Morrow (2nd Place/120lb Division), Junior Kwynnon Duvall (Winner/165lb Division), and Freshman Tristan Balsley (2nd Place/138lb Division). (Photo submitted by Danielle Morrow)
Lady Pintos Wrestling Medalists from the Excelsior Springs Girls Tournament. From left to right: Sophomore Sonya Grotjan (3rd Place, 145lb Division), Sophomore Ivy Scroggins (2nd Place/155lb Division), and Freshman Madalyn Ferguson (2nd Place, 235lb Division). (Photo submitted by Danielle Morrow)
Freshman Tristan Balsley (left) took third place in the 138lb Division & Sophomore Patrick Morrow (right) repeated as champion of the 120lb Division at the Versailles Invitational Tournament on Dec. 10. (Photo submitted by Danielle Morrow)
Junior Kwynnon Duvall won third place in the 165lb Division at the Versailles Invitational Tournament on Dec. 10. (Photo submitted by Danielle Morrow)