02/22/2009

COLUMBIA, MO. — The Lester twins finished their high school wrestling careers in style Saturday evening at Mizzou Arena.

The four-time medalists from Eureka both picked up their second consecutive state titles at the 79th Missouri Wrestling Championships.

"It feels great, just as great as last season,'' said Matt Lester, who posted a 7-0 victory over Jefferson City's Christian Wyatt for the Class 4 title at 160 pounds. "My goal this season was to focus on my team and let the individual stuff work itself out. We got seven guys to state and hopefully set the tone for success in the future.''

Matt Lester finished the season 56-0, breaking the state record for victories in a season.

"It's a great way to finish, knowing that I set a record like that,'' he said.

Both Matt and Nick Lester have scholarships to Oklahoma. Nick capped his prep career Saturday with a dominating 20-8 victory over Howell Central's Andrew Buffa at 152. Nick Lester finished the season 53-1.

In a different brother act, Howell Central sophomore Terrel Wilbourn wore the warm-up of older brother Brandon and then beat Park Hill's Bricker Dixon 3-1 for the Class 4 title at 112. Brandon Wilbourn was leading big in his Friday semifinal at 145 but was unable to finish due to a knee injury. In 2008, Brandon Wilbourn lost by injury default in a title match after being knocked unconscious.

"I had to win for both of us,'' Terrel Wilbourn said coming up with a takedown with 43 seconds left to cap a 47-2 season.

A pair of three-time finalists from Holt successfully made the step up from Class 3 champs to Class 4 winners. At 135, Tony James (48-4) came up with a reversal with 30 seconds left and went on to a 3-2 victory over Tyler Thompson of Blue Springs.

"He beat me by one point last week at districts, so it really felt sweet to come back and beat him for the title,'' James said.

At 145, Holt's Greg Amos (45-1) followed up on James' victory by scrambling to a 16-11 win. In Class 3, both James and Amos finished second in 2007 and first last year.

Zumwalt West's Tommy Tuck (41-1) posted a 16-4 major decision over Park Hill's Hayden Bock at 189. Tuck, a three-time state medalist, placed fourth at 189 in 2007 and third at 189 in 2008.

Kirkwood's Stephen Doty was the other area Class 4 champion. Capping a 55-0 season at 171, Doty came up with an escape to start the final period and won 1-0.

Other area Class 4 runners-up included Zumwalt West's Kyle Hussey (103 pounds), Zumwalt West's Taylor Bolin (125), Hazelwood Central's Julian Smith (215) and McCluer's Wesley Bell (285).

A pair of Dakotas brought home the area's Class 3 titles. At 145, Timberland's Dakota Magrew (41-3) pinned Belton's Taylor Powers. De Soto's Dakota Smith (49-3) won 6-3 over Windsor's Brandon Campbell.

Area Class 3 runners-up were Zumwalt North's Cody Orr (112), Timberland's Jake Cook (140), Parkway North's Nick Moore (152), Windsor's Tim Waltenberger (189) and University City's DeMarco Kemp (285).

jlyons@post-dispatch.com | 636-255-7205