Logan Montoya knew time was on his side. Just 16 seconds into Saturday night’s state title match in the Class 3 boys wrestling state championships at Mizzou Arena, the Helias senior found himself in a bit of a predicament. Jakweli Gist of Kearney lifted Montoya off his feet and onto the mat for a takedown and a 2-0 lead. “As soon as he picked me up, I thought ‘Oh no,’” Montoya said. “He got two points, OK, now I’m behind. But that’s why we practice as hard as we do, to push the pace when you might fall behind. We’re drilling fast, we’re drilling fast, stand up quick and be ready to go again.”
The extra points added up to a victory. The Helias Crusaders scored bonus points in seven of their wins Wednesday night on their way to a 41-27 victory against the Jefferson City Jays in Central Missouri Activities Conference wrestling action at Rackers Fieldhouse.
The Helias Crusaders couldn’t carry over the momentum. Neosho has been the king of the Missouri Duals in recent years and Helias thought it had a chance to knock off the Wildcats in pool action Friday night at Rackers Fieldhouse. The Crusaders nearly pulled it off before falling 38-36 to the Wildcats. That loss may have carried over into the Crusaders’ final dual of the night, where Helias lost 41-34 to North Point to finish with a 1-2 record on the opening night of the Duals.
The Helias Crusaders have wrestled three duals this season. They’ve had just two matches in those duals go to decisions. “We’re young right now, it’s part of the growing process,” Helias coach Weston Keleher said Tuesday night after the Crusaders defeated the School of the Osage Indians 48-33 in a dual at Rackers Fieldhouse. “It’s not what we want.”
The Helias Crusaders have wrestled three duals this season. They’ve had just two matches in those duals go to decisions. “We’re young right now, it’s part of the growing process,” Helias coach Weston Keleher said Tuesday night after the Crusaders defeated the School of the Osage Indians 48-33 in a dual at Rackers Fieldhouse. “It’s not what we want.”