Semoball

Dexter's Waldner advances to state championship match after recording second-round pin in semifinals

Dexter's Travis Waldner (top) grabs hold of DeSoto's Bradley Hunt during the 170-pound bout on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019 at Dexter High School. Waldner won his quarterfinal and semifinal bouts Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, at the MSHSAA Class 2 Wrestling Championship in Columbia.
DEXTER STATESMAN/Kyle Smith

Dexter senior Travis Waldner earned a spot in the 170-pound state championship match Friday night at the MSHSAA Class 2 Wrestling Championship in Columbia.

Waldner (50-0) pinned Zane Cotten, of Seneca, in 3 minutes, 38 seconds in the semifinal round.

He took a 6-3 lead into the second period, grabbing a 4-0 advantage on a takedown and a near fall.

Cotten (42-6) cut the lead in half with a reversal, Waldner followed with a reversal and Cotten earned an escape.

In the second, Waldner recorded a takedown (8-3), Cotten logged an escape (8-4) and Waldner posted another takedown (10-4) before earning the win by pinfall.

Waldner, who will be wrestling for his first state championship, will face Hayden Burks, of Bolivar, in the championship bout. Burks pinned Gaven Gray-Walker, of Maryville, in 2:58 in the other semifinal.

Championship matches in all classes will start at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Waldner beat Blake Daher (47-3), of Buffalo, by decision 4-3 in the quarterfinals.

Wyatt Parker (15-10) reached the third round of wrestlebacks where his tournament run ended one win short of winning an all-state medal. Brecken Gates, of Cameron, pinned him in 2:23.

Earlier Saturday, he beat Zane Palmer, of Odessa, by decision 3-1 in the second round of wrestlebacks. Eric Harmon’s and Mason Keena’s state-tournament runs ended in the second round of wrestlebacks.

Brayan Juarez, of Mexico, beat Harmon (26-21) by fall in 2:17, and Charos Sutton, Winfield, beat Keena (33-8) by fall in 3:43.

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