STATE GREATS

Trenton’s Whitney, Owen Claim Medals At State Tournament

Jadan Whitney had given it his all.
In the semifinals of the 195-pound bracket at the Class 1 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships on Friday, Whitney had taken Knob Noster’s Kodie Bellury to the limit, losing to the eventual state champion at the weight by a 3-1 decision. It was in that moment after shaking Bellury’s hand that Trenton’s 195-pound junior had a decision to make. He could mail it in with a state medal already in hand or he could finish the tournament the way he started it.
Whitney chose the latter.
On the consolation side of the bracket, Whitney picked up two hard-fought decision victories and left Columbia with a third-place medal – the first state medal of his career.
He would join Mason Owen (220), who finished sixth in his bracket, as a state medalist for Trenton. Owen’s state medal was his second straight after finishing fourth a year ago.
Also in action for Trenton was sophomore Mark Trump, who went 1-2 at the tournament in the 182-pound bracket.
“We brought three down to the state tournament and took two medals home,” Trenton Head Coach Charlie Bacon said. “I’m so proud to have two state medalists.”
Whitney only began wresting as a freshman in high school. He had no prior experience in the sport, but in just his third year on the mat, he scored an elusive state medal.
His run to the medal got off to a blazing start.
Whitney scored a 13-4 major decision victory over Keilan Jaques of El Dorado Springs in the opening round and followed that up with a 7-2 decision victory over Wyatt Becker of Lawson to reach the semifinals and clinch a state medal.
“Jadan had a great tournament,” Bacon said. “He is a gifted athlete and has picked up the sport quickly in just three years. There probably aren’t many kids with three years of total wrestling experience that pick up a third-place medal at the state tournament. His only loss was to the eventual state champion at his weight in the semifinals. After his loss, I was so proud that Jadan fought back and won his next two matches for the third-place medal. He is just a junior, so I am really looking forward to his senior year.”
Owen blazed the trail for Whitney, earning a state medal last year while Whitney watched – a state qualifier but not a medalist as a sophomore. This year, while Whitney captured a state medal of his own, Owen was able to repeat as a state medalist at 220 pounds.
Like Whitney, Owen earned a first-round victory, pinning Jacob Bieser of Valle Catholic. But Owen’s tournament would take a turn in the quarterfinals when he was pinned in the second period against Brett Campbell of Summit Christian Academy.
The loss made for some work for the Trenton senior. Owen dug in, however, springing back-to-back wins in wrestlebacks to reach the consolation semifinals and guarantee himself another state medal. He pinned both Travis Stout of Holden and Jordan Delashmutt of North Callaway to reach the semis.
Owen’s career would end with two losses – a 9-3 decision loss to Justin Leath of Lone Jack and a 6-5 decision loss to Colten Kenady of Buffalo. But Owen still left Mizzou Arena with a state medal, becoming the first Trenton Bulldog since Mason Mounce to win state medals in back-to-back years.
“Mason lost to the eventual state champion in the quarterfinals, which meant he needed to win his next two matches just to get a medal,” Bacon said. “As a senior, Mason showed the mental toughness needed to fight back into a medal by winning his next two matches by pin. Mason has had a wonderful career in his three years of wrestling for THS. He has had over 100 career wins, two state medals, and will receive the honor of academic all state for the second year in a row. I’m so proud of Mason and all that he has done in his career. I am also extremely proud of the young man he has become.”
Whitney will be nominated for academic all-state, an honor bestowed on state medalists who carry a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.
Trenton’s third state qualifier, Trump, dropped his opening match by a 10-2 major decision, wrestling the top-ranked 182-pounder in the state – Whitfield’s Noah Elmore. He would bounce back in wrestlebacks, topping Trenton Holloway of Summit Christian Academy by a 3-2 decision. But his tournament would end in the second round of wrestlebacks when he fell by a 4-3 decision to Kemeren Jenkins of Lawson.
“Mark also had a good tournament for his first time,” bacon said. “He showed a lot of potential in his three matches, which were all very close. After his first loss, I was proud of how Mark bounced back in the wrestlebacks to beat a kid from Summit Christian Academy who had beaten us earlier in the season. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do in the next two years.”
Whitney finished the season with a 36-9 overall record while Owen was 37-8 and Trump was 32-20. The Bulldogs will return Whitney and Trump next season to lead the wrestling team into another year.