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The Blair Oaks Falcons had a pair of individual champions in taking second in the team standings in the Class 2 District 3 Tournament that concluded Saturday. Nolan Laughlin at 138 pounds and Cole Peters at 285 claimed titles for the Falcons.
It was a quick first day for the Blair Oaks Falcons at the Missouri Duals. The Falcons went 0-3 at Helias Gym, with less than half a lineup competing in each dual. “Unfortunately, it turns into an individual tournament, which is not where we want to be,” Blair Oaks coach Mike DeMilia said of wrestling shorthanded. “Lots of injuries, so many guys who haven’t made their weight for numerous reasons.
Outside the Blair Oaks wrestling room, there is a white sheet of paper hanging on the door with two words printed on it: “One more.” It serves as a reminder for the Falcons each time they enter the room. Just nine months earlier, Blair Oaks only needed to win “one more” match at the Class 2 boys wrestling state championships to bring home the program’s first state trophy in nine seasons. With six state qualifiers returning this season, and four state medalists among that group, the Falcons are hoping for “one more” chance at a state trophy.
COLUMBIA — For a few minutes, ending a pair of nine-year droughts was within reach for the Blair Oaks Falcons. It had been since 2014 when the Falcons last won a state trophy and had an individual state champion on the wrestling mat. But in the end, both streaks came up just barely out of reach.
It was a good start for the Blair Oaks Falcons, but they were hoping it would be better. “There was a lot of good, but we missed out on a couple of opportunities,” Blair Oaks coach Mike DeMilia said, as the Falcons sit in fifth place in the team standings following Wednesday’s competition in the Class 2 boys wrestling state championships at Mizzou Arena. “We lost a couple matches that could come back to haunt us."