Notebook: Kearney senior wrestler a victory away from school’s career record

Kearney High School senior Grant Leeth has wrestled more than 200 matches in his high school career. His next one will make school history.

Leeth is one win away from owning the Kearney school record for career victories. He tied the mark of 195 on Saturday by winning the Liberty Tournament's 152-pound weight class.

A two-time state champion, Leeth also lifted Kearney to the team title. The Bulldogs tallied 307.5 points, easily besting Lincoln East (Neb.), which finished with 233.

Leeth was one six Bulldogs to finish in first place. Seth Brayfield (126 pounds), Blake Clevenger (138), Andrew Buckley (160), Dalton Lewis (170) and Brandon Adams (195) also won. It was the first career tournament titles for Adams, Buckley and Lewis.

Liberty wrestler Keyen Braughton swept through the 220-pound division, winning all five of his matches. Braughton improved to 45-3 this season. The host Blue Jays finished in sixth place.

Platte County finished second at the Lydia's Lights Blue Springs South Tournament, behind only Waynesville in the 11-team tournament.

Platte County sophomore Matthew Schmitt tallied his 40th win of the season en route to winning the 106-pound division. Ethan Karsten (132 pounds), Caleb Crabtree (138) and Johnny Blankenship (145) also won their weight classes.

For the second straight season, the West Platte boys basketball team has climbed to the top of the state rankings.

One of only two remaining undefeated teams in Missouri Class 2, the Blue Jays are ranked No. 1 in their class by the state coaches association. Unbeaten Sacred Heart is No. 2.

West Platte, 18-0, made it through the regular season undefeated last year before falling to Salisbury in the state championship game. The Blue Jays played the game without leading scorer Adam Roe, who tore his ACL in the semifinals.

Roe has returned for his senior season and picked up where he left off last season, averaging 22 points per game. He has committed to play basketball at Army.

"He's been even better (this year), really," Tanner said. "We kind of thought that may hinder him a little bit, but he's doing everything just as well as did last year, if not better."

A bevy of local high school athletes Wednesday are set to sign national letters of intent, which are binding agreements to continue their athletic careers into college.

National Signing Day on Wednesday is the first day participants of football, soccer, track and cross country are allowed to sign national letters of intent to attend NCAA schools. Athletes from all other sports were allowed to take part in the early signing period, which took place Nov. 13-20.

The Star will provide extensive coverage of National Signing Day in Thursday's sports section.

This story was originally published February 4, 2014 at 11:55 AM with the headline "Notebook: Kearney senior wrestler a victory away from school’s career record."