Kearney junior Eli Ashcroft wrestles his way to a third consecutive state championship

If you were curious what a high school wrestler does after winning a state championship, the answer may go something like this: eat some Reese’s peanut butter eggs and then hit the weight room.

At least, that’s what Kearney’s Eli Ashcroft planned on doing.

Ashcroft, a junior, claimed his third straight Missouri Class 3 state title Friday evening, defeating Farmington’s Blake Cook 12-6 in the 132-pound championship bout at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence.

“It feels good to win,” Ashcroft said. “I thought it was going to open up a little more, but props to him — he’s a good wrestler and he caught me for a couple of points, and I just had to stay strong and keep going.”

Ashcroft got out to an early 5-0 lead and soon extended it to 11-1. The state title seemed in the bag.

But Cook fought back in the third and final period, picking up late points to narrow the final score.

A series of stalemates down the stretch meant Ashcroft had to rely on his defense to win.

“I kind of slowed down there toward the end and took my foot off the gas,” Ashcroft said. “But still a great tournament and great things leading up to this, as well.”

Ashcroft was one of three Kansas City-area wrestlers to make it to a Class 3 championship match Friday evening.

Hunter Newsom of Grain Valley won a state championship with a 6-5 victory over Neosho’s Jeremiah Larson. Newsom, a senior, finished 18-1 and handed Larson his first loss of the season.

Grandview’s LJ Davenport also made it to a title bout. He endured a tough match but fell 14-1 to Jacob Mann of Ladue Horton Watkins at 138.

Two Platte County wrestlers — Eli Rocha at 145 and Jaydon Walls at 195 — took third place. Platte County finished seventh in the team standings (52 points). Kearney and Grain Valley tied for eighth with 50 apiece.

Whitfield won the team championship with 182 points to second-place Neosho’s 148.

Other notable KC-area results:

120 lbs.: Kolby McClain, Smithville - fifth

126: Alexander Hutchcraft, Smithville - sixth

132: Eli Ashcroft, Kearney - first

132: Brady Littleton, Belton - fifth

138: LJ Davenport, Grandview - second

145: Eli Rocha, Platte County - third

145: Garrett Deason, Kearney - fifth

152: Ben Locke, Kearney - fifth

160: Jeremiah Phillips, Fort Osage - fifth

170: Blaine Keuhn, Platte County -fifth

170: Zach Attebury, Belton - sixth

195: Hunter Newsom, Grain Valley - first

195: Jaydon Walls, Platte County - third

This story was originally published March 12, 2021 at 9:35 PM.