‘Our Program’: Spoofhounds’ fab five sets foundation for success

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Maryville freshman Arryonna Bartlett has her hand raised after a pin Saturday in Kearney.

KEARNEY, Mo. — If the Spoofhound girls wrestling program is going to become what Justin Wright, Arryonna Bartlett and everyone involved in it hope it grows into, future teams will have Avery Berry, Laci Henderson, Kamryn Woods, Alannah Chavez and Bartlett to thank.

“I can’t wait for next year, man,” Maryville coach Justin Wright said. “Where we are going to start next year versus where we started this year is night and day. It is monumental for our progress.”

The five pillars of the build came to wrestling at different times with Woods and Chavez joining last season as freshmen, Berry deciding to give the sport a try this season as a first-year junior, Bartlett reaching the varsity ranks as a freshman this season, and Henderson joining midway through her freshman season.

Their season ended Saturday in the district tournament, but with all five set to return next season, the foundation of the program is just being set in Wright’s first year as head coach.

“It is very important to me to see our program grow,” Bartlett said. “There will be a bunch more girls coming in next year. We will have a bigger team. It just won’t be individual success, but as a whole team, we will be successful.”

Bartlett was the team’s top performer this season and its leader despite being a freshman — so much so that Wright named her the team’s captain midway through the season and she took that mantle and kept excelling with a Midland Empire Conference championship.

“It has been amazing,” Bartlett said. “I love working with all the girls. They are all very positive. We just try to keep each other up all the time and try to work hard. I’ve loved it this year.”

Despite being the conference champion and having a 24-5 record coming into the district tournament, Bartlett was seeded seventh in a stacked 130-pound bracket. The top four finishers advanced to the state tournament.

“She has been incredible,” Wright said. “… It is just a super, super tough tournament and that is kinda the nature of the beast. She wrestled her heart out.”

Bartlett started off day one of districts in dominant fashion with pins over Lathrop’s Jolene Ashcraft and Cameron’s Sierra Cross to advance into the quarterfinals on Friday. In the quarterfinals, she faced second-seed Elizabeth Hager of Lexington. Hager earned the win with a second-period pin.

“We have a foundation now that we can build on,” Wright said.

In the consolation bracket on Saturday, Bartlett needed three wins to reach state and got started with a 44-second pin against Kearney’s Eva Meinychuk. In the next match, she faced off with six-seeded Kylee Jesse of Lawson.

Bartlett had an early chance for a takedown, and an illegal hold by Jesse allowed Bartlett to take a 1-0 lead, but prevented the 3-point takedown. Jesse answered with her own takedown to end the first period. The Cardinal proved too dominant on top and earned the third-period pin to end Bartlett’s season.

“I just got to put in more work next year and try to get better,” Bartlett said.

Berry’s districts began with a tough match against Excelsior Springs junior Wamble Tunstall and the Tiger picked up a pin, but Berry responded by pinning Stanberry’s Evelyn Brungardt in her first consolation match.

Berry’s next match was one of the most competitive of the tournament as Berry racked up three takedowns in a dramatic 11-10 win over East Buchanan’s Seriniti Parton to advance to day 2 of the tournament.

“Last night, I really feel like I gave it my all,” Berry said. “Coming into today, she is a good girl, but I just got to keep in mind that it is my first year, it is my learning year. I gave it all that I had and I am really proud of myself.”

Lathrop’s Gracie Rindom was able to end Berry’s season with a second-period pin.

“She took the stuff that we taught her — again, super green at the beginning of the year and she still is, but she took the stuff that we’ve been working on, worked on it continuously and that is why she has gotten a lot better,” Wright said. “Super proud of her. No reason for her to hang her head.”

Berry is excited to continue with wrestling next season.

“I’m really proud of everybody because everybody tried their hardest,” Berry said. “They gave it all that they had and a few of these girls, including me, it is our first year.”

Henderson competed in districts with just a month of wrestling experience and finished 0-2, but she is set for three more years of growth in the sport.

“We are lucky to have her on the team,” Wright said. “She is going to bring in positive energy and encourage her teammates. And that is all you can ask from your kids.”

Chavez and Woods missed the tournament injured, but are also slated to return as juniors next season.

The boys team has its district tournament Friday and Saturday at Excelsior Springs.

“I still have big goals for our boys next week,” Wright said. “Hopefully, get a few down to Columbia, but I really believe that next year, we have set ourselves up to have a lot of success.”