Wrestlers Complete Season with Strong Showing at State

Grain Valley High School (GVHS) Wrestling sent seven student athletes to the Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships February 14-16th. Heading to Columbia were Mitchell Alexander (138), Caleb Benshoof (132), Ethan Grasher (152), Trent LeGrotte (145), Donovan McBride (HW/285), Hunter Newsom (170), and Jaden Worthington (220).

Alexander finished third and Newsom placed sixth in the Class 3 championships.

Head Coach Jesse Whitson is proud of his team’s effort over the weekend.

“I thought all the guys competed hard. Hunter Newsome did a great job this weekend. He was a dark horse going into the weekend as an unranked wrestler in the state and came away with a 6th place finish. He did a great job of improving throughout the course of the season and it all paid off last weekend,” Whitson said.

“It was great to see Mitchel Alexander finish his career with a 3rd place finish. He has battled through a lot over the past few seasons. It was great to see him achieve the goal of earning a medal this weekend and finish his career with a win over an opponent who had beaten him multiple times this season. He showed the heart and fight that we saw from our athletes all year.”

Senior team members were instrumental to the success of the program over the past four years, and their efforts off the mat have earned two academic honors and one the opportunity to continue his career in college.

Mitchel Alexander and Hunter Newsom will receive academic all-state honors this season for having a 3.5 GPA or higher and for their performance at the state tournament.

Caleb Benshoof, a 3-time State placer, will wrestle next year at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN.

“This group of seniors did a great job of carrying this team over the past four years. Many of them were four-year starters and helped contribute to 3 consecutive top ten team finishes, including a 4th place finish their sophomore year. If it wasn't for their efforts, we would not have had the success we did over the past four years,” Whitson said.

In the offseason, Whitson is encouraging his current and incoming athletes to wrestle at MoWest Championship Wrestling Club throughout the spring and summer while competing in off season freestyle and Greco tournaments.

“I would also like to see them commit themselves to getting stronger in the weight room and maintaining a good level of conditioning on a year-round basis. Wrestling is a lifestyle, not just a seasonal sport, and I would like to see more and more of our athletes committing to and living that lifestyle this offseason,” Whitson said.