Panther Wrestlers earn "All-State" honors!

The FZN wrestling team recently had three individuals place among the top six in their bracket to earn “All-State” honors at the MSHSAA State Championships held last weekend in Columbia. Senior Ashley Head (152 lbs.) made school history by becoming the first Panther female wrestler to achieve “All-State” status. This is the second year for MSHSAA to sponsor girls wrestling. Head won four bouts at the tournament to finish 5th in her weight class. Her achievement was remarkable considering it is her first year to compete in the sport of wrestling. Head is also a member of the FZN soccer team. Freshmen Chance Cole, competing in his first state tournament, made a splash by finishing 5th at 160 lbs. Cole, who finished the season 41 – 4 overall record, is the first freshmen at FZN to earn a state medal since the 2013 season. His 41 wins also broke the school record for most wins in a season by a freshman. Senior Derick Buda-Smith, making his third appearance at the state meet, saved his best for last by finishing 4th at 170 lbs. A main-stay in the Panther line-up over the course of the last 4 seasons, Buda-Smith finished with a career mark of 142 – 39 including a 43 – 5 record this past season. This season marked the first time the Panther wrestling program has produced multiple state medalist in the state tournament since 2013. Also competing at state for the Panthers were seniors: Zoe Santa Cruz (110 lbs.), Logan Prinster (132 lbs.) Ryan Medley (220 lbs.) juniors: Storhm Jones (120 lbs.), Parker Monnig (182 lbs.) and Brendan Mahoney (285 lbs.)

Prinster, a 4-year letterman, narrowly missed achieving “All-State” status, as he lost a narrow decision in the tournament’s proverbial “Bubble” round. Prinster finished 2 – 2 at the tournament and completed the season with a 43 – 9 record. Monnig and Santa Cruz also won a match at the tournament.