The state wrestling meet was one to remember for junior Wyatt Haynes.

He finished third place in the state championships on Feb. 22 at Mizzou. Janna Stevenson, Aiden Kelly, Jackson Ward, and Matt Craig also joined Haynes at state for Liberty.

“This is Wyatt’s third time qualifying for state and Janna’s second time,” assistant coach Kling said. “For everyone else, this is their first time qualifying.”

In his final match, Haynes won by running out the clock with a score of 7-0 and got third place in the 160 weight group ending his season with a season record of 45-4. That day he won two matches in a row. In total at state, he won four times and only lost once.

Haynes was also able to pin Trevor Wilson of Hannibal, who had never been pinned before. Through all his matches his father Kevin Haynes, who is also the head coach of Liberty wrestling was there to accompany him.

“It’s awesome,” Wyatt said. “He has been my coach ever since I started wrestling at the age of 5 and it’s pretty cool to share the moment with him. After winning my third-place match, I jumped into his arms.”

Now that Wyatt has gotten this far, he plans on getting first place his senior year and from there on he may do college wrestling.

“I’m very happy with how the season went and I wouldn’t have changed anything,” assistant coach Kling said.