And a freshman shall lead them.
Cainen Menke was one of nine St. Pius X wrestlers to qualify for the Class 1 state championships at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia on Feb. 25-26. Entering state at 132 pounds with a record of 32-11, the freshman wasn’t considered the most likely Lancer to win the school’s first wrestling championship.
In the third period of the 132 final, Menke was trailing Lafayette County senior Xavier Myers 7-6, when Menke put Myers on his back and pinned him at 5:14, becoming the first Lancer in their short history to win state.
“I was excited and knew I had a chance,” Menke said. “I didn’t really think I was going to the finals, but knew if I wrestled my best, I could. I didn’t get in my head or nervous. I went out there like it was a normal tournament.”
St. Pius head coach Dennis Alexander has been mentoring Menke on the mat since he was a wee lad. While Alexander would have been just as excited to see any of his wrestlers break down the state barrier, watching Menke do it from a few feet away meant a lot to him.
“Looking back, I can say I didn’t think Cainen would be the guy (to win state). But next man up, and he’s a hard-working kid,” Alexander said. “I saw a freshman who dug deep. I saw a freshman I’ve coached since he was 6 years old. He was just better (than Myers) tonight. (Menke) kept it simple. He got an arm bar, and kept cranking it until the kid flipped over, and we stuck him.”
Even through the din of noise thousands of fans in the Mizzou Arena create during the finals, one voice stood out.
“I could hear (Alexander) pushing me and yelling at me,” Menke said. “I knew if I just did everything I could – defense and offense – I could get it.”
Several of the Lancers got a late start to the season because the school played for the Class 2 state football championship in December. Despite Menke’s title, St. Pius fell from sixth place to 10th in the team standings with 71 points. Ever since private schools from St. Pius X (KC) and Father Tolton Catholic moved up in class, Centralia has won the last two Class 1 titles, this year with 115.5 points. Marceline (second, 106.5), North Callaway (third, 105) and Lathrop (fourth, 90) were the other team trophy recipients.
“We were banged up after the long football season, but I wouldn’t change a thing,” Alexander said.
Menke’s path to the state title began with an 11-0 major decision against Palmyra freshman Behrett Lorenson. After pinning University Academy sophomore MarQuan Phillips-Rice at 2:12, Menke scored a 4-1 decision over Cameron sophomore Colton Flick on the strength of a second-period takedown.
As significant as Menke’s title is, the road sophomore teammate Cash Hancock took to his medal was equally impressive. It’s rare for a wrestler to lose in the first round, and wind their way back into medal contention. But that’s what Hancock did at 120. Hancock was pinned in 41 seconds by Centralia sophomore Graden Hedberg in his first match. Hancock, who finished fourth in the state at 106 in 2025, received a win by forfeit on the consolation side, then won a 5-4 decision over Sherwood senior Wyatt Weekley with a reversal in the third period. After a pin, Hancock met Hedberg again, but this time Hancock was much tougher and won 7-6, scoring all of his points in the third on a takedown and being awarded four penalty points. An escape in the second period was the only point awarded in Hancock’s 1-0 decision over Stover sophomore Brodie Zeller.
“It was a grinder of a (third-place) match,” Alexander said.
Junior Dawson Litterall stepped off the Show-Me Bowl football field in St. Joseph and onto the wrestling mat. The transition isn’t easy. Litterall finished fifth in the state at 165 after he won a 14-8 decision over Lawson sophomore Ryan Kisner. A Litterall takedown with 10 seconds to go sealed fifth place.
“It wasn’t the result I wanted, but I fought my way back,” Litterall said of his placement. “(Kisner) was fighting hard. He had heart. He had me in a headlock, and whenever they have your elbows like that, it’s called a super duck. I held him down for the last 15 seconds. Getting back to wrestling shape is tough. It really is. It took some time to get accustomed to it.”
The county’s all-time single-season leader in rushing yards (3,002), junior Cody Shaver took a record of 31-5 into state at 190, but Shaver lost a 9-4 decision in the blood round.
Odessa repeated as the Class 2 state champions. Herculaneum had four state qualifiers – sophomore Kamdon Reeves (113), junior Lucas Asinger (132) and seniors Keaton Reeves (190) and Joseph Oliver (215). Asinger and Keaton won a match but were stopped in the second round of wrestlebacks.