Cainen Menke, St. Pius X wrestling
Menke, a freshman at St. Pius X, won the Class 1 state championship after he pinned Lafayette County senior Xavier Myers at 5:14 of the 132-pound final at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia on Feb. 26. Menke is the first St. Pius X wrestler to capture a state title. A Menke takedown (three points) in the semifinals against Cameron sophomore Colton Flick was the difference in a 4-1 decision. Menke’s other two wins were by major decision (11-0) and fall (2:12).
Kaemen Orine, Seckman wrestling
In one of the most dramatic finishes in the state finals, Orine, a sophomore, scored a reversal with 18 seconds remaining in the third period of the Class 4 106-pound final for a 5-4 comeback decision over Ozark freshman Parker Hansen at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia on Feb. 28. Orine’s other three wins at state were by fall (1:18) and major decisions (14-6, 10-2). Orine’s brother, Kai, won three state titles for the Jaguars (2017-2019). Their brother, Draegen, was a two-time state medalist (2021-2022).