Ryder Herron stands once again on top of the podium, having successfully defended his state title in the 285 pound division. Ryder is the first wrestler in Rock Port’s history to win back-to-back state titles. Only one other wrestler, Mike Minter, holds two state titles, but they weren’t back-to-back.

 

Norah Watkins qualified for the state wrestling tournament at 110 pounds. Norah was two and two and didn’t make the championship bracket.

 

Emma Teten had four matches at 115 pounds. Emma was two and two at the tournament, just finishing outside the championship bracket.

 

Evelyn Heintz wrestled at 120 pounds against Haley Brooks of Holden. Evelyn won by decision 12-8 to advance to the next round.

 

Jax Peregrine, wrestling in the 215 pound bracket, wrestled Kian Carpenter of Lone Jack in the second round. Jax lost by pin.

 

Ryder Herron gets his arm raised at the conclusion of his final match. He was named the Missouri State Champion in the 285 pound division.

 

Five Atchison County wrestlers travelled to Columbia, Missouri, to compete in the 2026 MSHSAA State Wrestling Championships,  held February 25 and 26, 2026, at Mizzou Arena.

Individual results are as follows:

GIRLS

110 lbs. – Norah Watkins

Rock Port senior Norah Watkins qualified for the state tournament three years. She finished one match short of a medal this year.

Champ. Round 1 – Norah Watkins won by tech fall over Izabella Schierholz (Warsaw) (TF-1.5, 5:24, 17-2)

Quarterfinal – Emerson Reeves (Herculaneum) won by fall over Norah Watkins (Fall 5:21)

Cons. Round 2 – Norah Watkins won by decision over Ashlyn Wildgrube (Brentwood) (Dec. 9-5)

Cons. Round 3 – Annabelle Dunlop (Winnetonka) won by fall over Norah Watkins (Fall 1:26)

115 lbs. – Emma Teten

Rock Port senior Emma  Teten qualified for state all four years of her high school career. She also finished one match short of a medal this year.

Champ. Round 1 – Emma Teten won by fall over Sophie Hurtgen (Chillicothe) (Fall 1:45)

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Quarterfinal – Lillian McCleary (Lone Jack) won by fall over Emma Teten (Fall 0:44)

Cons. Round 2 – Emma Teten won by fall over Kammara Tedder (Potosi) (Fall 2:24)

Cons. Round 3 – Mallori Edwards (Eldon) won by decision over Emma Teten (Dec. 6-0)

120 lbs. – Evelyn Heintz

Rock Port junior Evelyn Heintz qualified for state in 2025 and 2026.

Champ. Round 1 – Evelyn Heintz won by decision over Haley Brooks (Holden) (Dec. 12-8)

Quarterfinal – Lindsay Rampani (St. Clair) won by fall over Evelyn Heintz (Fall 3:23)

Cons. Round 2 – Aalyiah Sanders (Odessa) won by decision over Evelyn Heintz (Dec. 8-6)

BOYS

215 lbs. – Jax Peregrine

East Atchison’s Jax Peregrine made his first trip to the state tournament this year. Jax is a sophomore at Tarkio High School.

Champ. Round 1 – Hunter Nixdorf (Penney) won by fall over Jax Peregrine (Fall 0:34)

Cons. Round 1 – Kian Carpenter (Lone Jack) won by fall over Jax Peregrine (Fall 1:39)

285 lbs. – Ryder Herron

Rock Port senior Ryder Herron made his third trip to the podium after placing sixth in 2024 and winning state championships in 2025 and 2026.

Champ. Round 1 – Ryder Herron won by fall over Mytchal Sherrell (Stover) (Fall 0:32)

Quarterfinal – Ryder Herron won by fall over Caden Mettlach (Bishop DuBourg) (Fall 0:49)

Semifinal – Ryder Herron won by major decision over Noah Govro (Summit Christian Academy) (MD 13-1)