MEXICO - For the state-ranked Fulton Hornets wrestling team, it was a breeze.
Fulton - ranked No. 2 in Class 2 by rankwrestlers.com - advanced 12 wrestlers to the state championships later this week in Columbia by decisively marching to the District 2 title early Saturday night at Mexico High School.
The Hornets, showcasing six individual champions, piled up 248.5 points in running away with the District 2 championship. Mexico was far back in second place with 139.5 points, followed by Kirksville third (135), MICDS fourth (115.5), Moberly fifth (113), and Winfield sixth (100).
The top four finishers in each weight class qualified for the state championships starting Thursday at Mizzou Arena.
Capturing individual titles for Fulton on Saturday were four juniors - Josh McClure (138 pounds), Trenton Clines (145), Zach Benner (195), and Clayton Bristol (285) - and a pair of sophomores, Devan Hudson (113) and Brandon Dews (120).
Also advancing to the state championships for the Hornets were senior Noah Braun, second at 170 pounds; a trio of third-place finishers - senior Taylor Gillooly (182), sophomore Luke Berrey (152), and freshman Tucker Caswell (106), and two fourth-place finishers, juniors Jason Pae and Andy Baysinger at 132 and 160, respectively.
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Editor's note: For a complete follow-up on Fulton's District 2 championship and state qualifiers, see Tuesday's edition.