COLUMBIA - The Fulton Hornets were exceptional in embarking on their mission to acquire a Class 2 state wrestling title.
Fulton - coming off a narrow Class 2 runner-up finish in 2015 - moved nine of its 11 qualifiers into this morning's state quarterfinals during Thursday's opening round of the 86th MSHSAA championships at Mizzou Arena.
The Hornets' quarterfinalists include their three returning state champions - seniors Josh McClure, Zach Benner and Trenton Clines. McClure and Benner easily triumphed with pins at 145 and 220 pounds, respectively, while Clines was the recipient of a forfeit victory at 152.
Also advancing for Fulton were senior Clayton Bristol at 285 pounds, junior Brandon Dews at 120, sophomore Tucker Caswell at 113, seniors Andy Baysinger and Kobe Kaminski at 160 and 195, respectively, and junior Luke Berrey at 170.
Junior Devan Hudson also made it to today's round by winning his first-round wrestleback match at 126 pounds. The Hornets' other qualifier, sophomore Colton Bristol, was eliminated when he bowed in first-round wrestlebacks at 182 pounds.
"I think we did what we should have done," Fulton head coach Eric Hudson said. "... Overall, we're in pretty good shape - we're kind of where I expected us to be at this point.
"I guess I should be more excited when kids meet our expectations, but then again the expectations are a little high. I think the kids are good with living up to those."
Sparked by their extraordinary effort Thursday, the Hornets are sitting nicely in second place in the Class 2 team standings with 35.5 points - a mere point behind first-place Smithville (36.5). Cameron is third with 31.5 points, just in front of three-time defending state champion Oak Grove in fourth place with 31.
Mexico - Fulton's North Central Missouri Conference rival - is fifth with 30.5 points and Pleasant Hill is sixth with 28.5.
The Hornets - who also finished second in Class 2 in 2013 and fourth in 2014 - are pursuing their first state championship since winning a Class 3A title in 1981.
"It may well be (a tight race)," Hudson said. "Sometimes people run away with it on the second day, so we'll see what happens (today). We have two more long days to compete and try to eke out a team victory."
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McClure (39-1) opened his quest to become the Hornets' first-ever three-time state champion by subduing Sullivan junior Kale Dudley in the first round at 145 pounds. McClure - who owns state titles at 113 and 138 pounds - piled up a 10-0 lead in the first period before pinning Dudley with 6 seconds left.
"I just went back to my top game - that's kind of my bread and butter," McClure said. "He was a little squirmy at first, but I get the points, get the points and then eventually they'll give up."
McClure will face Savannah junior Brant Price (48-8) in the quarterfinals. Price advanced with a 4-2 decision over Clinton senior Sam Bayless.
Benner (40-0) - seeking a second straight undefeated run to a state championship - barely broke a sweat in his first-round match at 220 pounds. He tallied a quick takedown of Cameron senior Colby Gerber and then jammed his shoulders to the mat in a snappy :39.
"You've got to look at every match like it's your last at this point, so I came out there all ready to go," said Benner, who secured a state title at 195 pounds last year.
Benner's quarterfinal opponent will be Monett junior Angel Villalta (28-11), who scored a pin over Sullivan sophomore Ryan Erxleben in 5:53.
Clines (27-2) - a state champion at 145 pounds in 2015 - won Thursday without stepping foot on the mat after Center sophomore Daylyn Snelling was forced to forfeit their first-round match at 152.
Clines will clash with Eldon sophomore Trenton Dillon (33-8) in the quarterfinals. Dillon logged a 12-5 decision over Miller Career Academy sophomore Reno McDaniels in the first round.
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Clayton Bristol (34-2) was almost as fast as Benner in finishing off his first-round opponent at 285 pounds. Bristol registered a takedown before putting away Hollister junior Brandon Gandy with a pin in just :52.
"From what I've heard, he was pretty strong," Bristol said. "So I figured I would just go out there and try to outwrestle him a little bit, and if I got the chance, put a dump or something and get him to his back quick so I could get the pin.
"Team points help and it makes you feel a lot better when you get off that mat real quick with a win."
Bristol will tangle with Oak Grove junior Austin Kemp (37-9) in the quarterfinals. Kemp moved on by pinning Ste. Genevieve senior Kade Jett in 5:39.
Dews (34-1) also supplied Fulton with a pin at 120 pounds when he stuck Monett sophomore Angel Rabadan in 3:14.
"I used a half (nelson) and I stuck his head down in and put him on his shoulders, and that was it," Dews said. "I was waiting for the right moment to slam it in."
Dews' quarterfinal matchup will be against St. Clair sophomore Jason Landing (37-11), who posted a 7-3 decision over Richmond sophomore Austin Bowman.
Caswell (34-4) kicked off the Hornets' day by demolishing Eldon freshman Isaiah Simmons in a 17-2 technical fall at 113 pounds.
"I just wore him down," Caswell said. "He was really hyped up to start the match and wasn't really giving me anything, trying to keep it close.
"Once I got to wrestling a bit more, he opened up and I was able to use my stuff."
Caswell will square off in the quarterfinals against Oak Grove senior Jet Tryon (41-3), who advanced with a forfeit win over (Cape Girardeau) Notre Dame freshman Evan Dowdy.
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Baysinger (34-5) accounted for Fulton's other pin at 160 pounds. He built a 7-0 advantage over School of the Osage senior Michael Henley before putting him away in 4:07.
"I just controlled him through the whole match," Baysinger said. "That's what I really like to do - ride the wrist, hang on and try to get some near-falls.
"I took him down in the first (period) and that was the key right there. I believe the first takedown in a match is very important, it kind of sets the tone."
Baysinger moves on to a meeting with Oak Grove senior Tristan Stack (36-7) in the quarterfinals. Stack pinned Sullivan junior Dalton Ward in 1:48 in the first round.
Kaminski (18-4) - making his first trip to state after taking last year off to focus on football - pulled away late in sealing a 9-2 decision over Chillicothe sophomore Kayde Burton at 195 pounds. Kaminski scored a pair of first-period takedowns and took a slim 4-2 advantage into the third period, adding five critical points on an escape, a takedown and a near-fall.
"You walk out there, even though it's a same wrestling mat and the match is the same length, it's hard for you not to be - in the back of your mind - nervous," Kaminski said. "It means a little bit more. He's a tough kid, but I think the neutral game is what won me the match.
"I would have liked to have gotten off the bottom better, but those takedowns in the first period kind of propelled me to having momentum the rest of the match."
Kaminski's quarterfinal foe will be Pleasant Hill junior Lane Jellison (45-7), who rolled to a 12-4 major decision over Miller Career Academy senior Fred Wallace.
Like Clines, Berrey (34-7) reached the quarterfinals at 170 pounds without competing. His first-round opponent, Ste. Genevieve senior Wyatt Hahn (17-7), was disqualified for unknown reasons.
Berrey meets Chillicothe junior Dean Adkins (48-6) in the quarterfinals. Adkins prevailed in a 6-2 decision over Pleasant Hill junior Dalton Bach in the first round.
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Devan Hudson (28-12) sidestepped an early exit with a 13-2 major decision over St. Clair junior Lucas Davis in first-round wrestlebacks at 126 pounds. Hudson was pinned earlier by Odessa senior Dakota Miller in 1:23 in the first round.
Colton Bristol's first appearance at the state championships came to an end with a 7-2 loss to Savannah junior Jeremiah Glise in first-round wrestlebacks at 182 pounds. Bristol dropped a 13-7 decision to Ste. Genevieve sophomore Wade Hahn in the first round.
Bristol completed the season with a 26-12 record.
•Notes: Quarterfinal matches start at 9:30 this morning, followed immediately by second-round wrestlebacks. Semifinal matches and third-round wrestlebacks are set for 6 tonight. Saturday's schedule begins with fourth-round wrestlebacks at 10 a.m., followed by third- and fifth-place matches at noon and topped off with the state championships beginning at 4:30 p.m.