Sandridge takes third at state wrestling

Connor Sandridge started the wrestling season on the sideline because of an injury. He finished on the medal stand at the state championships. Sandridge finished third in the 170-pound bracket of the Class 4 state tournament in Columbia, finishing his season with four straight victories.

Sandridge pinned his first opponent before losing in the state quarterfinals to Hayden Trezek, who went on to finish second. After that, in a series of win-or-go-home matches, Sandridge pinned four consecutive opponents to earn third place. In his last match, he trailed Cole Harrell of Columbia Hickman 2-0 as the third period began. He got a takedown to tie the score, then won the match on another takedown in overtime.

Sandridge’s third-place finish is the best-ever for a Republic wrestler in Class 4. Jonathan O'Connell finished fourth in Class 4 in 2020 and Wyatt George finished fifth last year.