The Nixa boys wrestling team competed in the 2026 Class 4 District 3 tournament at Joplin High School on Feb. 20-21.

18 teams took the mat, and the Eagles placed third overall with 120 points, behind Ozark (162.5) and Neosho (218). 

En route to the team's third-place finish, six wrestlers placed in the top four and qualified for the state tournament.

Sophomore Peyton Chainey was Nixa's top performer and the lone wrestler to capture a district title. The No. 4 seed won his opening and quarterfinal round with first-period pins over Ray-Pec's Oliver Branick and Lee's Summit West's Steven Brown. Chainey then upset his next two opponents to capture the 150 title. He faced top-seeded Tristian Morgan, of Lee's Summit, in the semifinals and won with a 16-5 major decision (MD) victory. In the title bout, he faced No. 2 seed Lee's Summit North's Kale Lepert. With a 7-0 lead after the first period, Chainey quickly landed a takedown and pinned Lepert to win his first title district and state qualification berth.

Top-seeded Owen Diemoz qualified for his second straight state tournament, as the junior finished second. Diemoz coasted his way towards the final. He pinned Ozark's Grady Kerans and Lee's Summit North's Chris McDonald in the first period to reach the semifinals. Facing Rolla's Jack Mrozowicz next, Deimoz defeated Mrozowicz with a 13-4 MD victory, securing his state berth. In the championship match, Diemoz faced a familiar foe in Neosho's Kaymon Rhone, with the Nixa grappler winning the first match 3-2 at the Kansas City Stampede in mid-December. Rhone won this go-around, as Diemoz fell 10-5.

Juniors Jax Adams (132), Kaden Young (165), and Weston Weldon (215) all placed third in their respective classes, punching their tickets. 

Adams endured the longest journey for his third straight berth. The No. 7 seed pinned Carthage's Mason Artym in the first period but fell in the quarterfinals to Ozark's Andrew York. From there, Adams had to win his next three matches or his season was over. That he did, and one additional. He pinned his next two opponents to reach the consolation semifinal, including upsetting the No. 6 seed Waynesville's Mason Zamora. 

In an offensive outpour and back-and-forth match, Adams prevailed over Joplin's Andrew Burke, the No. 5 seed, by decision 22-17. Down 15-13 with 1:30 remaining, Adams scored eight straight points to take the lead and was awarded an additional point to take the victory and secure a state ticket. He then went on to upset Neosho's Brody Mitchell, the No. 3 seed, by decision 3-2 to capture third place in the 132 division.

Young, the No. 2 seed, and Weldon, the No. 1 seed, reached the semifinal match, but each fell. The two won their next two matches to place third and qualify for their first state tournament. 

Junior Tyler Gibson, the No. 4 seed, capped off Nixa's final qualifiers in the top four. The 190-pounder reached the semifinal but fell to the top seed, won his next match by decision 8-1, which secured his state berth, and fell in the third-place bout, finishing fourth overall.

Nixa's six state qualifiers will compete in the Class 4 state tournament from Feb 27-28, at Mizzou Arena.

Click here for the complete Class 4 District 3 tournament results.