Mascoutah’s Mayes places third at NCAA Wrestling Championships

University of Missouri junior and former Mascoutah High School standout Lavion Mayes put the finishing touch on a memorable season — and memorable trip to New York City — on Saturday when he placed third in the 149-pound weight class at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

Seeded third in the 149-pound division heading into the start of the tournament on Thursday, Mayes bounced back from a 3-2 loss in the quarterfinals to win three consolation round matches. The last coming on Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden when he defeated Anthony Collica of Oklahoma State 3-2 in the third place match

A former state champion at Mascoutah, Mayes earned his second straight all-American honor. Mayes placed seventh in the 141-pound weight class a year ago.

Also earning an All-American medal on Saturday was North Carolina State University senior and former Cahokia High School wrestler Thomas Gantt.

Undefeated and seeded second in the 157-pound weight class entering the tournament, Gantt put the finish touch on a solid collegiate career with an eighth place finish on Saturday. Gantt dropped a 6-3 decision to Joe Smith of Oklahoma State in the seventh place match.

Gantt will not begin workouts for the United States Olympic Trials which will be held in Iowa City, Iowa next month.

Dean Criddle: 618-239-2661, @CriddleDean

This story was originally published March 19, 2016 at 8:36 PM with the headline "Mascoutah’s Mayes places third at NCAA Wrestling Championships."