Carl Junction Senior Wins First State Wrestling Title

Marcus Lopez-Durman caps off high school career with dominant performance at 190 pounds

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Carl Junction senior Marcus Lopez-Durman won his first Missouri State High School Wrestling Championship on Saturday, defeating Camdenton freshman Brock Conaway 16-5 in the 190-pound title match at Mizzou Arena. Lopez-Durman, who had fallen just short of a state title the previous year, used his signature slamming technique to cruise to victory in his final high school competition.

Why it matters

Lopez-Durman's state championship victory caps off a successful high school wrestling career and provides a triumphant end to his time representing Carl Junction High School. The win also highlights the continued strength of the wrestling program at Carl Junction, which had several other medalists at the state tournament.

The details

Lopez-Durman faced off against Camdenton freshman Brock Conaway in the 190-pound state championship match. The Carl Junction senior notched five takedowns, including one in which he completely lifted Conaway off the mat and executed a beautiful throw, en route to a 16-5 victory. "That's my style, you know, using slams," Lopez-Durman said. "That's how I practice. When I get in with a shot, I like to slam them." Lopez-Durman had previously defeated Conaway 13-3 at districts a week prior, but said he was still a bit nervous facing an opponent who knew his tendencies.

  • The 2026 Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships took place on Saturday at Mizzou Arena.

The players

Marcus Lopez-Durman

A senior wrestler at Carl Junction High School who won his first state championship in the 190-pound weight class.

Brock Conaway

A freshman wrestler at Camdenton High School who finished as the runner-up in the 190-pound weight class.

Carter Temple

A wrestler from Kearney High School who is considered one of the best in the state and defeated Lopez-Durman in overtime the previous year.

Camden Kunkel

A Carl Junction wrestler who finished as the runner-up in the 126-pound weight class.

Jaxson Yaple

A sophomore wrestler at Carl Junction High School who earned a sixth-place medal in the 138-pound weight class.

Kage Stewart

A freshman wrestler at Carl Junction High School who earned a fourth-place medal in the 285-pound weight class.

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What they’re saying

“That's my style, you know, using slams. That's how I practice. When I get in with a shot, I like to slam them.”

— Marcus Lopez-Durman (ozarkssportszone.com)

“I did what I came here to do and made the finals. It was not the result I wanted, though. I can work on my shot defense. That's a big thing for me.”

— Camden Kunkel, Carl Junction wrestler (ozarkssportszone.com)

“I thought I wrestled pretty well throughout the season. There are definitely some things that I can fix. I think I need to work on having a better gas tank and getting up from bottom. (Temple) is really good with his hips and keeping pressure on you. He was able to keep me down using his body weight.”

— Stevan Benhumea, McDonald County wrestler (ozarkssportszone.com)

“I bumped up to heavyweight, so I didn't expect the season to go the way it did. I definitely could have won that match, but I got stuck on bottom. I need to work on that in the offseason. (Knollmeyer) is a big dude and has a really nasty elbow chop. Hopefully I can make it to the top of the podium next year.”

— Louden Bolinger, Webb City wrestler (ozarkssportszone.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.