Whitfield's AJ Rallo caps off high school wrestling career with fourth state championship
COLUMBIA, Mo. – AJ Rallo knew what was at stake going into his Class 3 138-pound championship match on Saturday night at Mizzou Arena.
Already a three-time state champion, the Whitfield senior had a chance to achieve the rare feat of winning a fourth state title – something only two other boys at the 2023 Missouri wrestling championships had an opportunity to accomplish.
“After the semis this morning I was a little nervous, which is normal, but an hour before my match I started thinking that this kid’s the one trying to take my fourth state title from me,” Rallo said, “and it kind of made me more angry and excited to wrestle than pissed and just keeping that in my mind that that kid is trying to take four from me kept me on the gas pedal.”
It worked.
Rallo defeated Hannibal junior Cody Culp with a 6-0 decision to win his fourth state championship and join an elite club of Missouri high school wrestlers and become the fourth four-time winner in Whitfield history.
“Thinking back to three years ago thinking that this could be possible but how many valleys and pits I’d have to go through to get there was kind of daunting,” Rallo said, “but every year I got a little bit closer and it got more and more like surreal until I got here before my first match and I’m just thinking I have four more matches in my high school career, let’s end it on a perfect note.”
That he did.
Rallo captured the Class 1 championship at 106 pounds as a freshman in 2020, then won the Class 3 title at 113 as a sophomore in 2021 and the Class 3 championship at 126 as a junior a year ago.
“I’m just going to enjoy the moment with my family and look back on my high school career and everything that’s happened,” Rallo said, “and honestly I’m just so grateful I even got the opportunity to do this and become a four-timer and the fact that I am is just so surreal I can’t believe it.”
The Whitfield senior standout won 153 matches and lost just 17 over his four-year career as he helped the Warriors win three state championships (Class 1 in 2020, Class 3 in 2021 and 2022) along with a second-place finish in Class 3 this time.
Asked what advice he’d have for Whitfield teammate Porter Matecki who will have a chance to go for his fourth championship next year, Rallo offered some insightful guidance.
“Just take it one match at a time,” he said. “Don’t look forward to it – obviously you want to look forward to it – but don’t think about that all the time. You want to take it one step at a time and improve as much as you can and focus on the adventure there instead of the destination.”
Whitfield's AJ Rallo wins fourth state title
Lisa Rigdon photo
MORE COVERAGE OF THE MISSOURI WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Hillsboro wins first Missouri wrestling championship in school history
Liberty boys, Lebanon girls continue Missouri wrestling championship streaks
Photos: Missouri wrestling championships (Boys Class 3-4, Girls Class 1) finals
Palmyra's Collin Arch captures fourth Missouri state wrestling championship
Photos: Missouri wrestling championships (Boys Class 1-2, Girls Class 1) finals
Missouri state wrestling championships preview (Boys Class 3-4, Girls Class 2)
Missouri state wrestling championships preview (Boys Class 1-2, Girls Class 1)
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