When all the dust had settled from this weekend’s Missouri State High School Athletics Association Class 3, District 2 wrestling tournament, the Warrenton Warriors qualified seven wrestlers to state, highlighted by three district champions and Nicholas Schulze’s six-point third period comeback to clinch a state tournament berth.
The Warriors will send seven wrestlers to the state wrestling tournament, which begins today. Levi Penrod, Jacob Ruff and Kyler Flowers all won the district tournament at the 145 pound, 195 pound and 220 pound weight classes. The district championship is a big deal in setting up the three wrestlers for the state tournament, Wrestling Coach Clayton Olsson said Saturday.
“If you take first at districts, you wrestle a fourth-place guy from the other district,” Olsson said. “It makes your first match easier and if you can win your first two matches at state, you’re a state medalist now. So it’s definitely a huge deal. And I don’t think we’ve ever had three district champs in one tournament. So it’s a great accomplishment.”
Warrenton wrestler Joshua Kassing also made the championship match at the 106-pound weight class. He lost to Kaden Purler of North Point in the championship match to take second place in his weight class.
The biggest comeback of the day for the Warriors was made by Nicholas Schulze in the consolation semifinal match. With a trip to the state tournament on the line, Schulze trailed Parker Tieman of North Point 7-1 in the third and final period. Schulze executed a couple three-point cradle moves to tie the score at 7-7 and force the match into overtime. He executed a takedown of Tieman in overtime to win the match 9-7 and clinch a spot in the state tournament.
“That’s just pure heart right there,” Olsson said. “That match was just pure heart and not stopping. You don’t quit wrestling just because you’re down a little bit. And he got on top, locked up a couple cradles. And yeah, it was just exciting. That’s what that boiled down to was just heart and effort.”
Jeremiah Kassing and Noah Lohrman also qualified for the state tournament. Kassing finished in third place at 113 pounds, while Lohrman finished third at 120 pounds.
As a whole, Olsson believes the Warriors wrestled really well. He was happy with how they performed, fought and wrestled through every match.
The Wright City Wildcats also competed in districts this weekend and will send two grapplers to the state tournament. Wright City competed in the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 2, District 2 at Mexico High School. Junior David Joseph Rice placed third in the 126 pound weight class. After falling in his semifinal match to Levi Perry of St. Charles, Rice defeated Nick Kessler of Moberly High School 7-2 to clinch a spot in the state tournament. He pinned Kaleb Caldwell of Hallsville to place third.
Junior Demetrice Lenoir placed fourth in the 170 pound weight class to advance to the state tournament. After he was pinned by Kirksville High School wrestler Jaden Ballinger, Lenoir pinned his next two opponents in less than one minute each. He pinned Hallsville wrestler Lucas Hulett in the consolation semifinals to clinch a spot in the state tournament. St. Charles West wrestler Alex O’Connor pinned Lenoir in the third place match.
The state tournament will begin Thursday and run through Saturday. The state meet is being held in Columbia.