The MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Sectional Tournament took place this past Saturday, February 27th. The top three placers at Sectionals qualify for the State Tournament, this year taking place in Independence, Missouri. Due to a tremendous season, Ste. Genevieve was able to send 12 grapplers to the Sectional Tournament in hopes of qualifying each for the big finale. Nine Dragons successfully made it out, and will move on to the final showcase, the State Tournament. Head Coach Jared Bonnell said, “I thought we wrestled well throughout the day.”
Wrestling at the 106 lb. weight class, Gage Gross placed second. He won the quarterfinal match by pin in 1:58. He pinned his semifinal opponent at well, in 5:44. However, he was defeated in the finals, but will still move on to the State Tournament.
Gross was excited to advance and said, “The highlight for me was making it to State, but the best part was winning against the person that beat me a few weeks before.”
Bryant Schwent, at 113, won first place. He pinned his quarterfinal opponent in 59 seconds, as well as his semifinal opponent in 1:19. Schwent also pinned his final opponent in 3:18 to win the bracket and advance to State.
At 120, Nicholas Wirick did not qualify. He lost the quarterfinals, which pushed him into the consolation bracket, where he lost the consolation semifinals.
Dalton McNeal, at 126, placed first. He pinned his quarterfinal opponent in 23 seconds. In the semifinals he pinned his opponent in 2:32, and won the finals by decision 10-5. He will go on to State as well.
At 132, Gavin Gross took second place. He won the quarterfinals by pin in 42 seconds, and pinned his semifinal opponent as well, in 1:52. However, he was a defeated in the finals, but still advances to State.
Nathan Selby, at 138, placed third. He won a decision 6-4 in the quarterfinals, but lost in the semifinals, forcing him into the consolation semifinals where he won by pin in 4:57. In the third place match, he won by pin in 2:38, and goes on to State.
At 152, Levi Wiegand took third. He pinned his quarterfinal opponent in 5:22, but lost the semifinals, putting him in the consolation bracket. He won the consolation semifinals by pin in 1:54, and won the third place match by decision 9-6. Wiegand moves on to State.
Kaleb Myracle, at 160, did not place. Myracle won the Quarterfinals by decision 9-8, but lost in the semifinals, moving him to the consolation semifinals where he also lost. Myracle was disappointed in the results and said, “I think I should’ve been more aggressive and have had more confidence in myself. I just wish I could redo do it all again.”
At 170, Ethan Ogden placed second. In the quarterfinals, he pinned his opponent in 3:24. Next, he won a 5-1 decision in the semifinals, but lost int he finals. He will wrestle at State as well.
Gabriel Willett, at 195, did not qualify. He lost his quarterfinal match, which moved him to the consolation semifinals, where he was defeated.
At 220, Dale Propst took first place. He pinned his quarterfinal opponent in 1:13. In the semifinals, he won by pin in 3:28. Lastly, he won his final match by decision 7-0 to win the bracket and advance to State.
Ryan Schmelzle, at 285, placed second. He won the quarterfinal match by pin in 1:13. Then he won the semifinals by fall in 4:38. However, he was defeated in the finals, but will still wrestle at State.
Bonnell was pleased with the outcome and said, “I was happy with our overall wrestling performance. We avenged a lot of early/late season losses, which is always what you want to see at this point in the season.”
The Ste. Gen Dragons have now qualified nine wrestlers for the Missouri State Tournament, this year taking place in Independence, between March 10th-13th. These nine grapplers now have about ten days to prepare, and will look to sharpen their skills and create a game plan before they step foot on the mat against the best wrestling talent in the state.
