MARSHALL — Receiving the top seed at 170 pounds for the MSHSAA Class 2, District 2 Wrestling Tournament Saturday at Marshall High School, Owensville Dutchmen senior Blaine Schoenfeld began his road to Columbia’s Mizzou Arena and the 89th MSHSAA Wrestling Championships Saturday morning.

Due to icy conditions in Marshall postponing Friday wrestling at the district tournament, the entire bracket had to be wrestled in one day.

Opening his tournament at 170 pounds, Schoenfeld matched up against Boonville sophomore Carter Stumph.

Quickly getting control of the match, Schoenfeld pinned the Pirate grappler in 1:08 advancing to the quarterfinals later in the day.

Awaiting the Dutchmen senior was Fulton Hornet sophomore Sheldyn Johnson who drew a first-round bye to get into the quarterfinals.

Scoring numerous takedowns and back points, Schoenfeld went on to win his quarterfinal bout by technical fall (17-1) over the Hornet sophomore.

Standing in Schoenfeld’s way between him and a guaranteed third trip to Mizzou Arena was Centralia sophomore Hunter Phillips in the semifinals at 170 pounds.

Locked up in a tight match against a strong opponent, Schoenfeld held on to win a 6-4 decision setting up the district championship match between Schoenfeld and Moberly senior Luke Slater.

“He (Phillips) was a strong wrestler,” Schoenfeld said. “I was able to wrestle smart and overcome his strength.”

Pinning Slater in a quad meet earlier in the season at Southern Boone, Schoenfeld looked for his second in as many matches against the Spartan senior.

Leading 2-0 after a takedown in the middle of the first period, the tables turned on Schoenfeld in the second period.

Losing control, Schoenfeld was soon pinned by Slater in 3:03 settling for second place in the district.

“I just made a dumb move in the second period,” Schoenfeld said. “My goal is to not just get on the medal stand at state, but to win a state championship.”

Schoenfeld will open his quest for a state medal during the 89th MSHSAA Wrestling Championships in Columbia Thursday morning facing Dexter junior Parker VanSlyke in one of eight first-round bouts at 170 pounds in Class 2.

“I’m proud of Blaine and all of our wrestlers for how they competed during districts,” Barndollar said.

Depending on how the other seven matches play out, Schoenfeld could run into a pair of Four Rivers Conference (FRC) opponents in Sullivan junior Trey Eplin and St. Clair senior Grant Bay.

If Schoenfeld can win his first-round match Thursday and his quarterfinal match Friday morning, he will be guaranteed to finish no worse than sixth in the state earning himself a medal and a place on the wall of OHS All-State athletes above the entrance to the main gym.

In the event of a loss either Thursday or Friday, he will need to win two or three matches on the back side of the brackets to get back into the medal matches.

For complete coverage of Schoenfeld’s quest for a state medal in wrestling, follow the Gasconade County Republican on Facebook later this week throughout the tournament.

More on OHS wrestling from districts in Marshall can be seen in next week’s Republican.