Gasconade County Republican

Matthew Pohlmann (above, left) attempts to put Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) wrestler Caleb Heisserer on his back during their semifinal match at 113 pounds in district action over the weekend at De Soto.DE SOTO — Entering district action in De Soto over the weekend, Dutchmen wrestling had five of their competitors seeded third or higher in their respective weight classes.

Once the final whistle blew Saturday night, seven OHS grapplers clinched their spots later this week in the 82nd MSHSAA Wrestling Championships at Columbia’s Mizzou Arena.

Punching Owensville’s first ticket to state wrestling was freshman Matthew Pohlmann at 113 pounds.

Beginning his district tournament with a first-round bye, the Dutchmen freshman faced Affton’s Xavier Aufmuth in the quarterfinals.

Needing only :29 seconds to secure a pinfall victory, Pohlmann advanced to the semifinals at 113 pounds against Notre Dame’s (Cape Girardeau) Caleb Heisserer.

Leading 3-2 after the first period, Pohlmann punched his ticket to Columbia winning the match by fall in 2:55.

After coming short of state during his days with the Owensville Kids Wrestling Club (OKWC), Pohlmann got that monkey off his back with a trip to Mizzou Arena.

“I’m really excited that I’ll be going to state as a freshman,” Dutchmen grappler Matthew Pohlmann said. “After I cut weight down to 113 pounds, I’ve wrestled a lot better and I hope to keep it going.”

Going for a district championship, Pohlmann took on Ste. Genevieve’s Travis Jones.

Trailing 4-0 after one period, Pohlmann settled for second place at 113 pounds after losing by fall in 2:51.

“Matt (Pohlmann) has come a long way since the beginning of the season,” Dutchmen head wrestling coach Rod Barndollar said. “He has worked hard all season and it’s awesome to see it pay off with a second-place finish in districts and a trip to the state tournament.”

Fellow Freshman grappler Kiowa Wright was the next wrestler in orange and black to secure a state berth at 120 pounds.

When the original bracket was made, the OHS freshman was slated to face the top seed in Ste. Genevieve’s Cole Reynolds. That changed when the bracket was redrawn giving Wright a first-round bye as the fourth seed at 120 pounds.

Awaiting Wright in the quarterfinals was St. Clair freshman Chase Cohen.

Winning the match by fall in 1:29, Wright earned a shot at Reynolds in the semifinals at 120 pounds.

Showing why he was the top seed in his weight class, Reynolds pinned Wright in 1:10 leaving the Dutchmen freshman one win from state wrestling.

Taking on Sullivan’s Ryan Eastman in the fourth round of wrestlebacks, a state berth was on the line for both athletes.

Falling behind 2-1 after a short first period, Wright took a 4-2 lead through two periods on an escape and a takedown.

Early in the third period, Eastman tooka 5-4 lead on a reversal only to have Wright snag it back with 1:01 left in the match. Seconds later, Wright become Owensville’s second freshman heading to Mizzou Arena with a win by fall over Eastman in 4:47.

“It feels awesome going to state in my first year of wrestling as a freshman,” OHS grappler Kiowa Wright said.

Avoiding the prospect of facing a district champion in round one of the state tournament, Wright took third  at 120 pounds with an 8-3 decision over Windsor’s Ryan Kinder.

“Kiowa (Wright) came into the tournament seeded eighth, wound up four after a redraw and then took third and is going to state,” Barndollar said. “It’s awesome to see three freshman going to state this year.”

OHS freshman David Weirich’s road to Columbia will be chronicled in the Gerald section on page 23 of this weeks Republican.

Bowing out after two matches in districts last year at 152 pounds, junior Cody Dolles looked for improvement this year at 160 pounds.

Pinning Vashon’s Kenneth Harrell in the quarters in 1:22, Dolles needed just one win to advance to state wrestling in Columbia.

Going up against Miller Career Academy senior Deshaun Isaiah in the semifinals, the OHS junior was pinned in 5:37 and still left a win shy of joining his teammates.

Sent to the fourth round of wrestlebacks, a familiar foes awaited Dolles in Sullivan’s Alex Crooks.

Defeating Crooks in a home tri-meet just weeks ago, Dolles was looking for two wins in as many chances against Crooks and a spot at state at 160 pounds.

Trailing throughout the first period and most of the second, Dolles rallied for an 8-4 lead with one period standing between him and a trip to state in Columbia.

Nearly halfway through the third, the Dutchmen junior pinned Crooks in 3:57 to become the fifth OHS wrestling state qualifier.

Taking on Notre Dame’s Alex Elsey in the third-place match, Dolles needed just :52 to pin the Bulldog junior and take third place at 160 pounds in De Soto.

“I made it to state!” Dutchmen junior Cody Dolles said. “It’s an awesome feeling to be able to keep wrestling this year after going two and out last year in districts.”

Coming within three wins of state berths over the last two years, senior Dietrich Bombach got the state monkey off his back over the weekend at 170 pounds in De Soto.

“It was well worth the wait and it’s the best feeling in the world to be going to state,” Dutchmen senior Dietrich Bombach said.

Bombach’s trail to Mizzou Arena began in the quarterfinals against St. Clair senior Jake Calkens.

Pinning the Bulldog senior in 1:11, Bombach advanced to a semifinal bout with revenge on the mind.

Facing Sullivan’s Casey Philpot, Bombach was looking to avenge an earlier loss to the Eagle junior during an earlier tri-meet at OHS.

Tied at 2-2 after the first period, Bombach could not keep the momentum as Philpot pinned him in 2:23 and send the Dutchmen senior to the fourth round of wrestlebacks.

Standing between Bombach and his first trip to state was Affton sophomore Avery Gardner.

Seconds into the match, the OHS senior clinched his spot in the 82nd MSHSAA Wrestling Championships winning by fall in :28.

Battling Dexter junior Brad Wick in the third-place match at 170 pounds, Bombach claimed a bronze medal with a win by fall in 1:35 for third place at 170 pounds.

Earning the top seed at 182 pounds thanks to a coin flip, Dutchmen sophomore A.J. Harrell showed why he has been a favorite in nearly every match he has competed in throughout the season.

Wins by technical fall (15 points or more) over Sullivan’s Danton Creek and Ste. Genevieve’s Drew Abt set up a championship showdown between Harrell and Notre Dame’s Trevor Foltz.

Staying locked up with Foltz, Harrell finally got him on the mat and recorded a pinfall in 1:39 to  become Owensville’s first district champion since Jack Saebens, Alex Saebens and Gabe Hollander all won titles in 2010 at Ste. Genevieve.

“It feels great to be a district championship and to avenge the loss to him from last year,” Dutchmen sophomore A.J. Harrell said. “This time around, I want to place in state and do better than I did last year.”

Senior heavyweight Kaleb Collins was the seventh and final Dutchmen to punch his ticket to Mizzou Arena at 285 pounds.

Drawing a first-round bye, Collins faced Festus freshman Lucas Reynolds in the quarterfinals.

Winning the match by fall in 2:22, the Dutchmen senior advanced to the semifinals against Vashon senior Diante Turner.

Needing to catch his breath late in the first period, Collins found himself trailing the Wolverine senior 11-1 after one period.

Fighting back in the second period, the Dutchmen senior trimmed Turner’s lead to 12-6 with one period remaining in the match.

Seconds into the third period, Collins recorded the win by fall in 4:39 to advance to the championship match and to state later this week.

Facing Ste. Genevieve’s Daniel Terrana in the finals at 285 pounds, the Dragon junior defeated Collins by a 14-4 major decision as the Dutchmen senior settled for second place at 285 pounds.

“This is the best moment of my life right now going to state,” Dutchmen senior Kaleb Collins said. “I can’t wait to get to state and just leave it all out on the mat.”

All seven wrestlers will begin their quest towards a state medal on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m., at the University of Missouri’s Mizzou Arena.

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