Gasconade County Republican

AJ Harrell (top) wonders how much longer he has to keep MICDS senior Peter Schlafly on his back to score a pinfall during their quarterfinal bout at 182 pounds in the 82nd MSHSAA Wrestling Championships last week at Mizzou Arena.
COLUMBIA — Spending nearly three minutes on the mats in two matches at state his freshman year, Dutchmen sophomore A.J. Harrell looked to improve on last year during the 82nd MSHSAA Wrestling Championships held over the weekend at Columbia’s Mizzou Arena.

Harrell’s journey to the medal stand at 182 pounds began Thursday morning with a first-round bout against Harrisonville senior Jarrick Fitzgeralds.

Needing just over a period of wrestling, the Dutchmen sophomore advanced to the quarterfinals with a win by fall in 2:12.

Standing between Harrell and a guaranteed spot in the top six, along with a state medal, was Mary Institute Country Day School (MICDS) senior Peter Schlafly.

Toward the end of the first period, Harrell recorded a takedown and three back points for a 5-1 lead through two minutes of wrestling in the quarterfinals.

Adding to his lead with a pair of reversals and more back points, the Dutchmen sophomore took a 14-2 lead two minutes away from a spot in the semifinals and a guaranteed state medal.

Another takedown and two back points late in the third period helped Harrell to a win by technical fall (18-2) over the MICDS senior.

“It feels awesome knowing I will get a state medal this year after a short stay here last year,” Dutchmen sophomore grappler A.J. Harrell said. “Now I just want to win the next one and go for a state title.”

Awaiting Harrell in the semifinals at 182 pounds was a very familiar face in Bolivar senior Aaron Allen.

Already owning a win over Allen by fall in the Kinloch Holiday Wrestling Tournament in Springfield between Christmas and New Year’s, the Dutchmen sophomore was going for a second win in as many matches against the Liberator senior.

Seconds into the match, Allen took a 2-0 lead on a takedown and held on to his slim lead after a pair of reversals by him and Harrell toward the end of the first period.

Ten seconds into the second period, the Dutchmen sophomore scored a reversal from the bottom position to tie the match at 4-4. A stalling call on the Liberator senior gave Harrell a 5-4 lead halfway through the second period. As the period came to an end, a point was given to Allen after Harrell yelled directly at him. That tied the match at 5-5 entering the third period.

“I lost my head and made a couple of mistakes that I shouldn’t have,” Harrell said.

Giving up an escape at the 1:17 mark of the third period, the OHS sophomore saw his hopes for a shot at a state championship dashed by a 6-5 loss to the Bolivar senior.

With only about 14 hours to recover from the tough loss, Harrell opened the final day of the state tournament Saturday against Fulton sophomore Paul Books in the consolation semifinals.

Wrestling to a scoreless tie after the first period, Harrell broke the tie with a reversal early in the second period. Giving up an escape, the Dutchmen sophomore scored a two-point takedown for a 4-1 lead after two periods.

Scoring three back points with :35 left in the match, Harrell clinched a spot in the third-place match at 182 pounds with a 7-1 decision over the Hornet sophomore.

“This was a good win after a tough loss Friday night in the semifinals,” Dutchmen head wrestling coach Rod Barndollar said.

Smithville junior Matt Ray was Harrell’s opponent in the third-place match at 182 pounds.

Halfway through the first period, the OHS sophomore gave up a takedown and three back points to eventually trail 5-1 after one period.

Getting a pair of escapes, Harrell kept the deficit at four by a score of 7-3 after two periods.

Halfway through the third period, Harrell’s sophomore season ended with a loss by pinfall in 3:52 with an overall record of 48-6.

“I’m happy with where I finished here at state compared to last year,” Harrell said. “Now I can work on some more things in the offseason, get back here next year and finish higher on the medal stand.”

All six of Harrell’s losses throughout the season have been to wrestlers who placed in the top five of their respective weight classes.

“A.J. (Harrell) has wrestled some tough competition this year and it only helped him get as far as he did this year,” Barndollar said. “I believe we have a strong, young nucleus of wrestlers coming back led by AJ, Matt Pohlmann, Kiowa Wright and David Weirich. All of our guys kept getting better throughout the season and it will lead to more success in the years to come.”

More stories and photos on the Dutchmen at state wrestling can be found elsewhere throughout the sports section of this weeks Gasconade County Republican.