MEXICO — There’s a first time for everything.

That saying proved unfortunate over the weekend during the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 2, District 2 Wrestling Tournament held at Mexico High School.

Once the final whistle blew, Rod Barndollar’s Dutchmen wrestlers saw their season end for the first time after the district tournament without any state qualifiers.

“It wasn’t that the guys didn’t compete hard,” Barndollar said. “We’re young and we were in a tough district. It simply wasn’t meant to be this year.”

All eight OHS wrestlers advanced to day two of the tournament Saturday with four of them needing just one win to advance to state.

Leading things off in the consolation semifinals for Owensville was 106-pound freshman Michael Martin.

Friday wrestling saw Martin pin Boonville freshman Brayden Gamel in 2:23 moving him to the quarterfinals and a match with Southern Boone freshman Charlie Uhrig.

Leading after the first period, Martin got caught early in the second period before being pinned in 2:42 and sent to the wrestleback side of the bracket.

Wins over Jeremy Goslin (Orchard Farm) and Aidan Bolinger (Blair Oaks) set up a rematch with Kirksville’s Chance McKim in a win-or-go-home match.

Pinned early in the season at Pleasant Hill, Martin had revenge and another week of practice on his mind.

Unable to find an offensive rhythm, Martin saw his freshman season end after losing an 8-0 decision to the Kirksville sophomore.

Fellow freshman Aries Nicholas was next for Owensville in the consolation semifinals.

His road began Friday with a tough draw in defending state champion Owen Uhls from Fulton.

Pinned in :27 by the Hornet sophomore, Nicholas drew byes to the third round of wrestlebacks where he faced Priory sophomore Reuben Goldschmidt.

Nearing the end of the first period, Nicholas gained control of the match pinning the Rebel sophomore in :49.

Standing between Nicholas and a trip to state was Mexico senior Brayan Juarez.

Pinned in 2:53 by the Bulldog senior, Nicholas’ freshman season in a Dutchmen wrestling uniform ended one win shy of state.

“Aries has come a long way since day one,” Barndollar said. “ I look for him to keep improving in the offseason and push for a spot at state next year.”

Senior Tighe Bombach was the next Dutchmen wrestler advancing to the consolation semifinals.

Earning a bye to the quarterfinals, Bombach took on Blair Oaks senior Caleb Meeks.

Pinned in 1:29, Tighe wound up on the back side of the bracket drawing byes to the third round and a match with Priory’s Evan Hugge.

Winning by fall in 2:20 over the Rebel freshman, Bombach just needed a win over St. Charles West junior Cole Gramling to extend his season by another week.

Battling into the third period, Bombach simply didn’t have enough left in the tank as Gramling pinned him in 4:33.

Owensville’s hope of state wrestling now rested on senior Joe Bauer’s shoulders at 285 pounds.

Cleared to wrestle after a hand injury sidelined him since mid-December, Bauer opened his district tournament Friday against Boonville’s Gaige Offineer.

Losing a 4-0 decision, Bauer defeated Orchard Farm’s Joey Niemeyer 4-3 to advance to face Moberly’s Andrew Huff with a trip to state on the line.

Facing the top-seeded wrestler at 285 pounds, Bauer saw his season and OHS wrestling career end by fall in 1:15.

Boston Belk (145), Cody Linders (182) and Michael Stockton (220) all scored wins before they were eliminated in the third round of wrestlebacks.

Gabe Soest’s first go-round in a district lasted only two matches losing by fall to St. Charles West’s Dylan Scruggs by fall in 1:44 to Orchard Farm’s Shayne Pilla via a 14-0 major decision.