SULLIVAN — Give Bailee Dare some company.

That was the goal over the weekend for Owensville’s Dutchmen wrestlers during the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 2, District 1 Wrestling Tournament at Sullivan High School.

After the final whistle blew, a total of four Dutchmen wrestlers punched their ticket to join Dare later this week at the 2022 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships held at Mizzou Arena on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia.

Placing fifth as a sophomore, junior Michael Martin was the first OHS wrestler to punch his ticket to state.

Needing a combined 2:19 to pin CJ Asinger (Herculaneum) and Bryant Schwent (Ste. Genevieve), Martin advanced to the district championship match against St. Clair’s Ryan Meek looking to avenge a loss earlier in the season at the Four Rivers Conference (FRC) Tournament.

Unable to establish an offensive rhythm, Martin was pinned in 3:36 settling for second place at 113 pounds.

Next to punch his ticket to state was freshman Conner Roach at 120 pounds.

Pinning Ste. Genevieve’s Owen Drury in 3:20, Roach went on to defeat Kennett’s Gavin Patterson by technical fall in the semifinals putting himself in the district championship match against Tony Valentine (St. Mary’s).

Leading 4-0 in the third period, Roach gave up a reversal and three back points before he escaped tying the match sending it to a one-minute overtime period.

Taken down moments into overtime, Roach settled for second place in the tournament.

“Conner made a freshman mistake and it will make him a better wrestler not only next week at state but later on in his high school career,” Howard said.

Fellow freshman Landon Kramme was the next Dutchmen grappler to cement his spot in the state tournament.

Drawing a first-round bye to the quarterfinals, Kramme faced a familiar foe in Sullivan’s Bennett Sherrell.

Gaining early control of the match, Kramme went on to win an 11-0 major decision over the Eagle grappler to advance to the semifinals at 182 pounds.

One win away from making it a Dutchmen trio at state, Kramme faced off against University City’s Xavier Blake.

Sick when University City paid a visit to OHS earlier in the season, Kramme got his first look at the Lion grappler.

Once again taking control of the match, Kramme ended it midway through the second period pinning Blake in 2:50.

“Landon is one of those guys that has just bought in to what we’re doing and it has paid big dividends,” Howard said.

Brent Helmig was Owensville’s fourth and final state qualifier and his road laster a bit longer than that of his three teammates.

Drawing a first-round bye to the quarterfinals, Helmig matched up against Herculaneum’s Shea Eberhardt to open his district tournament at 220 pounds.

Battling throughout the first period, Helmig wound up being pinned by the Blackcat grappler sending him to the second round of wrestle backs to begin day two of the tournament Saturday morning.

Now in win or go home mode, Helmig faced off against University City’s Elijah Mayweather in the second round of wrestle backs.

Pinning the Lion wrestler in :53, Helmig moved one win closer to joining Roach, Martin and Kramme in Columbia.

Next in the third round of wrestle backs for Helmig was Central (Park Hills) Rebel wrestler Damian Smith.

Wrestling to a scoreless tie in the first period, Helmig stared the second period in the bottom position.

Earning a one-point escape, Helmig scored a two-point take down midway through the second period before winning the match by fall in 2:16.

Now one win away from ending his OHS wrestling career at the state tournament, Helmig faced off against St. Mary’s (St. Louis) wrestler Andre Montjoy with a spot in the third-place match at 220 pounds on the line.

Scoreless after one period, Helmig gave up an escape before being taken down and surrendering two back points to trail 5-0 midway through the second period.

Able to score a reversal with :34 left in the second period, Helmig went on to win the match by fall in 2:31 punching his ticket to state.

“That was the best bridge move I’ve seen out of Brent all season,” Howard said. “He has worked so hard this season and it is rewarding to get to see him end his high school wrestling career at state.”

A familiar face awaited Helmig in the third-place match.

Helmig earned another shot at Eberhardt after losing to him in the quarterfinals on day one.

Trailing 4-0 after one period, Helmig could not overcome the deficit before settling for fourth place after being pinned in 1:43.

A recap and photos of Owensville’s non-state qualifying wrestlers will be in next week’s issue of The Republican.