OWENSVILLE — End 2023 on a solid note.

That was the goal on Friday, Dec. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 15 for Dustin Howard’s Owensville Dutchmen grapplers during the annual Sam Richardson Duals Wrestling Tournament hosted by Moberly High School at the Moberly Area Community College (MACC) Activities Center.

Friday wrestling saw the Dutchmen face off against Blair Oaks, Chillicothe, Ste. Genevieve and Westminster Christian Academy (WCA).

Edged 37-36 by the Falcons, Micah Duncan picked up a win by fall at 113 pounds in :25 over Jax Luebbering.

Noel Baguio earned a win by forfeit at 120 pounds for Owensville as Blair Oaks was open at that weight class.

Sophomore Steven Buddemeyer won a 10-2 major decision over Carter Kempker at 126 pounds while Landen Losch pinned Blair Oaks’ Jack Lueckenhoff in 2:15.

Kyle Blair (157), Cael Walker (165) and Garrett Hunter (175) all earned wins by forfeit with the Falcons being open at those three weight classes.

Bryce Horstmann (132), Connor Vogt (195) and Zach Barch (215) all lost their matches by fall while senior Hayden Shoemaker dropped a 7-3 decision at 285 pounds to Blair Oaks’ Cole Peters.

Looking to bounce back against Chillicothe, Owensville won eight matches helping them sting the Hornets by a final team score of 48-30.

Timmy Winterbauer (157), Walker (165), Barch (215) and Bo Smith (285) all earned wins by forfeit for the Dutchmen against the Hornets.

Duncan and Baguio won their matches by fall in 3:14 and :36 respectively.

Buddemeyer (1:47), Horstmann (1:57) and Losch (1:26) also claimed victories by fall for Owensville against Chillicothe.

After stinging Chillicothe, Owensville looked to play dragon slayer in their next dual against Ste. Genevieve.

Falling 74-6 to the Dragons, Buddemeyer dashed Ste. Genevieve’s bid for a shutout with a win by fall in 5:57 over Brody Winters at 126 pounds.

Capping day one from Spartan country, Owensville took on WCA’s Wildcats.

Benefiting from Westminster having numerous open weight classes, Howard’s Dutchmen went 2-2 on day one following a 45-24 team win over the Wildcats.

Earning wins by forfeit for Owensville were Duncan, Baguio, Buddemeyer, Walker and Shoemaker.

Losch pulled out a 3-0 decision over Maddox Hilfrink while Horstmann pinned Roman Ryker in 3:23.

Winterbauer also pinned WCA’s Brock Lovelady-Armstrong in 1:54.

Stinging Chillicothe on day one, Owensville had a shot at stinging another species of Hornet during day two at Moberly against Fulton.

In spite of winning six matches, the orange and black were edged 39-36 by the Hornets.

Duncan, Vogt and Barch each earned wins by forfeit while Buddemeyer (1:37), Walker (1:00) and Shoemaker (:55) won their respective matches against Fulton by fall.

Falling against the Hornets were Baguio, Horstmann, Losch, Blair and Hunter.

Unable to slay Ste. Genevieve on day one, Owensville got another shot as dragon slayers taking on Cameron.

Falling 72-12, Buddemeyer and Shoemaker spoiled Cameron’s bid for a shutout.

Next for Owensville at Moberly was another orange and black foe in Kirksville’s Tigers.

On the wrong end of a 63-15 final team score, Owensville got wins from Hunter, Vogt and Shoemaker to keep Kirksville from recording a shutout.

With a third shot at being dragon slayers, Owensville’s next dual at Moberly was against Mid-Buchanan’s Dragons.

Even though OHS won six matches, Mid-Buchanan won their seven by fall or forfeit leaving Owensville on the short end of a 42-30 final team score.

Buddemeyer and Winterbauer won their matches by 7-4 and 6-2 decisions respectively.

Vogt and Duncan won their matches by forfeit while Walker and Shoemaker each won their matches by fall in 3:06 and 1:41 respectively.

Closing out the tournament against the host Spartans, Owensville dropped the dual 62-15 in spite of wins from Buddemeyer, Shoemaker and Duncan.

Howard’s Dutchmen will open 2024 on Tuesday, Jan. 2 on the road at Southern Boone High School against the host Eagles, Eldon, and Windsor (Imperial).