WENTZVILLE — Rare air.

That is where Owensville Dutchgirl freshman wrestler Bailee Dare found herself in Sunday night following the conclusion of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 1, District 2 Girls Wrestling Tournament held at North Point High School in Wentzville.

Going into the consolation semifinals as Owensville’s last hope for a state qualifier, Dare had to face off against St. Charles Lady Pirate grappler Maegan Hayes.

Leading 5-0 after the first period on a take down and three back points, Dare kept the lead before going on to win the match by fall in 4:13 making her Owensville High School’s first state qualifier in the history of the girl’s wrestling program.

“I have never been any more nervous than what I was during that last match,” OHS head wrestling coach Dustin Howard said. “I’m so proud of Bailee and all of the hard work she has put in has paid off making history as our first state qualifier in girl’s wrestling.”

Dare’s road to the 2022 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships to be held next week at Columbia’s Mizzou Arena began Saturday afternoon in round two after she drew a first-round by at 159 pounds.

A familiar foe awaited her in Hannibal’s Sidney Zimmerman.

Already owning a win by fall over the Lady Pirate grappler from the Owensville Tournament, Dare looked for a second victory over Zimmerman.

Quickly gaining control of the match, Dare pinned her Lady Pirate foe in 1:05 to advance to a quarterfinal showdown with Brookfield’s Riley Howell.

Leading 9-6 after two periods, Dare found herself two minutes away from a spot in the championship semifinals.

However, Howell scored five more points in the third period handing Dare a tough 11-9 defeat.

“I’m not sure what happened late in that match,” Dare said. “I knew that I just had to stay focused and compete as hard as I could the rest of the tournament.”

Howell went on to win the district championship at 159 pounds.

Now in the wrestle back side of the bracket. Dare had to keep winning or else her freshman season would be over.

Pinning Macon’s Alyssa White in 2:06 ending day one of the tournament, Dare secured passage to day two of districts on Sunday.

Kicking off Sunday in the fifth-round of wrestle backs, Dare took on Orchard Farm’s Charlie Williams.

Pinning the Lady Eagle grappler in 1:20, Dare eventually pinned Hayes clinching her spot at state.

A sweet match up awaited Dare for third place at 159 pounds.

Facing Blair Oaks’ Halie Eaton, Dare was looking for her first win in three tries against after being pinned twice by her earlier this season.

Trailing 6-3 going into the third period, Dare scored a two-point reversal before eventually turning the table on her Lady Falcon opponent pinning Eaton in 3:54.

“It felt so exciting to finally get a win against her after she pinned me twice earlier in the season,” Dare said.

Nearly the only state qualifier from the Four Rivers Conference (FRC), Dare will have company from the FRC in Pacific’s Zoe Fisher who finished in the top four at 120 pounds in Class 1, District 1 tournament action at Lafayette High School in St. Louis.

Washington’s Lady Blue Jays ended up winning the district title at North Point in addition to qualifying five wrestlers.

They include Julia Donnelly (110), Kendra Bliss (120), Annelise Obermark (135), Shelby Whitacre (174) and Paytin Welsh (195).