MEXICO — For seven of Brandon Howard’s Owensville Dutchgirl wrestlers, their quest for a berth in the upcoming Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Wrestling Championships later this month began Friday night at the MSHSAA Class 1, District 2 Girls Wrestling Tournament hosted by Mexico High School.

Of those seven, two emerged with top-four finishes booking passage to state wrestling beginning one week from today (Wednesday).

Punching Owensville’s first ticket to Columbia was freshman Brianna Bodine becoming just the third freshman to accomplish the feat joining Bailee and Rylee Dare.

“Anytime you see a freshman qualify for state, it’s an awesome feeling,” Dutchgirl head wrestling coach Brandon Howard said. “Brianna has worked so hard this season and it has paid off with a trip to state.”

Joining Bodine will be junior Rylee Dare making her second trip to Columbia.

“Rylee has done the work and will go into her second trip to state more experienced which should help her,” Howard said.

Bodine’s road to state began in the second round of the championship bracket after drawing a first-round bye.

Pinning Hallsville’s Bella Mayfield in 2:11, Bodine advanced to the quarterfinals and a bout with Southern Boone’s Imogene Cooper.

Winning that match by fall in 1:10 over her Lady Eagle opponent, Bodine found herself one win away from state entering the semifinals against Centralia’s Avery Adams.

Overcoming an error in the match that had points taken away from both wrestlers due to a disk flip not being executed after the end of the first period, Bodine went on to punch her ticket to state with a win by fall in 5:53.

“It totally hasn’t sunk in that I’m going to state,” Bodine said. “I was able to overcome a lot during the semifinal match and it’s an awesome feeling that I have qualified for state as a freshman.”

Facing the district’s top seed in Blair Oaks’ Macie Kempker, Bodine was pinned in 1:36 settling for second place in the district at 100 pounds.

Bodine will start her first state tournament with a 37-11 record.

Also punching her ticket to state at 145 pounds, Dare’s road to Columbia started with a first-round bye to the second round of the championship side of the bracket and a match with Brookfield’s Mallory Black.

Pinning her Lady Bulldog foe in :57, Dare advanced to the quarterfinals and a showdown with St. Charles West’s Emma Gardner.

Winning that match by fall in 1:40, Dare advanced to the semifinals against the district top seed in Moberly senior Breanne Gibbs.

Pinned by the eventual district champion in :26, Dare was sent to the consolation semifinals still needing one win to advance to the third-place match while also securing a spot at state.

In an orange-and-black battle, Dare pinned Kirksville’s Leah Patterson in 4:12 moving her on to the third-place match at 145 pounds and a match with Fort Zumwalt East’s Addyson Shephard.

Jumping out to an early 7-0 lead, Dare needed every point before holding on to win a 7-6 decision securing a third-place medal at 145 pounds.

“I’m so proud of Bri for making it to state along with me,” Dare said. “Having been to state once before, my goal now is to get on to the medal stand and in the top six.”

Dare will enter the state tournament with a 44-9 record.

Owensville’s other five district wrestlers saw their respective seasons end in the fourth round of wrestle backs.

Payton Busenhart pinned Marshall’s Kiahna Gross in 2:40 at 110 pounds before seeing her season end at 32-15 following a loss by fall in 4:31 to Wright City’s Victoria Riggs.

Violet Lavalle (27-19) opened her tournament at 125 pounds with a win by fall in 1:13 over Holt’s (Wentzville) Khloe Boschert before being sent to the consolation side of the bracket after a second-round loss by fall.

Busenhart (32-15) stayed alive with wins by fall over Fatima’s Elizabeth Meyer (1:26) and Highland’s Alicia Eaton (4:25) before losing by technical fall to St. Charles West’s America Barcenas.

Brooke Tainter went to battle for OHS on the mats at 155 pounds posting a win by fall in second-round action over Mexico’s Jayden Cross in :25.

Losing by fall in the quarterfinals to Fulton’s Khloe Landis in :38, Tainter ended up breaking her collar bone during the match with the injury causing her to forfeit her fourth-round wrestle back match.

Tainter ended her season with a record of 12-18

Looking to add state qualifier to her list of senior-year accomplishments, Lexis Manning suited up for the Dutchgirls at 170 pounds.

Pinning Fort Zumwalt East’s Alexis Hammack in :51 during first-round action, Manning then lost an 8-7 decision to Fatima’s Ivy Ruecker in the second round of the championship bracket.

Winning a 12-3 major decision over Boonville’s Amelia Morrison in the third round of wrestle backs, Manning saw her Dutchgirl wrestling career end after losing an 11-3 major decision to Wright City’s Harper Martin.

Manning ended her senior season with a 27-12 record and a FRC title at 170 pounds.

Macie Armstrong rounded out the contingency of Dutchgirl wrestlers at 190 pounds with a win by fall in second-round action over Fatima’s Emillie Bonnot in 4:00.

Pinned by McCluer North’s Zariah Rouse in 2:42, Armstrong ended her freshman season of Dutchgirl wrestling at 14-23.

“I’m so proud of all of girls for competing hard this weekend,” Howard said. “It was great to see all of our girls win at least one match and gain plenty of motivation going into the offseason to prepare for next winter.”