The eighty-second annual Missouri State High School Athletic Administration took place on February 16-18 at the University of Missouri in Columbia. The contenders were freshman Sam Ritchie, sophomore Brenden Hatchel, and Junior Tyler Smith.

“It was an overall good experience,” Smith said. “It shows that I can compete with the top wrestlers in the state,”

Smith came to state with 39 wins and 10 losses from the past season; he placed first in  class four districts, defeating his opponent eight to nothing. At state, he won two out of the four matches in the tournament. After winning 11 to three in the first round and then 6 to 1 in the second, he made it to the semi-finals. He lost the third match by a pin in the last two minutes and lost again for the tie breaker for fifth place by one point. Smith got sixth place in the class four district due to his loss for fifth place.

“We felt Tyler was our best shot for a medal,” Head coach Harold Ritchie said. “But he’d have to work hard to get it.”

Hatchel and Ritchie accompanied Smith as they went to state. Hatchel came to state with a record 22 wins and 10 losses. He lost the first round 5 to 13, but had a victory in the second round 13 to 3. Hatchel lost in the third match 1 to 6. Ritchie, with a 29 to 19 score from the season, also placed second in districts in his class. He lost the first round 0 to 10 and won his second 5 to 1. He lost the third round 1 to 9, eliminating him from the tournament. Jeremiah Reed planned on participating in state, but he was injured by a concussion and was not able to compete.

“It’s been getting tougher every year, and this year is no different,” Ritchie said. “We knew our guys had to wrestle their butts off because we knew what kind of competition was there.”

As the season comes to an end, wrestlers start preparing for next year by taking weight lifting classes, doing off season training, or even running in cross country to build up endurance. Most wrestlers prepare all year for one season.

“I think next year will be better, with more people experienced with varsity wrestling, and I think we’ll be a lot better team than this year,” Smith said.