The annual Missouri State Championship tournament took place this year at the University of Missouri in Columbia from  Feb. 20 through Feb. 22, with three of our very own FHN Knight wrestlers going for state titles.

Juniors Jordan Powell, Sam Ritchie, and AJ Lozada all qualified for state at the annual district tournament that was held at Ritenour High School, the weekend before the state tournament.

Jordan Powell made his first state tournament appearance this season, and unfortunately “went two and out” which means he lost his first two matches, which then eliminated him from the tournament. His first round match was against Austin Hanson from Lee’s Summit North High School who won by fall over Powell. When asked about how he felt the state tournament went for the team as a whole, Jordan said, “I was a bit disappointed in how we did at state this year. We’re going to need as much wrestling experience as possible before the next season.”

Sam Ritchie entered the state tournament for the third time in his high school wrestling career last Thursday and left without a medal. His first round match was against Sam Toigo from Kirkwood High School and won by decision. After winning his second-round match, Sam wrestled in the quarterfinals, and lost to Quinn Smith from Rock Bridge High School. This final defeat ended Sam’s junior year of wrestling.

“It was a bit of a disappointment to say the least, all of us were hoping to do better. It showed us we all need to work that much harder this off season and next season to get state medals our senior year” Ritchie said.

Howell North’s heavyweight, Junior AJ Lozada, lost his first round match to Cole West of Blue Springs South, and then moved on through the tournament to wrestle in the match that, if he won, would guarantee him a medal. AJ lost the match against Danny Williams of Timberland High School, and was knocked out of the tournament.

“I went into state really nervous and after my first match it just felt like it was just another tournament so I felt like overall it went pretty good” Lozada said.

Even though the Francis Howell North Knights wrestling team returned home without any state medals, they did come back with something, the drive and motivation to get better for next season.