Leading Up to State Wrestling

I'm going to go about this a little differently this time.  Since most of our updates have to do with our sports things, this post is dedicated to wrestling.  When I left off, we had a full week of basketball coming up, but a lot of it didn't happen due to another round of snow and frigid temperatures.  The kids missed a few more days of school and we had another unproductive week of trying to stay warm.  Thankfully that has passed.  Owen continued practices and Gracie has had some rescheduled games or games added to provide more competition opportunities after missing quite a few.  Since then it has been a whirlwind of activities.

District and State Wrestling

After two weeks of practices for wrestling the day of district wrestling finally came.  I had been debating a lot whether to go to Seneca for wrestling or attend senior night for basketball.  I wish they had not fallen on the same day!  I decided to go watch Owen, since it could have been his final matches of the season and Gracie had a few games still left to play.  So, I left for Seneca Friday around noon for the 3.5+ hour drive.  Owen wrestled his first match on Friday night and then 3 more on Friday.  He won his match on Friday night by TF, and wrestled his quarterfinal match Saturday morning.  I guess it was probably noon by the time he actually wrestled, though.  He lost that one to a wrestler he had faced at the Harrisonville tournament right before Christmas.  He went further into the match this time before he was teched... small improvements.  Then for his consolation semi-final match, which is the match that determines if you make it to state, he faced an opponent from Owensville who he wrestled at our last home dual.  He had barely won that because he was sick and ran out of gas.  He did not run out of gas this time and dominated from the start.  

However, that match was not nearly as impressive as his 3rd place match.  Owen wrestled someone from Clinton and was down 14-2 going into the third period.  Somehow, Owen was able to get a takedown and pin him with a cradle.  It was such a crazy match and was the highlight of my day!  So, after a very FULL day of district wrestling, we have a STATE QUALIFIER!!!!  What an awesome accomplishment.  

We'll start with District pictures...

First match - quarterfinals 

(Owen had a first-round bye)

TF

First match was back and forth a bit, but Owen ended up scoring a lot and winning by TF.

Congrats from his coaches after the first win

 After the first round it was back to the hotel, then to semi-finals the next day.

Pretty uneventful night in the hotel and team had to leave by 7:30am Saturday to go weigh in again.

Getting ready for semi-finals

Owen ended up losing his semi-final match to a wrestler from Cassville, who had beat him earlier in the season.  He is a really good wrestler and should place at state.

Next:  Cons semi-finals; aka blood round as they call it here.

This round decides whether you get to state or not.

Like I mentioned, Owen wrestled someone who had had barely beat a few weeks earlier, but there was no doubt this time.  He won by MD 15-4.

I was a little anxious, but there wasn't a crazy, huge celebration when he made it to state.  It felt a little more like relief to me.  Glad that match was done.  It seemed to be the same from his corner, as well.  No crazy emotions, but just getting business done.

After his cons semi-final match.

There was a short break after that round and then they started the medal rounds for 1st and 3rd place matches.  Six of them got to put on their championship singlets.

Peter and Owen (the two freshmen) drilling together before finals.

Watching these two play is great.

I just love this picture.  I think it is my favorite from the weekend.

I wish it was a little more clear, but I was all the way across the gym.

For the first two periods of Owen's 3rd place match, it was pretty one-sided.  The Clinton wrestler dominated and almost had Owen pinned in the 2nd period.  Third period was Owen's choice and he chose up.  He was able to get a takedown, lock up a cradle, flip into position, and get a pin!  It was crazy and ended up being the highlight of the whole day for us!  Here is the video of the last seconds of that match.

Pretty fun!

I may have gotten a little excited.  The commentary is amazing.

Nick showing his emotions

"Stick him!" he says.

Again, wish it wasn't so blurry.

Big smile from Nick after Owen's pin.

Best match of the day!

3rd place at districts

Owen actually talked to the kid from Cassville who beat him in qtrs quite a bit.

That's him on top.

Team picture - we placed 4th at districts!

SBC State qualifiers

Pic with mom

Odessa

Two weeks prior to districts we had one more tournament in Odessa and a home meet.  Gracie and I drove to Odessa together and she had to go on over to KC for practice, as well.  I knew that she wasn't feeling great, but had no idea that Owen was feeling pretty terrible.  He wrestled his first match and lost, then won his second. Forfeited his next match to a previous state placer and then won the last match of the day.  Pretty sure he had a fever in the morning before taking some ibuprofen.  He looked like death.  He was sick for the next two days.

Team pic at Odessa

Nick's reaction after Aidan's match

Coaching

Owen getting a win

AFTER ibuprofen kicked in.

More action pics

Senior day/ last home meet

Owen only had one match in the double dual.

He was able to get up by a lot, but lost a lot of steam after being sick for two days.

About gave me a heart attack.  He only end up winning by one point, I think.14-13, something like that.

UGH.  Wrestling sometimes does this to me.

Just sitting here doing nothing except worrying about Owen.

So, highs and lows leading up to state.  It is a roller coaster, for sure.  More to come on the state experience.  Stay tuned...  Also need to update on basketball.  I would say update on life, in general, but this is all our life consists of right now, outside of work.