Columbia wrestlers get good start at state tournament

COLUMBIA — Columbia high schools got off to a good start Thursday at the Missouri state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena. Rock Bridge wrestlers went 4-2 in the opening round, and Hickman went 2-1.

Rock Bridge victories featured Quinn Smith (113 pounds) defeating Sam Ritchie of Francis Howell North in a 10-0 major decision. In the 120-pound division, Bruins wrestler Jason Kiehne pinned his opponent from Lee's Summit in 5 minutes, 37 seconds. Sam Crane also pinned his opponent in the 132-pound division, while teammate Trent Johnson earned a technical fall at 145 pounds, winning 16-1.

Rock Bridge’s Harry Schauwecker (170 pounds) and Cody Maly (182 pounds) each lost their first-round matches but came back to win their next matches in wrestlebacks and will continue to compete for a third-place finish.

Hickman victories included a pin in 4 minutes and 19 seconds from Will Owens at 195 pounds. Defending state champion J'den Cox continued his undefeated season by winning by technical fall at 220 pounds.

Hickman’s Alex Shea lost in the opening round at 138 pounds but won his first match in wrestlebacks.  

Class 4 wrestling continues with the quarterfinals at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at Mizzou Arena. The semifinals are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the third- and fifth-place matches start at noon. After those matches conclude, the stadium will be closed until 3:30 p.m. in preparation for the championship bouts, which begin at 4:30 p.m.