Rodell Sperry capped a 30-1 season with a second place finish in the Class 1, 152 pound weight division.
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The 2020-21 COVID wrestling season brought many changes and challenges to Gallatin R-5 wrestlers but they weathered the storm and capped the final week of competition with two medals at the MSHSAA Class 1 Wrestling Championships held in Independence.
In a season that saw abbreviated schedules, tighter restrictions, a different state venue and fewer competitors at state meets, the Bulldogs were able to advance four wrestlers to the final meet held at the Cable Dahmer Arena.
Leading the way for the Bulldogs was junior Rodell Sperry, who added to his win mark by three matches before bowing to his Knob Noster opponent in the championship match of the 152-pound class. Sperry, as the division’s top seed, drew a first-round bye, then made quick work of two opponents, Blake Wiles of Fatima and Shyne Tucker of Lift for Life Academy, with a pair of victories by pins.
Draven Wright finished 4-1 and grabbed a fifth place medal in last week’s Class 1 state wrestling tournament.
Sperry took to the finals mat, as expected, against senior Connor Johnston and the two squared off for two scoreless periods to begin the match. Johnston’s choice of the down position to begin the third and final period proved to be the difference in the match.
An escape finally broke the scoring drought and a subsequent takedown gave Johnston a 3-0 lead before he tacked on two more points with a near fall. The 5-0 loss ended Sperry’s season at 30-1 but the door remains open for another trip to state next season.
Draven Wright took a long road to a fifth-place finish in the 145-pound weight class. The Bulldog sophomore pinned Alex Radefield of Versailles to begin his day. A loss to Centralia’s Braydon Shelton sent him to the consolation side.
Wright pinned Larry Norrington of Lift for Life Academy and came back to Radefield, this time winning a 15-3 major decision and a fifth-place state medal. Wright finished the year 28-8.
Sophomore Logan Bottcher controls his opponent during state wrestling competition.
Bulldog freshman Luke Johnson got his first taste of state competition in the 106-pound class. Johnson lost his first match to Levi Wilhelm of Knob Noster and then drew a bye in the consolation bracket. A loss on points to Paxton Martin of Hallsville, ended Johnson’s day.
Sophomore Logan Bottcher also battled back from an opening round loss to Kyle Flieger of Versailles. Bottcher next received a bye and advanced further with a hard-fought 5-4 win over Richmond’s Aidan Ivison. A 7-4 loss to Brentwood’s Cody Hughes ended Bottcher’s trek one match win short of a medal.
Bulldog freshman Luke Johnson in action during last Wednesday’s Class 1 state wrestling tournament.
Johnson finished his initial varsity season 15-14. Bottcher’s season ended at 25-12.