The Fulton Hornets and North Callaway Thunderbirds wrestling teams will both be represented by five state qualifiers in Class 2 and Class 1, respectively, when the 89th MSHSAA championships begin at 9 this morning at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
Fulton's qualifiers include sophomore Sam Hrabovsky at 120 pounds, junior Jackson Caswell at 113, freshman Owen Uhls at 106, sophomore Eston Dews at 126 and senior Steven Johnson at 220.
North Callaway's qualifiers are comprised of senior Jordan Delashmutt at 220, junior Jadon Henry at 138, senior Chet Cunningham at 152, sophomore Grant Wright at 145 and freshman Blake Whipple at 120.
Fulton will also have two qualifiers - freshman Rylee Baker at 103 and sophomore Paige Clines at 167 - competing in the inaugural girls' state championships, which start at 2:15 this afternoon at Mizzou Arena.
Here is a look at Fulton's and North Callaway's state qualifiers:
FULTON
CLASS 2
SAM HRABOVSKY, sophomore (31-0), 120 pounds
First-round opponent: St. Joseph Lafayette freshman Austin Allen (23-23).
Making it to Mizzou: Hrabovsky captured a District 2 championship with a 17-2 technical fall over Lutheran St. Charles' Isaac Conrad last Saturday in Marshall.
That's a fact: Hrabovsky will be seeking a second straight undefeated run to a state title after winning the state championship at 113 with a 42-0 mark in 2018.
JACKSON CASWELL, junior (47-5), 113
First-round opponent: Nevada sophomore Lane Brooks (19-15).
Making it to Mizzou: Caswell came in second in District 2 after dropping a 5-3 decision to Moberly's Zach Lewis in the title match.
That's a fact: Caswell, a three-time state qualifier, medalled last year with a third-place finish at 106.
OWEN UHLS, freshman (50-1), 106
First-round opponent: Chillicothe sophomore Sheldon Rader (31-14).
Making it to Mizzou: Uhls won a District 2 title with a 5-0 decision over Mexico's Keith Ransom.
That's a fact: Uhls is making his first trip to the state championships.
Quotable: "I am expecting a lot from Owen, Sam and Jackson," Fulton head coach Ryan Morts said. "They have wrestled great all year. We have seen a lot of the competition we will see this weekend at state throughout the year, and we have handled those matches."
ESTON DEWS, sophomore (35-17), 126
First-round opponent: Sullivan freshman Ty Shetley (33-17).
Making it to Mizzou: Dews took third in District 2 with a pin of Moberly's Camron Lowry in 2 minutes, 50 seconds.
That's a fact: Dews will be making his first appearance at the state championships.
STEVEN JOHNSON, senior (32-18), 220
First-round opponent: Lincoln Prep freshman Louis Moten (30-2).
Making it to Mizzou: Johnson was fourth in District 2 after being pinned by Moberly's Jarrett Kinder in 2:32 in the third-place match.
That's a fact: Johnson is a newcomer to the state championships.
Quotable: "This is Eston and Steven's first appearance at the state tournament, so I want them to go in and have fun, and win some matches," Morts said. "There is nothing more fun for guys like them to just go in and surprise people, and continue to win matches."
RYLEE BAKER, freshman (21-3), 103
First-round opponent: Received bye, will face either Camdenton freshman Taylor Mustain (31-3) or Cameron freshman Celeste Greer (22-3) in the quarterfinals this afternoon.
Making it to Mizzou: Baker locked up a Class 1, District 2 title with a pin of Holt's Reese Compton in 2:47 on Feb. 2 at Ft. Zumwalt North in O'Fallon.
PAIGE CLINES, sophomore (20-6), 167
First-round opponent: Earned a bye, will square off against either Lafayette (Wildwood) sophomore Josette Partney (16-3) or Marceline junior Addy Schmitt (8-2) in the quarterfinals.
Making it to Mizzou: Clines secured a District 2 championship by pinning McCluer's Alexus Yancey in 2:52.
That's a fact: Clines' older brother, Trenton, won a state title for Fulton at 145 in 2015 and finished as a three-time medalist.
Quotable: "Rylee and Paige, I am excited for them," Morts said. "They are in the same boat as Eston and Steven. Let's just go in with no big expectations and wreak havoc on the bracket and continue to win matches."
NORTH CALLAWAY
CLASS 1
JORDAN DELASHMUTT, senior (34-9), 220
First-round opponent: Berkeley senior Kevon James (11-10).
Making it to Mizzou: Delashmutt won a District 3 championship - the Thunderbirds' second in school history - with a pin of Father Tolton's Conner Fogue in 1:51 last Saturday in Higginsville.
That's a fact: Delashmutt is a two-time state qualifier. He was eliminated in third-round wrestlebacks at 220 last year.
Quotable: "I look for Jordan to compete for a medal this week in Columbia," North Callaway head coach Ross Rosenbaum said.
JADON HENRY, junior (28-2), 138
First-round opponent: Diamond junior Cameron Addington (44-15).
Making it to Mizzou: Henry finished second in District 3 after being forced to forfeit the championship against Hallsville's Andrew Huddleston due to a lingering injury.
That's a fact: Henry - a three-time state qualifier - became the Thunderbirds' first-ever state medalist by taking third at 132 in 2018.
Quotable: "Jadon Henry is wrestling with an injury that would have kept most kids at home," Rosenbaum said. "I can't put into words the amount of heart and toughness he has.
" The hope is he rehabs this week and can give it a go at the state tournament. Either way, he has had a fantastic season, and his attitude towards the adversity of this injury speaks volume to his character. I hope he is able to go out and chase a state title."
CHET CUNNINGHAM, senior (39-15), 152
First-round opponent: Bishop DuBourg senior Grant Pawlak (25-11).
Making it to Mizzou: Cunningham took second in District 3 after being pinned by Marceline's Cullen Bruner in 5:36 in the title match.
That's a fact: Cunningham is making his first trip to the state championships.
Quotable: "I look for him to compete well this weekend and be there Friday night fighting for a medal," Rosenbaum said.
GRANT WRIGHT, sophomore (26-18), 145
First-round opponent: Principia senior Garrett Sheets (29-7).
Making it to Mizzou: Wright was fourth in District 3 after being pinned by Hallsville's Lucas Pemberton in 3:38 in the third-place match.
That's a fact: Wright will be making his first appearance at the state championships.
Quotable: "Grant has improved every day this season, and will get another opportunity to represent his school this weekend in Columbia," Rosenbaum said. "I'm very excited for him."
BLAKE WHIPPLE, freshman (29-20), 120
First-round opponent: Whitfield sophomore Logan Ferrero (34-6).
Making it to Mizzou: Whipple came in fourth in District 3 after bowing in a 7-0 decision to Brookfield's Quinn Gladbach in the third-place match.
That's a fact: Whipple is also a newcomer to the state championships.
Quotable: "Blake is going to have a very tough first-round match, but I expect him to compete for six minutes every match and represent our program well this week," Rosenbaum said.
Ryan Boland can be reached at (573) 826-2422, or on Twitter @FultonSunSports.