High school wrestling: Callaway quartet to wrestle for state championships

Hornets' Uhls, Hrabovsky, Caswell pursue titles in Class 2; T-Birds' Henry seeks top prize in Class 1

Fulton junior Sam Hrabovsky catches a ride on the back of Osage sophomore Ryan Schepers during their Class 2 quarterfinal match at 132 pounds Friday morning at the 90th MSHSAA state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Hrabovsky edged Schepers in a 4-2 decision, then followed with an 8-2 win over Monett senior Karter Brink in double overtime in Friday night's semifinals. Hrabovsky (33-2) wrestles Logan-Rogersville senior Jay Strausbaugh (53-0) for the state title tonight.
Fulton junior Sam Hrabovsky catches a ride on the back of Osage sophomore Ryan Schepers during their Class 2 quarterfinal match at 132 pounds Friday morning at the 90th MSHSAA state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Hrabovsky edged Schepers in a 4-2 decision, then followed with an 8-2 win over Monett senior Karter Brink in double overtime in Friday night's semifinals. Hrabovsky (33-2) wrestles Logan-Rogersville senior Jay Strausbaugh (53-0) for the state title tonight.

COLUMBIA - Owen Uhls, Sam Hrabovsky, Jackson Caswell and Jadon Henry will share a monumental mission in seeking superiority.

Fulton's Uhls, Hrabovsky and Caswell in Class 2, and North Callaway's Henry in Class 1 will all compete for state championships tonight as the 90th MSHSAA state wrestling championships reach their captivating conclusion at Mizzou Arena.

Uhls (40-3) will pursue his second consecutive state title when he squares off against Excelsior Springs senior Ethan Day (44-5) for the championship at 113 pounds in Class 2. Uhls captured a state title at 106 last year.

Uhls advanced Friday night by pinning Oak Grove junior Kaden Scarborough in 3 minutes, 3 seconds in the semifinals

"It feels great, all of the hard work paid off," said Uhls, who also pinned Odessa freshman Jase Todd in 1:15 in Friday morning's quarterfinals. "It's so awesome."

Hrabovsky (33-2) will be going for his second state title - and first since winning at 113 in 2018 - when he clashes with Logan-Rogersville senior Jay Strausbaugh (53-0) in the championship at 132.

Hrabovsky reached the title match by executing an electrifying 8-2 win in double overtime over Monett senior Karter Brink in the semifinals Friday night. Hrabovsky earned satisfying, sweet redemption after being edged by Brink 4-3 for the state title at 120 last year.

"It's great," said Hrabovsky, who held off Osage sophomore Ryan Schepers in a 4-2 decision in Friday's quarterfinals. "I knew last year after I lost (to Brink) that if could have wrestled a little bit differently, I could have changed the outcome.

"This year I really focused on trying to tackle my small weaknesses, which caused me to lose the state championship last year. So far, it's paid off."

Caswell (47-1) will cap off his high school career by attempting to secure his first state title when he meets Seneca sophomore Kendon Pollard (44-5) in the championship at 120. Caswell is a two-time state medalist after producing respective third-place finishes at 106 in 2018 and 113 last year.

Caswell moved on to the title match Friday night by demolishing Pleasant Hill senior David Rivera with an impressive 17-1 technical fall in the semifinals.

"It's nice - I got third twice and I didn't want it again, I wanted more," said Caswell, who pinned Ste. Genevieve junior Dalton McNeal in 5:49 in the quarterfinals. "I'm happy I get the chance to get more - I still have one more match and I'm going to give it everything I've got.

"It's the last one in my high school career, so why not."

Henry (38-2) will also complete his high school career by trying to capture his first state championship when he faces Lawson junior Tyler Leonard (21-2) in the title match at 138 in Class 1.

Henry became North Callaway's first-ever state medalist with a third-place finish at 132 in 2018, but he was eliminated due to an injury in second-round wrestlebacks at 138 last year.

Henry advanced to the state championship Friday night by tallying a 15-6 major decision over Mid-Buchanan freshman Denton Biller in the semifinals.

"It's amazing," said Henry, who posted a 6-1 decision over Lathrop senior Andrew Beane in the quarterfinals earlier Friday. "I've worked for 13 years to be where I am today and never really had the feeling of being in a state championship.

"It was overwhelming - I went up there (in the stands) and talked to my parents and a few tears were shed, but it's very overwhelming and very uplifting. It makes you feel like a king."

 

Uhls was locked in a scoreless duel with Scarborough through one period in their semifinal match at 113. He was finally able to seize an advantage midway through the second period and maneuvered Scarborough to the mat and onto his back to record the pin.

"I knew he was good from neutral, so I knew if I could take him down, I knew I could pin him if I got on top," Uhls said.

Excelsior Springs' Day tallied an 8-2 decision over St. Genevieve sophomore Gavin Gross in the other semifinal.

Uhls throttled Day in a 12-1 major decision for the title at 113 at the Odessa Invitational earlier this month.

"I just have to stay aggressive and not let his defense stop me - he's a defensive wrestler - and just keep going through him," Uhls said.

Hrabovsky's semifinal showdown with Brink at 132 was breathtaking from the beginning. After a scoreless first period, Brink allowed Hrabovsky to escape early in the second period for a 1-0 edge.

Hrabovsky then surrendered an escape in the third period as Brink tied the match. It remained even through the first overtime, before Hrabovsky broke through with a flurry in the second overtime on a takedown and a three-point near-pin to build a 6-1 advantage.

Brink countered with an escape, but Hrabovsky sealed his victory with another takedown to return to the state finals.

"I think it kind of came down to conditioning and mindset," Hrabovsky said. "I knew once we were in the second overtime that I had the cardio capacity to keep on going and my full speed, and I could tell at the end there he was wearing out."

Hrabovsky mostly downplayed any notion of revenge after last year's agonizing title loss to Brink.

"There was a little bit, but I tried to kind of minimize its role," Hrabovsky said. "Coming into the match, I didn't want to wrestle angry or sloppy - more wrestle a controlled, skillful match, which I can win."

Logan-Rogersville's Strausbaugh had an easier path in reaching the state championship after his semifinal opponent, Central (Park Hills) junior Kade Willis, was forced to injury default. Willis sustained what appeared to be a head injury in the second period with Strausbaugh leading 10-4.

Hrabovsky will be seeking to avenge a narrow 1-0 loss to Strausbaugh in the semifinals at 132 at the Odessa Invitational.

"I think it comes down to using my leg attacks and using my tie-ups and my setups," Hrabovsky said. "In the past match, I let him dictate the tie-ups and the pace of the match.

"This time I need to go at my pace and just create as many scoring opportunities as I can."

Caswell was crisp in systematically manhandling Rivera in the semifinals at 120. Caswell jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first period, then pulled away in the second period behind a pair of takedowns and a three-point near-pin to open up a 12-1 advantage.

After logging a quick takedown in the third period, Caswell clinched his chance to compete for a state title with another three-point near-pin.

"I just knew from the start this match was mine and I was going to keep scoring - no matter what - and dominate," Caswell said.

Seneca's Pollard outlasted St. Clair freshman Brock Woodcock in a 15-12 decision in the other semifinal match.

"I just have to wrestle my match," Caswell said. "I know no matter what, if I wrestle my match, I've got it."

Henry's semifinal bout with Biller was back-and-forth in the early going before he was able to establish control in closing out the nine-point major decision.

"I knew coming in he wanted to get into his ties, so I focused on trying to stay out on the leg and get into my shots and take him down, and try to ride him as tough as I could," Henry said. "I had a little bit of trouble the first time I got on him - he had a little bit different hips than I was expecting.

"He rolled me through and got two back points and a reversal. After that, I figured out my riding and everything went OK."

Lawson's Leonard prevailed in his semifinal with a 13-6 decision over Adrian junior Cole Ritter.

Henry previously downed Leonard in an 8-4 semifinal decision at 138 at the Sam Martin Invitational in Plattsburg in January.

"I have to finish my shots as fast as I can, and make sure in the third period that I don't stop - I just have to keep attacking," Henry said.

 

(Editor's note: Results from the state championship matches will not be available at press time for Sunday's print edition. See Tuesday's issue of the Fulton Sun for comprehensive coverage.)

Ryan Boland can be reached at (573) 826-2422, or on Twitter @FultonSunSports.