Schweigert seals perfect season as state heavyweight champ; Dragons place third
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Ste. Genevieve senior Jacob Schweigert executes a takedown against Kennett opponent Kevin Thompson during the heavyweight championship match at the Class 3, District 1 boys wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Park Hills. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
By MATT KING
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Jacob Schweigert executed a crushing second takedown, and removed the lone lingering thorn in an otherwise magnificent varsity wresting resume.
The popular senior from Ste. Genevieve punctuated a pristine 48-0 season on Thursday night as the new MSHSAA Class 2 state heavyweight champion.
Schweigert pinned Reggie Thomas of STEAM Acedemy with six seconds remaining in the first period, and shook off any doubts or frustrations after losing under similar pressure last season.
His fulfilled quest for perfection also helped the Dragons secure their third consecutive state trophy at Mizzou Arena, improving to third this time after twice placing fourth.
Ste. Genevieve produced two finalists and six medalists after beginning the meet with 12 competitors. Its total of 123 ½ points was only topped by champion Odessa (142) and Seneca (129).
Drake Meyer finished as state runner-up for the second consecutive year at 144 pounds. Brody Winters and Mason Langeneckert wrapped their own stellar seasons by winning third-place matches.
But the best result was saved for last. After all other weight classes were settled, Schweigert embraced his moment with destiny after going 49-1 as a junior.
Thomas escaped the initial scoring maneuver during the title bout, but Schweigert used his power and leverage to attack again. It was over just a few heartbeats later.
Schweigert likewise beat his first two opponents in the first period on Wednesday. His greatest threat would arrive in an epic semifinal duel on Thursday morning.
Chillicothe senior Bo Smith was also seeking to remain undefeated, and while neither man budged in a neutral stance, Schweigert escaped from the down position in the third period to win 1-0.
Meyer reversed the opening takedown by Jet Brown of Odessa in their title match, but his remaining points came from ceded escapes as Brown posted five takedowns in the second period to prevail 26-7.
A 15-0 technical fall in the opening round preceded consecutive falls by Meyer, who became a three-time medalist and cemented his junior campaign at 42-3.
Langeneckert (165) bounced back from an intense 2-1 semifinal loss to Colt West of Hallsville in an ultimate tiebreaker that blocked him from wrestling for a title.
A third victory by fall elevated Langeneckert to the third-place match where he rolled past Amos Mundy of Osage by 16-4 major decision to finish 36-4.
Winters (120) also roared into the semifinals on back-to-back falls, and came back from an ensuing defeat to claim third with major decisions of 12-2 and 12-3. His season mark ended at 41-8.
Sophomore Owen Roth (157) bolstered the Ste. Genevieve effort in fourth place after going 3-2. He collected two falls and advanced past the quarterfinals with a 9-5 decision.
Senior Owen Drury (138) picked up the other medal for the Dragons in sixth. A 12-6 triumph, his third of the tournament via decision, clinched the all-state honor.
Teammates Jace Amschler (113) and Jacob Warren (215) were pinned just outside the medalist cut while going 2-2 overall. They each registered one fall, and Warren avenged his district final defeat by eliminating Mercury Clark of Affton 6-5.
Karter Worley (126) finished the season at 34-12 after notching a 13-11 decision over three matches. Drew Roth (106), Cameron Vogt (132) and Avery Dippold (190) each went 0-2 in early rounds.
Carter Pyatt parlayed a dramatic overtime victory on the district bubble last weekend with a healthy dose of personal determination to deliver his first all-state medal for Potosi.
Less than four months after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured tibia and fibula, the sophomore completed a remarkable comeback story by placing fifth at 157 pounds.
Pyatt capped an abbreviated 20-6 season by pinning Ian Chapin of Lafayette (St. Joseph) at 2:27, earning his fourth win among six total bouts.
His initial fall was followed by an 8-5 quarterfinal loss. But a 14-1 major decision extended his stay, and a second-period fall ensured his spot on the podium.
The Trojans managed to have a team-record five wrestlers at the state level in a single season. Nick Brown (190) was pinned twice, and Zane Richards (144) forfeited his scheduled bouts.
Tyson Fowler (132) notched an 18-3 technical fall, and Levi Dicus (126) earned a second-period fall before they were eliminated on Wednesday.
Central offered two first-time qualifiers in Class 2, but neither Matrim Politte (175) nor Mavrick Ratliff (113) could score a victory. Politte still salvaged a strong 32-16 final record.
Class 1 Boys
Senior Wil Kuehn bolstered his athletic legacy at Valle Catholic by securing all-state honors in a third distinct sport on his final opportunity.
Kuehn placed sixth at 157 pounds, and was the lone medalist for the Warriors among seven qualifiers at the MSHSAA Class 1 state wrestling tournament on Thursday.
After dropping his opening bout on Wednesday, Kuehn worked his way back by surviving elimination three straight times. He was defeated 20-3 by James Lefever of Diamond in the fifth-place bout.
Kuehn was in danger during the second consolation round, but overcame a 4-0 deficit with two clutch takedowns in the third period to edge Lawson opponent Ryan Kisner 6-5.
The all-state football kicker and track runner clinched his latest accolade in a subsequent 9-4 decision over Matthew Thomas of St. Pius, and posted a final record of 37-13.
Fellow district champion Conner Clanton (138) ended his senior season at 37-10 following a 15-0 loss to Mason Rongey of Trenton. Clanton previously pocketed two wins via fall and 7-0 decision.
Kalan Fallert (126) saw his hopes of a repeat medal dashed in the second consolation round, and ended with a 34-13 mark. His lone triumph at the event was a 6-1 decision.
Lucas Drury (132) and Andrew Schilly (144) each registered one fall for Valle Catholic. Cutter Abt (190) and Jonathan Knobloch (150) went 0-2 in their state debuts.
