High school wrestling: Valle Catholic To Serve As District Host
Progress Sports Complex on Missouri State Highway 32 has been named the host site for the Class 1 District 1 wrestling tournament set for this Friday and Saturday. (SUBMITTED PHOTO FROM THE STE. GENEVIEVE COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER/Special to the Herald)
By ERIC VICCARO
eviccaro@stegenherald.com
For the first time ever, the Valle Catholic High School wrestling team will serve as host for the Class 1 district tournament.
The Class 1 District 1 tournament will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and the entire event will take place at the Progress Sports Complex.
“I think it’s an awesome opportunity to host the district tournament,” Valle Catholic head coach Jacob Gegg said. “The boys will enjoy the large crowds that come out to watch. As the saying goes, ‘There’s no place like home.’”
Gegg said having the tournament here in Ste. Genevieve will serve as a source of motivation.
The Warriors won’t endure a long drive somewhere else, and they won’t need to fork over money for hotel rooms.
Hey, isn’t it nicer to sleep on your
own mattress?
There will be plenty of talented teams at the tournament, including North Callaway — a school Gegg has seen and scouted this season.
Lift For Life and New Madrid County Central also field competitive teams.
“I believe we will also be a player in the team race,” Gegg said. “We have some guys that have had great seasons, and they look to continue that for the next two weeks.”
The top four wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the Missouri State High School Activities Association state meet from Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 17-19, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
The most wrestlers Valle Catholic has ever qualified for state in a single season is four — but, the Warriors could establish a new benchmark this year.
Josh Bieser spearheads the group in the 152-pound weight class, fresh off a second-place finish in a lower weight class last year.
Kaden Gegg (106) was a state qualifier two years ago. Others to watch are as follows: Wil Kuehn (120), Conner Clanton (126), Joseph Flieg (132), Eli Rowles (160), Jayce Bales (170), Jacob Calbreath (195), Noah Elbert (220) and Espn Reed (heavyweight).
This marks the second straight year the city of Ste. Genevieve has served as a host for a postseason wrestling tournament — with the Dragons serving as a Class 2 site in February 2021.
NOTES
• Valle Catholic swept a home triangular on Monday, Feb. 31, beating Cape Notre Dame 66-12, St. Pius X 72-12 and St. Mary’s of St. Louis, 48-29.
Kuehn had the Warriors’ quickest pin versus St. Mary’s, pinning Chris Concepcion in just 39 seconds in a 120-pound bout.
Kaden Gegg and Elbert won matches in the 113- and 220-pound weight classes, respectively, versus Cape Notre Dame.
Payton Heberlie (145) needed just 21 seconds to pin Thomas Boldt in the dual against St. Pius X.
• Due to poor weather and road conditions, last Thursday’s regular season finale at Gateway Science Academy in St. Louis was cancelled.
The Warriors had been scheduled to face Gateway Science, Lutheran South and Roosevelt.
