Fatima senior grappler Caden Rosentreter (106) was expected to finish around sixth in his division, but surprised most by claiming fourth and an All-State medal at last week’s Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) boys wrestling championships.

“Caden capped it off the way any senior would like — with hardware,” said Coach Kurt Strope, noting that, like Heidi Struemph in the girls’ division, the effort was impressive. “Caden and Heidi took advantage of their positions. I’m very proud of what they were able to accomplish. They wrestled their butts off.”

In the opening round, Rosentreter (50-6) defeated Clayton Zimmerman of Versailles (TF, 17-1, 5:18) and then pinned  Bryson Twillman of North Callaway (3:56).

“The person from North Callaway had beaten me by 15 points,” said Rosentreter. “I managed to pin him at state, and from there, I kept working to do better.”

In the semifinals, Rosentreter lost to Nico Punshon (Windsor) by decision (5-3), and went to the consolation semis, where he knocked off Ayden Ortega of Trenton by fall (4:40) to set up a third-place match.

Rosentreter met Cole Huwar of Brookfield and lost by major decision (9-1) to earn fourth.

As he reflects on his high school career, Rosentreter spoke of his motivations. “These past four years have been a big growing journey, from not being a great wrestler as a freshman, to working my way up to be top four in the state as a senior,” he said. “The drive to make my dad happy was one of my biggest motivators, since he placed seventh in state when he was in high school. I made it my goal to beat him. However, my dad was not my only motivation to be better; all of the people who doubted me, felt that I wouldn’t be great, motivated me just as much. I think I will miss wrestling more than most things, but all great things must come to an end eventually.”

After starting the year as a captain, Rosentreter earned his 100th win this year, and finished strong as a state medalist. “I’m pleased with the season,” he said.

Rosentreter added that he will miss the team environment the most. “All of us ended up learning how to respect each other and play to one another’s strengths,” he noted. “On the night before the second day of state, we all stayed in one room and played games together. This was the most connected I had ever seen the team since all of us played together.”

Overall, the Comets were projected to finish 20th, and the team ended the year in exactly that position. “When you only get one placer and some of the guys you expect to place don’t score points, it’s hard to improve that finish,” Strope noted.

Strope said he believed his team had opportunities at the state tournament but didn’t capitalize on every one.

“We’d like to have had a few more medalists,” he added. “We had a few guys sitting in some good spots in their brackets. We just didn’t take advantage of them. That happens at state sometimes. Some years you do, and some years you don’t.”

However, few expected the Comets to be competitive, but Strope and his wrestlers disabused their detractors with a second straight district championship. “It was a huge accomplishment to go into districts with just nine kids and still win it,” said Strope. “Last year we took 12; this year we took nine and accomplished the same thing. I think a lot of teams weren’t expecting us to do that.”

He noted Tucker Tune (120) and Nolan Laux (132) each placed twice in their careers. “There are very few who get that kind of success,” said Struemph. “I wish they’d placed a third time, but it just wasn’t in the cards.”

Tune (21-4) defeated Abe Morris (Lafayette County, fall, 3:28), but then lost by decision (8-4) to Brodie Zeller of Stover to head for the second round of consolation.

Tune pinned Brayden Ortiz of Lone Jack (1:52), but his day ended in the next round with a loss by fall (4:03) to

Cash Hancock of St. Pius X - Festus.

Laux (28-10), meanwhile, lost his first-round match to Xavier Myers of Lafayette County by decision (10-6). He battled back to win the first round of consolation over Dawson Pelletier (South Harrison, TF, 15-0, 3:45), but lost to Owen Carver of Blair Oaks (Dec, 6-1) to end his state tournament.

Jesse Schroeder (175, 37-21), Zachary Kloeppel (144, 23-7), Logan Laux (150, 33-12), and William Berhorst (113, 38-17) each went 1-2, and Tucker Schroeder (138, 35-23) finished 0-2.

Struemph praised his seniors — Tune, Rosentreter, Kloeppel, J. Schroeder, and N. Laux — for their commitment to the program. “They battled for me,” said Strope. “They’ve had some really nice highs. Most kids who wrestle four years here make it to state, and this group continued that legacy. They were part of two district championship teams — the first two in school history. That sets the bar for the next group coming through.”

Younger wrestlers expected to return will form a smaller group, but Strope is confident in their ability to advance the program. “I think it’ll be a good rebuilding group,” he said. “We’re losing quite a few seniors, and that’s just a numbers game.”