The twin-brother leaders of Northwest wrestling took a break from coaching Sunday – at a wrestling match.
Ron and Bob Wilhelm took their father, John, to Columbia to watch the University of Missouri tangle with Oklahoma State University at Mizzou Arena in a battle of teams ranked in the top five in the country.
The Wilhelms needed the respite because they’ll be running the Class 2 District 1 girls wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday, making sure hundreds of wrestlers from 22 teams are on the mat and on time.
Ron Wilhelm wouldn’t want it any other way. In the six years since the state launched girls wrestling, Northwest has hosted districts five times.
“You get to sleep in your own bed and be in a comfortable environment,” Wilhelm said. “The flip side is, it’s a lot of work for the coaches and a lot of things on the back side, but anything that makes it better for the kids, we do it.”
His stress level recently climbed because injuries have stacked up on his girls team that finished 10-0 in dual meets and won its fifth Suburban Conference Yellow pool title. He said the Lions could be without three or four starters for districts.
Senior Sam Anderson (170 pounds) suffered a concussion against Eureka Jan. 17 and won’t compete at the district meet. Injuries also have depleted the Lions at 130 and 140, including junior Madyson Thomas, a returning state qualifier. Wilhelm described Thomas’s chances to return at 50-50.
“I literally don’t have any girls to put in,” Wilhelm said. “We have overall depth, just not at those weights.”
One weight class Wilhelm hasn’t had to worry about this season is 235, with senior Abby Chandler seeking a third state medal and first championship. Chandler has won state medals at 190 and 194.
“I can’t speak highly enough of how the girls have done, and we’d like to think we’ll still be in the hunt for a district title,” Wilhelm said. “Our seniors have had a great year and we want to make dreams come true for the girls who’ve not been to state.”
The Northwest boys, meanwhile, are having 20 days to prepare for the Class 4 District 1 tournament Feb. 16-17 at Lafayette. Like the girls, the top four wrestlers in each weight class will advance to state, Feb. 23-24 at Mizzou Arena.
The last time the Northwest boys were in action was Jan. 26-27 at the Derek Thrasher Memorial Tournament in St. Charles. In a field loaded with large schools, the Lions were a distant 16th with 86 points.
Junior Evan Porter (144 pounds), a two-time state qualifier, finished fourth at Thrasher and avenged a loss to a conference rival along the way. In the quarterfinals, Porter squeezed out a 13-11 decision over Eureka senior Noah Richardson, who’d beaten him in a pool dual a week earlier. Porter battled unbeaten Hannibal senior Cody Culp in the semifinals but came up short in a 10-7 decision. Culp was second in the state (Class 3) at 138 in 2023.
“It’s the best he’s wrestled all year,” Wilhelm said of Porter. “He wants to get his name on the medal wall and he showed that he could.”
Porter’s brother, sophomore Eli, also was fourth at Thrasher at 106. He pinned three opponents to get to the semifinals, where another undefeated wrestler was waiting. Fort Osage sophomore Kaison Schreier won a 17-5 major decision en route to the title.
“Eli had five of the top-ranked kids in the state in his bracket and beat one and lost to two,” Wilhelm said. “That was a state-type tournament and he proved he belonged.”
Lion freshman Jeremiah Clines finished fifth at 157 and senior heavyweight Jeffrey Harrison placed sixth.
“This tournament is tougher than state, so for a freshman to medal here is impressive,” Wilhelm said. “(For Harrison), to place here is the cherry on top of what’s been a great senior year so far.”