There were smiles, but little celebration on Saturday at Helias Catholic in Jefferson City. Four Bulldogs had qualified for state – two as sectional champions – but all knew there was work still to be done.

“A state title, that’s always been the goal,” said Jokiah Sewell, who earned the sectional crown at 170.

Keith Ransom returns to the state tournament after taking first place in the 126 pound class. Ricardo Juarez and Deacon Haag earned trips to Independence, as well, by finishing second at 120 and 220, respectively.

Dylan Mosley, wrestling at 138, just missed a spot in the state bracket after an epic battle against Hunter Jennings of Southern Boone. He wound up in fourth, one place shy of an invitation to the next level.

Three other Bulldogs hit the mats in the Class 2 Section 2 tournament.

Head coach Gayle Adams shared in the tentative cheer. “If you bring eight, you want to take eight,” he said. “But it’s not too bad – all the kids did well.”

Going into the event, in which wrestlers from 13 schools took part, expectations were high for both Ransom and Sewell.

Ransom waited out a first round bye before handily dispatching Southern Boone’s Charlie Uhrig in the semifinal round. In the title match he dominated Kaden Barnes of Fulton, scoring early and often rather than finishing off his rival.

After one it was 12-0. The referee slapped the mat 30 seconds into the second period, giving Ransom a 16-0 major decision.

“I wanted to send a message,” he said, explaining the points spree. Ransom is a cerebral wrestler, who entered every match, tournament and future event with a strategy in mind.

“The mental aspect of wrestling is just as important as the physical aspect,” he explained.

Sewell’s pin of Fulton’s Jayden Ayers in the semis pitted him against Levi Haney of Blair Oaks for the title. After a few shots failed to pan out, Sewell earned take down points. A few moments later, he scored again.

But Haney continued the battle. With 20 seconds left in the first, Sewell pulled his opponent in and rolled for the pin.

“My thing all year has been the pitch and cradle,” he explained. “When it was there, I took it.”

Sewell admitted to some nerves as the event opened. “I just wrestled like I did in practice,” he said.

Another who took advantage of two weeks’ preparation was Juarez. His win over David Riggs of Wright City by fall in the first period put him in the championship. Although he lost by major decision, 11-0, to Helias’ Jack Lage, it marked an improvement.

Lage pinned Juarez earlier in the year.

“I made small adjustments during practice,” he pointed out. “I could have done more attacking,” he added, noting that he would bring those changes back to practice.

Before Deacon Haag fell to Alex Meyer of St. Charles West in the championship, he prevailed in a lengthy tussle with Lutheran’s Dawson Clark and by a surprise move against St. Charles’ John McCaleb.

Haag doesn’t have a name for it – at least that he shared – but it knocked the legs from under McCaleb and led to a quick pin.

“It turned out to be the move that won the match,” he said of the semifinal fling. “I wasn’t able to win first, but hopefully I’ll redeem myself at state.”

Mosley had the longest day – four matches, winning two. Wrestling for third and a place at state, he fell behind Jennings 4-0. But he battled back into contention, once closing in on a possible pin before a blood situation broke his momentum.

In the end he missed a state berth by the narrowest of margins, losing 8-7.

Keegan Koons was 0-2 at 106, but lost a hard fought battle to Liam Borgsmiller of Orchard Farm in his finale. Cameron Beasley went 1-2 at 145, his victory coming in the consolation semifinals against Priory’s Chase Gerber.

Caleb Prater put in a solid effort at 195 against Timothy Soriano of Priory, but was 0-2 on the day.

The state tournament takes place March 11 in Independence.