Fort Zumwalt South Wrestlers Ready for State

Winning in the face of adversity always creates a fine narrative in the world of sports. And this year’s wrestling state qualifiers at each wrote a success story in spite of challenges.

Senior heavyweight Travis Wheatley had never wrestled in a competitive match until this year. He went out for the team because many of his friends thought he could fill the heavyweight spot in the lineup, but a lack of experience didn’t keep him from placing fourth in the Class 3, District 2 Tournament at Fort Zumwalt East High School last weekend to qualify for state.

“It’s a really cool thing,” Wheatly said. “It’s my senior year and I get to go out wrestling at state. I really love the sport. It’s overwhelming.”  

The top -our placers in every District in every weight class qualify for state. The state wrestling tournament in Columbia is scheduled to begin today, Thursday. The wrestlers will keep going on Friday and champions will be crowned on Saturday. 

Wheatley’s only other sport at FZS is a non-contact sport—golf. His first match of the season was in December in a quad meet at Fort Zumwalt East against FZE, Fort Zumwalt North and Fort Zumwalt West. He lost the match.

“I was so nervous,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do.”

Wheatley has compiled a 14-18 record this year. He said the beginning of the year “was rough,” and that he started to pick up more and more wins as the season progressed.

“I learned my basic moves,” he said. “You can’t get tired and you have to keep wrestling.”   

The senior said his goal is to place at state and that “having confidence in himself” and “listening to the coaches” would carry him to that goal.

Despite being an underclassman—a sophomore—Jesse Czerniewski placed third at Fort Zumwalt East. He has a 29-23 record.   

“It’s about hard work and staying focused on the match,” Czerniewski said. “You can’t let anything get to your head.”

The sophomore said his goal for this week was to “wrestle hard and place.”  Czerniewski said he stays busy in the off-season with weightlifting and running. When it comes to goals for the future he said he would like to continue to qualify for state and place in state competition. 

Senior Ryan Keithline won a District championship at 125 pounds. He has a 35-10 overall record. Keithline went to state his sophomore year but missed qualifying last year.

“That loss [in Districts] made me really mad and I didn’t take things for granted this year,” Keithline said.

Keithline said a strong off-season work ethic helped him make a second trip to state, as he attended the Team Missouri wrestling camp and lifted weights in the off-season. But mental attitude also played a role in the senior’s success.

“A lot of it is in your mind,” he said. “You have to convince yourself that you’re going to win. If you convince yourself you’re going to lose then you’re not going to wrestle as hard.”

Junior Cody Zeik placed third at the District tournament to qualify for sate at 140 pounds. He takes a 31-20 record to state competition. This is Zeik’s first season at varsity. He competed on the freshman team two years ago and didn’t go out for wrestling as a sophomore. Zeik said team spirit and the encouragement of the coaching staff laid out the red carpet for his return.

“Speed and stretch is what it’s about,” Zeik said. “Anybody can be technical and you can stop technique with strength. Strength and speed beat technique in my book.”

Zeik has aspirations of placing at state.

“With the work I’ve put in, it’s reasonable,” he said.

Junior Jordan Young placed fourth at 152 pounds to qualify for state for the first time. He struggled with a knee injury this year and missed a month of competition.

“I didn’t even know if I would be back for Districts,” he said. 

Young returned a week before the District tournament. He said he felt out of shape when he came back.

“Running helped me get my endurance back up,” he said. 

The junior said the key to placing in Districts was “being ready for each and every match.” He also said state “will be tough” but that he planned to “wrestle hard” and keep in mind that “anything could happen.” 

Young compiled a 21-8 record this year.

 The MSHSAA State Wrestiling Tournament beings today, Thursday. The first round of Class 3 matches begin at 5 p.m. at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.