Calls Don’t Go Ortiz’s Way
At one point in Oscar Ortiz’s 4-3 loss in the 126-pound championship match at the Class 3 Missouri State Wrestling Championships, he led 5-0.
At one point in Oscar Ortiz’s 4-3 loss in the 126-pound championship match at the Class 3 Missouri State Wrestling Championships, he led 5-0.
So how did Ortiz go from leading 5-0 to losing 4-3?
It began with Ortiz leading 3-0 early in the second period after getting a first-period takedown and an escape to start the second period. Soon after getting his one point for an escape, Ortiz apparently earned two more points for another takedown.
But Neosho coach Jeremy Phillips argued to the second official that Ortiz wasn’t in control despite the head official awarding the takedown and reaching a one-count for back exposure. After a brief conference, the second official overruled the main official and the takedown points were taken off the board.
“That’s just kind of the way it is,” said Josh Factor, McDonald County head coach. “You get some calls in your favor and you lose some. They have a great officiating staff here at state. Unfortunately, we had one call that didn’t work out in our favor. We just have to put more points on the board and widen the gap so we aren’t relying on a two-point takedown to be the difference in the match.”
Ortiz took a 2-0 lead with 29 seconds left in the first period and then made it 3-0 with an escape to start the second period. After the controversial reversal of the takedown, the two rivals battled evenly until Auch scored his first points of the match with a takedown with 22 seconds left in the second period.
Auch had the choice for starting the third period and chose the bottom. Ortiz rode his opponent until 25 seconds left when Auch scored a reversal for the win.
“I got to a good start and was aggressive the whole match,” Ortiz said. “It was a close match, and I just didn’t come out on top this time.”
Ortiz dropped a 12-0 decision to Auch in last week’s district finals after being sick three days prior to districts.
“I felt stronger today than at districts,” Ortiz said. “I am just thankful for everything — the coaches, everyone back home, my family. We will get them next year.”
Auch improved to 39-1 for the year, while Ortiz finishes with a 43-5 record, with four of those losses coming to his Neosho rival. Auch was the defending state champ at 106 pounds, while Ortiz won state last year at 113 pounds.
“Oscar gave it everything he had,” Factor said. “He wrestled a great match but just fell a little short. Sometimes those kinds of things help get you to work harder, and I think that’s exactly what Oscar is going to do. He is a trooper and the type of kid that is going to come back and win a state championship as a senior.”
Ortiz earned his berth in the finals with three pins in earlier rounds, including a semifinal pin of Zach Fennell of Rolla, which was just Fennell’s second loss of the season, both coming at the hands of Ortiz.
McDonald County was also represented at state by Jack Teague, who went 1-2 at 152 pounds. Teague was pinned in the opening round by eventual state champion Sam Frankowski of Rockwood Summit. He came back with a second period pin of Blaine Keuhn of Platte County in the consolation bracket before being eliminated by a pin by Alex Rothman of Neosho.
“It was a good experience, but I was really hoping to medal this year,” Teague said. “It’s an amazing experience to get to come to state. I am ready to come back next year and get that medal.”
Teague, a two-time state qualifier, finishes his junior year with a 33-12 record.
“We knew coming out of our district as a number four seed it was going to be a tough road for him,” Factor said. “His first match was with a defending state champion, but he came back with a nice win in the consolation bracket. We are just going to have to continue to get better. Jack has one more shot, and it is time he gets to the next level and gets a state medal.”