Ozark’s 50-19 ‘Senior Night’ victory versus Neosho on Thursday featured a handful of compelling storylines, but none more inspiring than Luke Hulse’s triumphant return.
Hulse took to the mat for the first time since suffering a partially torn LCL in his right leg six weeks ago and posted a pin in 1:24 against the Wildcats’ Eric Renner at 220 pounds.
“I’ll be completely honest, it feels really good to win on ‘Senior Night,’” Hulse said. “This is a culmination of years and years of working and to win one last time at home means a lot to me. I wanted to go out and show everybody what I can do.”
“That injury was an unfortunate way for him to go down during his senior year," Tigers coach Tod Sundlie said. "He’s been plagued with injuries throughout high school. For him to come out and win on ‘Senior Night,’ I’m very happy for him.
Hulse injured his leg at Ozark’s season-opening trip to the Francis Howell North Tournament the first weekend in December.
“I hated it for him,” Sundlie said. “He’d worked hard to come back and had a solid football season. We were ready for him to have a solid year for us. Luke’s mental toughness has been shown through rehab and physical therapy. He keeps showing up. He earned that opportunity tonight and took advantage of it.”
“When it happened, it hurt quite a bit and then the pain went away,” Hulse said. “I was unsure what was happening, so I went to the doctor an got an MRI. I told the doctor I wanted to come back and wrestle at least for COC, Districts and State.”
While making a bid for his first State berth, Hulse will be working on his conditioning as much as he can to build stamina.
“I’m out of shape,” he said. “Just going a little bit tonight, I was breathing pretty heavy.”
“He’s got some work to do,” Sundlie said. “You’ve got to wrestle to get in shape. We’ve got some time to get him right and he’s not afraid of work, that’s for sure.”
Hulse’s pin is more remarkable considering he lost to Renner twice last season.
“I didn’t have any doubt in myself and took that to the mat,” he said.
Hulse and all of the Tigers received a boost by a boisterous home crowd. Members of many of Ozark’s other sports programs were on hand and made a difference.
“Everybody was getting hyped up,” Hulse said. “You had guys pinning people and everyone was jumping up and screaming.”
“We were happy with the turnout,” 138-pounder Nolan Moeller said. “The atmosphere was amazing. It felt great with everyone here cheering us on. It definitely helped me with my energy. I felt like I had a lot of people behind me.”
“It was outstanding,” 113-pounder Caden Harrington said. “Everyone was going crazy. The energy level was through the roof and it elevated everyone’s performance.”
Harrington helped get the dual off to an exciting and most unusual start.
Ozark went up 6-0, thanks to a forfeit win to Damien Moseley at 106, and then Harrington won 7-6, but only after he was seemingly pinned. One official slammed his hand to the mat signaling a pin for Neosho’s Fisher Butler. But the other official immediately ruled both of Harrington’s legs were out of bounds and the wrestlers were told to return to the mat.
Harrington went on to hold on to his one-point lead.
“I was in shock,” Harrington said of his feeling when he thought he had been pinned. “I hadn’t lost a match, yet, in duals, so I was thinking, ‘Man, I just lost my last dual and with everyone here.’ I knew I should have beaten that kid badly. It was going to be a big upset if he did beat me. I knew once I had the other chance, I was going to learn from it and wasn’t going to mess up again. It was awesome to go back out and have another shot at him.”
“There was some miscommunication with the officials, but they got together and talked and made it right,” Sundlie said. “(Harrington’s) foot was clearly out. The other official could see it and hustled over to say something. They did it right the way.”
In addition to Hulse, Ozark received pins from Moeller, Keaton Hurst, Levi Maskrod, Lucas Campbell and Braxton Strick. Upon recording their fall, they were awarded a shiny WWE commemorative championship belt.
“We had a WWE theme for the night,” Hulse said. “Someone was dressed up as Hulk Hogan and brought a belt with them, that’s where we got it from.”
“That was just for tonight,” Moeller said. “It was something to relieve the stress off of us.”
Ozark’s home slate this season was brief. This was only the Tigers’ second appearance at home and their home finale. They were at home for Districts and Sectionals last season, but will be at Neosho for the COC Tournament and at Nixa for Districts this year.
“It’s every senior’s dream to finish on top,” said Moeller, who recorded the dual’s fastest pin in :25. “I’m happy with how I did tonight.”
Ozark 50, Neosho 19
106: Damien Moseley (O) over (N) (For.) 113: Caden Harrington (O) def. Fisher Butler (N) 7-5; 120: Keaton Hurst (O) pinned Wyatt Black (N) 4:21; 126: Johnny Chrisco (N) def. Daniel Laney (O) 4-2; 132: Levi Maskrod (O) pinned Jack Lankford (N) 3:11; 138: Hayden Crane (N) maj. dec. Mason Highley (O) 12-0; 145: Nolan Moeller (O) pinned Nate Copeland (N) :25; 152: Lucas Campbell (O) pinned Bostyn Patterson (N) 2:31; 160: Braxton Strick (O) pinned Trey Hardin (N) 1:33; 170: Collyn Kivett (N) pinned Brock Sundlie (O) 6:00; 182: Eli Zar (N) pinned Johnny Williams (O) 1:25; 195: Peyton Greer (O) def. DeLeon Ulysses (N) 18-15; 220: Luke Hulse (O) pinned Eric Renner (N) 1:24; 285: Sean Collins (O) def. Tyce Hardin (N) 3-0.
