The Waterloo High School wrestling squad entered Saturday’s Mississippi Valley Conference meet with a fighting chance to win the conference crown for the first time ever.

Unfortunately for the ‘Dogs, it was not to be.

Waterloo had two wrestlers fail to make weight for the meet, which meant they had to forfeit those matches. This resulted in the ‘Dogs giving away 12 points in every match. It didn’t hurt them early on, but ended up costing them against Triad and Mascoutah.

Waterloo got off to a good start, defeating Civic Memorial 50-20 and then topping Jerseyville in a close match that came down to the last wrestlers, 34-33.

Next up for Waterloo was a tough match against Highland, one of the favorites coming into the meet. Waterloo fell behind early but mounted a comeback to take the match, 41-27.

Next up was Triad, and the match did not go as planned. The Knights defeated Waterloo, 52-30.

The ‘Dogs closed out the meet with a loss to host school Mascoutah, 47-30, a match many feel Waterloo should have won.

The ‘Dogs finish their season with a 17-5 match record and a third place finish in conference.

“Very disappointed in losing the last two duals as a result of two wrestlers not making weight,” coach Pat Stewart said. “Those weight classes would have made the difference in Waterloo winning the conference for the first time.”

Stewart added that his boys wrestled well early, then “came out flat” against Triad and Mascoutah after the lunch break.

Waterloo wrestlers Paul Stewart (138 pounds) and Pat Bieber (182 pounds) earned first team all-conference.

Cory Cissell (113 pounds), Cody Cissell (120 pounds), Bryan Bumps (132 pounds), Austin Stewart (145 pounds), Max Jennings (152 pounds) and Joe Snover (195 pounds) all placed third to earn honorable mention all-conference.

Next Saturday, Waterloo will be back at Mascoutah for regionals. The top three wrestlers in each weight class advance to sectionals at Chatham-Glenwood.

“Stewart, Bieber and Shaw all have a good chance to advance to sectionals,” coach Stewart said. “The Cissell brothers and a few others also have a good chance to advance as well, but it will all depend on who they draw and how well they wrestle.”