Ross High School had three shots to send its first wrestler to a state championship match, but seniors Cordell Byrd, Joseph Jones and Frank Heimkreiter all lost in the Division II semifinals Friday night at Schottenstein Center.

“We had three matches today against guys that were a little bit better than us,” Ross coach Rich Dunn said. “Each one did what they’ve been doing all week, and the other guy stopped it and did their stuff a little bit better.”

Fairfield senior Adam Sams also saw his dream of a state title end when he was pinned in the Division I semifinals.

“We give (Madison senior Nick Montgomery) all the respect as he out-wrestled us,” Fairfield assistant Jason Laflin said. “Adam needs to quickly forget about it, or (today) will be a long day.

Sams, Byrd, Jones, and Heimkreiter — along with Ross senior Tyler Bridwell (195) and Lakota East senior Jacob Burton (285), who won in the consolation semifinals — all have a chance to place anywhere from third to sixth when action resumes this morning at 10.

“I’m a little bit disappointed, but at the same time it’s my first time up here,” Heimkreiter said. “I’m not using that as an excuse. I’m just happy to be placing. I’m going for the highest place I can get right now, which is third. I think I’m capable of doing it. I just have to wrestle hard and wrestle smart.”

With four placers, Ross doubles the school record of two which it set many times. The six qualifiers also are a record.

And if any of the four placers can win two matches this morning to place third, it will equal the highest finish in school history, tying Aaron Ray (1999) and Dylan Ray (2006).

All of that, combined with league and sectional titles as well as a final-four appearance in the state team tournament, establishes the Ross senior class as the greatest in school history.

“Hopefully this will encourage the kids younger than us – even the kids who are the seniors, juniors and sophomores to be — to get in the room and work hard and prepare for something’s that great,” Heimkreiter said. “To be able to do this has been one hell of an experience.

“No one made it into the finals, but I think everyone’s pretty proud of what they’ve done,” he added. “And it’s not over yet.”