Jays to open wrestling season tonight at Lebanon

Expectations are high for the Jefferson City Jays wrestling team this season.

And not only when the postseason rolls around in February.

"February is something we shoot for, but expectations are high for the entire season," Jays coach Phil Cagle said as Jefferson City will travel to Lebanon to take on the Yellowjackets to open the season. "We have to have high expectations for (today)."

Jefferson City has the talent to match those lofty goals. The Jays return four Class 4 state medalists and three other state qualifiers and a state tournament trophy could be in the offing.

"It's lingering there, it's something we're going to shoot for," Cagle said. "But things have to happen right. We need to avoid injuries, we need to get better."

Logan Moriarity leads the returning medalists for the Jays. The junior took third at 145 pounds last year, finishing with a record of 44-4. He will wrestle tonight at 160.

"Logan is ranked No. 1 in the state at his weight, that's a lofty thing and rankings mean nothing," Cagle said. "You have to go out and prove it every time you're on the mat."

Jalen Martin finished fourth at 170 last season with a record of 46-4. He will wrestle at 195 tonight.

"Jalen is still getting into wrestling shape after football and you can see him getting better every day," Cagle said. "He has high goals for this season."

Taking fifth for the Jays last year were Corbin Howard (42-8 at 120) and Jacob Brune (46-7 at 132). Howard will start the season at 126, while Brune will be in the lineup at 152.

"Corbin has really worked hard in the offseason to improve and he's a great team leader," Cagle said. "Jacob is really starting to come into his own."

The returning qualifiers include Dennis Barnes (33-16 at 106), Christian Mayberry (21-15 at 126) and Logan Coil (32-17 at 285). Barnes will start at 120, with Mayberry going at 132. Coil is back at 285.

Other starters tonight include Jon Werdehausen at 106, Peter Kuster at 113, Ty Bise at 138, Zach Hurley at 145, Rashaun Woods at 171, Tekoah Sage at 182 and Ian Coil at 220.

Cagle said the lineup should look similar throughout the season

"It will be close, some weights should change with a few kids moving down," he said.

But that doesn't mean someone can't step up and take a starting position.

"We've got kids who are going to have to battle for their spot the entire season," Cagle said. "We have a couple of weights where we are three or four deep and any one of those kids could get into the lineup."

The lineup is balanced with seven juniors and seniors to go along with seven freshmen and sophomores. Howard and Logan Coil are the lone seniors.

"We're ready to wrestle somebody else," Cagle said. "They're excited for the season to begin, but it's a long season with a tough schedule."

New to the schedule is a trip to Cape Girardeau for the Tiger Classic. And after a one-year absence, the district tournament will return to Fleming Fieldhouse.

It all starts tonight. Lebanon is the last team to defeat Jefferson City in a regular-season dual, that coming two years ago.

"It should be a tough dual, Lebanon has a lot of quality wrestlers returning," Cagle said. "Bonus points could be the difference in who wins (tonight)."

Jefferson City will open its home schedule Tuesday, Dec. 9 against Camdenton.