Focused Jays wrestlers manhandle Lakers, 60-12

Jefferson City's Corbin Howard (tops) works on Camdenton's Will Morgan during their 126-pound match
Tuesday night at Fleming Fieldhouse.
Jefferson City's Corbin Howard (tops) works on Camdenton's Will Morgan during their 126-pound match Tuesday night at Fleming Fieldhouse.

The Jefferson City Jays didn't know quite what to expect in Tuesday night's wrestling dual against the Camdenton Lakers.

"Camdenton had us worried heading in," Jays coach Phil Cagle said. "They wrestled pretty well in the Kickoff Classic over the weekend."

Cagle needn't have worried. The Jays won 11 of the 13 contested matches, gaining bonus points in nine of those victories, on their way to a 60-12 decision at Fleming Fieldhouse.

"We wrestled pretty well tonight," Cagle said.

After dropping the opener at 106 pounds, the Jays won the next two matches by fall and then two more by technical fall.

"Those are some of our pretty good kids," Cagle said.

Peter Kuster, a freshman, won his second straight match via a first-period fall at 113, getting Tuesday night's victory in just 12 seconds. At 120, Dennis Barnes jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the first period before winning by fall in 2:28.

Corbin Howard displayed his takedown skills at 126 for the Jays. The senior totaled nine of them in the first period to take a 18-8 lead before winning by technical fall just :25 into the second period.

"Corbin wanted to work on his takedowns and he did a great job," Cagle said.

At 132, Christian Mayberry led 10-1 after one period and 16-3 after two before winning by technical fall in 4:14.

The Jays then picked up a pair of key victories by Tyler Bise at 138 (7-3) and Zach Hurley at 145 (7-4).

"Those were toss-up matches against a pair of returning varsity wrestlers for Camdenton," Cagle said. "Both of them are getting better every week."

Cagle credited Bise and Hurley with remembering the basics in picking up the victories.

"We're stressing fundamentals," he said. "You're going to win a lot of matches if you remember your fundamentals."

After a loss at 152, the Jays closed the dual with six straight wins.

Logan Moriarity won by fall in 1:59 at 160 before Rashaun Woods pinned his opponent in 3:26.

"Logan was tough tonight," Cagle said. "Rashaun is just a sophomore who is really starting to learn."

Tekoah Sage won by a 15-4 major decision at 182 for the Jays before Jalen Martin won by forfeit at 195. Ian Coil won by fall in 1:24 at 220, while Logan Coil was a 13-3 winner at 285.

Jefferson City (2-0) is back in action Friday and Saturday in the Missouri Duals at Helias.

"We just need to keep working hard," Cagle said. "We want to get some matches in."

III

Jefferson City could be without Jacob Brune for the remainder of the season.

The junior will have surgery today after injuring his knee in last week's dual victory against Lebanon.

"It's a devastating blow to him and to the team," Cagle said. "It's just an unfortunate thing."

Brune was fifth in the Class 4 state tournament at 132 as a sophomore.