This one was for today. And the future.
The Jefferson City Jays claimed three individual titles Saturday on their way to capturing team honors in the Class 4 District 3 Tournament at Fleming Fieldhouse.
"It's important because it shows how the hard work can pay off," Jays coach Phil Cagle said. "Plus it shows the younger kids what you can accomplish with hard work and that is good for our future as a program."
The immediate future looks pretty good for the Jays, who will take a total of 10 wrestlers to the Class 4 state tournament starting Thursday at Mizzou Arena.
Among Jefferson City's qualifiers are district champions Logan Moriarity at 160 pounds, Jalen Martin at 195 and Logan Coil at 285.
Moriarity rolled through his weight class this weekend, winning three times by fall and once by technical fall. The junior won the title by fall in 2:44 against D.J. Brasfield-Thogerson of Lee's Summit West.
Moriarity led 2-0 after one period. He slowly worked Bradfield-Thogerson onto his back at the start of the second on his way to get the victory by fall.
"Logan kept his cool and did a great job," Cagle said. "He hit the roll, came through and made his adjustments. He didn't panic, he was under control and made things happen the way he wanted them to happen."
Martin was a 3-1 winner against Tyler Nelson of Lee's Summit West in his title match.
After a scoreless first period, Nelson got an escape to take the lead. Martin scored a takedown with 20 seconds left in the second period, then the junior got an escape early in the third for the victory.
"Jalen did a great job of controlling his match," Cagle said. "He just wrestled smart."
Coil won his title by fall in 2:23 against Phillip Reitz of Joplin.
The match was scoreless after one period before Coil caught Reitz with a throw early in the second for the pin. It was a measure of revenge for Coil, who had lost by fall to Reitz earlier this season at the Hickman Tournament.
"What a great experience for a senior," Cagle said. "He did a great job."
The Jays had four other wrestlers take second.
Peter Kuster lost 10-4 to Miles Robinson of Raymore-Peculiar at 113, while Corbin Howard dropped a 5-0 decision to defending state champion Josiah Kline of Rock Bridge at 120. Jacob Brune lost 3-0 to Austin Eveler at 145 and Rashaun Woods lost by fall to Adrian Palmer of Lebanon at 182.
Led by the seven finalists, the Jays took team honors with 204.5 points. Raymore-Peculiar was second in the 14-team field with 169, while Lee's Summit West was third with 158.
The 204.5 points are the second-most scored among the 64 teams in Class 4 district tournament action. Park Hill won its district title with 243. The other district team champions were Francis Howell Central (202) and Seckman (183.5).
Three Jays battled through the wrestlebacks to take third - Christian Mayberry at 126, Dennis Barnes at 132 and Tanner Irwin at 138.
"They won the tournament for us," Cagle said. "We knew we had to win three matches in the last round and they took care of that by themselves."
The trio also helped themselves out with victories. If they'd have finished fourth, they would have opened the state tournament against a district winner.
"We always want to wrestle to our seed or above and we did that," Cagle said. "We had some kids overachieve."
The Class 4 state tournament begins with first round and first-round wrestleback matches at 5 p.m. Thursday at Mizzou Arena.
"We just need to concentrate on our wrestling and not what's going on around us," Cagle said. "If we can do that, things will take care of themselves.
"My concentration is going to be on the kids and getting them ready."
The championship matches are slated for 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
See also: