COLUMBIA, Mo. - It wasn't a perfect opening day for the Jefferson City Jays at the Class 4 state wrestling championships.
But it was pretty darned good as nine Jays remain alive in the championships after Thursday's action at Mizzou Arena.
"I was quite happy with the first round," Jays coach Phil Cagle said. "We had some very tough draws and the guys that happened to lose, wrestled some tough matches and did a good job."
The Jays went 7-3 in the opening round of the tournament.
Peter Kuster got the day started for the Jays with a first-period win by fall at 113 pounds against Carter Thomas, a freshman from Park Hill South.
At 120, Corbin Howard dropped a tough 1-0 decision to Charles McNeal of C.B.C. The match was scoreless after one period before McNeal got the only point with an escape 20 seconds into the second.
"That was just a great match by Corbin," Cagle said.
The 120-pound division is one of the toughest at the state tournament, featuring eight returning state medalists. McNeal was sixth at 113 at Waynesville last year, while Howard was fifth at 120.
Howard came back later Thursday to post a 9-3 win against A.J. Wieda of Troy in the first round of wrestlebacks.
The Jays picked up close wins in their next two matches. Christian Mayberry won 3-1 against Tyler Pampkin of McCluer North at 126, while Dennis Barnes was a 1-0 winner against Hunter Roberts of Park Hill at 132.
Barnes scored the lone point of the match on an escape midway through the third period.
"Dennis wrestled a really good match against a pretty good kid," Cagle said.
At 138, Tanner Irwin lost his opening match 9-3 to Efe Osagae of McCluer North. The Jefferson City junior bounced back with a dominating 13-1 victory against Brian Mackenzie of Kirkwood in the first round of wrestlebacks.
Jacob Brune was a 6-4 winner for the Jays against Tyler Emerson of Parkway South at 145 before Logan Moriarity posted a 10-1 victory against Emillio Monsivais of Holt at 160.
In perhaps the most entertaining match of the night for the Jays, Rashaun Woods posted a 9-8 victory against Josh Barnes of Fort Osage at 182.
With the win, Woods gained some revenge for a double-overtime loss to Barnes earlier this season in the Capital City Invitational.
"He wrestled really smart, he was focused on what he had to do," Cagle said. "Rashaun really wanted that match."
Jalen Martin of the Jays won by fall in just 1:22 against Noah Robinson of Lafayette at 195 pounds.
At 285, Logan Coil of the Jays lost by fall to Zane Shaddox of Liberty in his opening match, then by fall to Cory Flemming of Francis Howell in the first round of wrestlebacks.
"The kids stepped up and probably overachieved," Cagle said. "We just have to keep doing that, because it's going to keep getting tougher and tougher."
The Jays are fourth in the team standings with 22 points. Defending champion Park Hill leads with 29 points, while Francis Howell Central is second with 24 and Staley sits third with 23.
The plan entering today's action is pretty simple.
"We just have to keep wrestling," Cagle said. "We have to be focused and be ready."
See also: