Jays wrestling sweeps tri-dual

Jefferson City's Tyler Bise takes down C.B.C.'s Steven Grondalski during their 145-pound match Wednesday night at Fleming Fieldhouse.
Jefferson City's Tyler Bise takes down C.B.C.'s Steven Grondalski during their 145-pound match Wednesday night at Fleming Fieldhouse.

It looked like the streak had a real chance of coming to an end.

The Jefferson City Jays had won 29 straight regular-season duals heading into Wednesday night's action against Blue Springs and C.B.C. at Fleming Fieldhouse.

For the streak to continue, the Jays not only would have to overcome a pair of quality opponents, they would have to do it without three starters.

The streak continues because the Jays went old-school.

"I'm very, very proud of our kids," Jays coach Phil Cagle said after Jefferson City defeated Blue Springs (49-22) and C.B.C. (57-22). "They stepped up and overachieved, just like has been preached around here for the past 40-50 years."

The final margin of victory in both duals made it look like Jefferson City had little to worry about in either dual.

"That was old Jays," Cagle said. "I've heard that since I got here, we're a bunch of average guys who overachieve."

Jefferson City opened against Blue Springs. The Wildcats won the first three matches to take a 13-0 lead before the Jays won seven of the final nine contested matches to get the victory.

Christian Mayberry at 132 pounds (1:20), Jacob Brune at 145 (:41), Rashaun Woods at 182 (1:16), Jalen Martin at 195 (1:28) and Ian Coil at 220 (2:24) picked up wins by fall for the Jays against the Wildcats. Dennis Barnes won by an overtime decision at 126, Sam Davidson at 160 and Tekoah Sage at 170 won by forfeit.

The Jays figured to have a tougher time against the Cadets of C.B.C.

"C.B.C. has been beating some teams pretty good recently," Cagle said.

So Cagle changed his lineup a little bit, inserting Tyler Bise at 145 and moving Brune and Hurley down a weight. The moves paid off as the trio all won by falls.

"They accepted the challenge to help the team win," Cagle said.

Bise, who had limited varsity experience early in this season, won by fall in 3:10.

"He told me he was ready and he did a great job," Cagle said.

Brune was a winner in 1:23. Hurley then scored a pin just five seconds into the second period.

"Zach did a great job," Cagle said.

The Jays won the next three matches by fall as well - Sage (:51), Woods (1:58) and Martin (2:18).

The most exciting win of the dual for the Jays came at 285, where Logan Coil of Jefferson City was locked in a battle tied at 1 with time winding down in the third period.

Coil then got a takedown on a throw with seven seconds left to take a 3-1 victory.

"When he threw that kid, it shook the building," Cagle said.

Three Jays won by forfeit - Zach Benge at 120, Mayberry at 132 and Tanner Irwin at 138.

Jefferson City - which wrestled without Garrett Nutter at 106, Corbin Howard at 126 and Logan Moriarity at 160 - can wrap up an undefeated dual regular season next Tuesday at Rock Bridge.

Cagle said the trio, along with Mayberry, will also miss the Francis Howell Tournament on Saturday.

"We're going to take what we've got and do the best with what we have," Cagle said.

The Jays also swept the junior varsity duals Wednesday night from the Wildcats and the Cadets.