COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Class 4 state wrestling tournament isn't a one-day event.
The Jefferson City Jays still have a lot they want to accomplish today and Saturday at Mizzou Arena as six of the team's seven qualifiers remain alive in the tournament.
"That's pretty good," Jefferson City coach Phil Cagle said Thursday night. "I have good friend here who's a coach and his team went 0-6 in the first round. This is a tough tournament, there are a lot of teams that would trade places with us right now."
Three Jefferson City wrestlers earned first-round wins.
At 106, junior Garrett Butel posted a 10-3 victory against Francis Howell freshman JT Roberts. Butel, wrestling in his first-ever match at state led 2-0 after one period and 4-2 after two. He then dominated the third period to get the seven-point victory.
"He did a great job," Cagle said.
Butel (32-15) will meet Seckman sophomore Skyler Akers (46-3) in this afternoon's quarterfinals.
At 145, senior Peter Kuster defeated Holt senior Max Worth 3-2. Kuster took a 2-0 lead with a first-period takedown, then got a one-point escape in the opening seconds of the second period. Worth was awarded a penalty point midway through the second period to make it 3-1, then got another with :13 remaining in the match as Kuster got the one-point victory.
"Peter struggled, but he knows that and we expect him to come out and do a lot better the rest of this tournament," Cagle said.
Kuster (43-5) will face Fort Osage senior Lee Rodriguez (24-8) today in the quarterfinals.
At 285, senior Nate McKaye's state debut was a success with a 6-2 victory against Fort Osage sophomore Ikani Tuiono. After a scoreless first period, McKaye got an escape and a takedown on his way to a 3-1 lead. He then got a set of near fall points in the third period on his way to the win.
"Nate did just a wonderful job," Cagle said. "For a second-year wrestler, he stays in very good position and is smart on the mat."
McKaye will take on Chaminade senior Danny Conley (43-1) in the quarterfinals today.
Three other Jays rebounded after first-round losses to pick up wins in the wrestlebacks.
At 138, Will Kuster (47-6) dropped a 7-3 decision to Francis Howell North's Jacob Smith before posting a win by fall in 3:46 against Austin Akins of Northwest: Cedar Hill.
At 152, Reece Neighbors (30-10) fell 10-4 in his opener against Anthony Michaels of Lafayette. He came back to take a 7-6 victory against Ray Horton of Blue Springs.
At 220, Brandon Backues (33-5) lost his opener 6-4 to Marco Perla of Marquette. In the wrestlebacks later Thursday, Backes scored a win by fall in 4:59 against Tim Sisson of Holt.
Jeremiah Wallace of the Jays dropped two matches at 113. He lost by fall to Khyler Brewer of Staley in 1:32 in his opener, then fell in 3:47 in the wrestlebacks to Sam Schultz of Chaminade.
"It was a tough first round, but we came back and did very well in the wrestlebacks," Cagle said. "You have to keep working, you have to keep wrestling. You never know what's going to happen.
"Only one guy can be No. 1, but they place six and that's what we have to remember."
The Jays are tied for 14th place with 13 points after the opening day.
The quarterfinals and second-round wrestlebacks will start at 1:30 p.m. today. The semifinals and third-round wrestlebacks are slated to begin at 6 p.m.