The Jefferson City Jays and Lady Jays celebrated Senior Night the best way they knew how.
The Jays and Lady Jays both finished 2-0 in duals against Battle and Eldon on Wednesday night at Fleming Fieldhouse.
“It’s a great group of seniors,” Jays coach Phil Cagle said. “They have been coachable and that what makes a good athlete a good wrestler.
“I’m really going to miss this group.”
The Jays defeated the Mustangs and the Spartans by identical 66-9 scores.
The eight Jefferson City seniors all finished undefeated Wednesday night.
At 160 pounds, Carter Epema won by fall and by medical forfeit. At 170, Clayton Hurley and Keith Stennis II both won once by fall. At 182, Will Berendzen won by fall and by forfeit, as did Michael Friederich at 195. At 220, Niko Rich and Bryan Mendez both won once by forfeit and Isaac Enloe won by fall and by forfeit at 285.
Also going 2-0 for Jefferson City were Tytus Oliver at 113 (13-6, by forfeit), Dominic Stafford at 120 (both by forfeit), Eli Tiberius at 126 (7-2 and by forfeit), Braden Werdehausen (twice by fall), Cameron McKee (by fall and by forfeit) and Joe Kuster at 145 (twice by fall).
At 152, Jonathon Brockues was 0-2. Jefferson City was open at 106.
“The whole team wrestled well,” Cagle said.
Cagle was pleased with the success the underclassmen have made in the lower weights.
“They’re starting to turn it around and I’m really proud of what they’ve done,” Cagle said. “Out here on the mat is where they are really going to develop that confidence. It’s coming.”
The win against Battle kept Jefferson City undefeated all-time in Central Missouri Activities Conference duals.
Jefferson City is scheduled to host the Steve Johnson Duals on Saturday.
“We are really going to have to wrestle well, if we can get it in with the weather,” Cagle said. “We will have to wrestle really hard just to win a dual.”
Liberty, the two-time defending Class 4 state champion, is scheduled to be in the tournament, as is Class 4 runner-up C.B.C. Jefferson City was third in Class 4 last season. Lebanon, fourth in Class 3 last year, is scheduled to be there as is Francis Howell North. Jefferson City is looking for a sixth team.
“Our good kids need to see wrestlers like we’re going to see Saturday,” Cagle said. “Winning the tournament would be nice, but we need to see some tough competition and we’ll definitely get it.
“It’s going to be a barn-burner.”
Action is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
On the girls side, Jefferson City posted victories against Eldon (42-0) and Battle (36-18).
Lydia Hudson picked up the Lady Jays’ lone win on the mat against Eldon, picking up a pin at 120.
Winning on the mat against Battle were Alexis Dunwiddie at 125, Kaylee Redcay at 135 and Deja’Nette Wallace at 174. All three won their matches by fall after getting forfeit victories against Eldon.
Emma Durrill at 100 and Ayo Ilesanmi at 149 both won twice by forfeit. Kenzie Moore was 1-1 at 194 for the Lady Jays.
In the first boys dual of the night, Eldon defeated Battle 46-24. On the girls side, Battle was a 33-0 winner against Eldon.