The Jefferson City Jays wasted little time getting after it to start the 2019-20 wrestling season.
The Jays recorded six first-period pins Tuesday, never dropping a head-to-head matchup in a 75-6 dual victory against the Sedalia Smith-Cotton Tigers at Lewis and Clark Middle School.
"We were aggressive," Jays coach Phil Cagle said. "Like we tell the kids all the time, how you practice is how you wrestle. They did what they've been doing in the room, by being aggressive and pushing each other."
The Jays were open at 106 pounds, but they won at all the remaining 13 weight classes.
Da'Juan Wallace won by fall in 41 seconds at 120, while Christian Strope also picked up a first-period pin in 1:37 at 126.
"We want the first takedown," Cagle said. "Research shows the guy who gets the first takedown usually wins the match, so we really concentrate on that."
The closest match of the night was next at 132. Hunter Walling led 6-1 to start the third period, but Smith-Cotton's Drake Keele was able to get a takedown and a 3-point nearfall to square the match at 6.
Walling was able to avoid a pin during the final 50 seconds, keeping just enough of his back off the mat.
"He did show a lot of courage and a lot of guts by doing what he did," Cagle said.
After the horn sounded to end the third period, rather than going to overtime, the referee awarded Walling an extra point, citing a one-point penalty to Keele for an illegal hold.
"He did that several times in the second period, and we let the referee know about that," Cagle said. "The referee did the right thing. But we were feeling pretty confident even if it had to go into overtime, we through Hunter could probably get the takedown."
Joe Kuster won his first career varsity match by fall in the second period at 138, while Sam Rackers also won by fall in just 31 seconds to extend the Jays' lead to 39-6.
Will Kuster (160), Michael Frederichs (170) and Dawson Prenger (18-2) all won by fall.
Josh Copeland trailed in the second period against Leo Linares at 195, but Copeland was about to score a reversal to tie the score at 6 and pinned Linares just three seconds later.
"He was able to keep working and got his inside arm out," Cagle said. "He did a really good job with that."
Brandon Backues was evenly matched against Smith-Cotton's Eric Aguilar for the first minute of their match at 285, but in a three-second span, Backues picked up Aguilar, drove him to the mat and finished the night with a first-period pin.
"That was a heck of a lift," Cagle said. " He picked up guy up, 260 pounds, picks him up and puts him right on his back."
Anakin Gray (113), Clayton Hurley (145) and Fred Wilson (220) all won by forfeit for the Jays.
Cagle was pleased with what he saw for a season-opening dual.
"We just have to get back in the room tomorrow and get to work," he said. "We've got to slick some things up. The basic fundamentals are there, but we've got to add some things that make it more precise."
The Jays (1-0) host Lebanon next Tuesday at Fleming Fieldhouse.
Jefferson City also won the JV match 52-6 against Smith-Cotton.
Winning by fall for the Jays were Kaleb Werdehausen at 120, Keith Stennis at 132, Jakeil Hayes at 182, Brady Connell at 220 and Mathias Wieberg at 285. Albert Naaman (145), Tim Davis (152) and Tanner Quick (170) all won by forfeit.
Noah Casey won an 8-0 major decision at 195, while Antonio Elam lost by fall at 160.