Jays wrestling captures team title at Hickman Tournament

COLUMBIA - The Jefferson City Jays advanced eight wrestlers to the final round Saturday on their way to taking the team title at the Hickman Tournament.

Jefferson City finished with 211.5 points to win the bracketed eight-team tournament.

Four Jays won their respective weight class crowns:

Joe Kuster was 4-0 at 138 pounds, winning twice by fall. He defeated Trey Robinson of Lee's Summit North 9-1 in the title match.

Will Berenzen was 4-0 at 170. He won all four of his matches by fall, including a second-period victory against Richard Meyer of Holt in the title match.

Michael Friederich went 5-0 at 182. He won twice by fall and once by technical fall before posting a 12-3 victory against Colin Bunner of Holt in the title match.

Brant Aulbur was 5-0 at 220. Aulbur won his first four matches by first-period falls before pinning Chase Viehland of Northwest: Cedar Hill in the third period to win the title.

Taking second for Jefferson City were Da'Juan Wallace at 106 (2-1), Braden Werdehausen at 120 (3-1), Jakeil Hayes at 195 (4-1) and Isaac Enloe at 285 (4-1). Wallace's wins were by decision, while Werdehausen picked up two of his wins by fall. Hayes and Enloe won their first four matches by fall before losing by decisions in their respective title matches.

Dominic Stafford was third at 113 (2-2), while Hunter Walling was third at 132 (1-2). Taking fourth for the Jays were Trae Hendricks at 152 (1-3) and Clayton Hurley at 160 (3-2). Carter Epema was fifth at 160 (3-1), while Eli Tiberius was seventh at 126 (0-4).

The Jays were open at 145.

Jefferson City will return Tuesday to Hickman to take on the Kewpies in a Central Missouri Activities Conference dual.