13 local wrestlers pin down spots in sectionals

Jackson will take nine wrestlers, while Central will be represented by four.

By Jeremy Joffray

Southeast Missourian

Area wrestlers from Jackson and Central will make their play for a trip to the state meet on Saturday when the sectional round begins.

Jackson will take nine wrestlers to Lindbergh High School, and Central will have four wrestlers competing at Farmington.

Jackson is coming off its first district title since 1996 on Saturday, and has six wrestlers making a return trip to the sectional round. Brock Howard, Kremer Rampley, Cody Rouse, Kamden Rampley, Greg Ludwig and Blake Ulrich will all be making return trips for the Indians. Ben Wachter, Andy Glass and Josh Schumacher are the newcomers.

Kremer Rampley remains the team's only unbeaten wrestler at 42-0 at 160 pounds. Rouse, Howard, Ludwig and Kremer Rampley all made the state meet last season. Howard is trying to become only the third Jackson wrestler to make all-state three times.

Central's four-man delegation is led by returning state-qualifier Cory Huskey at 152 pounds. Freshman Matthew Latham along with sophomore Chris Griffith and senior Jonathan Poston will also make the trip to sectionals. The Tigers finished seventh at the district meet.

Central and Jackson round two

In what is likely a preview of a Class 5, District 1 first-round matchup, rivals Central and Jackson will tangle for the second time this season at Central High School 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Jackson won the first meeting 63-60 in an epic Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament final in front of a near-capacity crowd at the Show Me Center. The Indians enter the game with an 18-4 record while the Tigers are 16-5.

While the rosters may not be the same since their last meeting, Jackson coach Mike Kiehne said he expects quite a battle with districts coming up.

"It always seems like it happens at a time when you've got district seeds on the line," he said of the Jackson/Cape matchup.

Lumsden signs with Central Methodist

Marc Lumsden became the second Jackson football player to sign a letter of intent when he signed with Central Methodist.

Lumsden split time with Tyler Profilet at quarterback during his senior season and led the Indians to a big win over Central. Lumsden is 6-foot-4 and possesses a strong arm.

Jackson defensive lineman Tyler McNeely signed with Division I-A Arkansas State.

SEMO conference players heading to big schools

While the SEMO conference will have numerous football players sign letters of intent to play football across the country over the next couple of months, five standout players inked with national programs on Wednesday.

The Missouri Tigers grabbed two of Southeast Missouri's top players, including last season's Carr Trophy winner, running back Jimmy Jackson of Caruthersville. William Moore, an all-state receiver from Hayti, also signed with the Tigers.

New Madrid County Central had three players sign: Running back Remond Willis with Illinois, defensive back/wide receiver Mack Kimble with Iowa State and wide receiver Edgar Givens with Arkansas State.

MSHSAA April ballot

The ballot sent to the Missouri State High School Activities Association's member schools will include more than just a vote on rescinding the multiplier used in private schools' enrollments.

MSHSAA spokesman Rick Kindhart said 15 to 20 items could be on the ballot, which will be formalized after a February survey of schools.

The multiplier, adopted in the spring of 2002, adds 35 percent to the enrollment of private schools for the purposes of classification. The issue of rescinding was placed on the ballot by a petition drive, which requires 10 percent of the member schools to sign on.

Another petition submitted will ask for the formation of a fourth classification for wrestling, which currently has three classes for the state's 211 wrestling schools. The MSHSAA usually requires 257 schools to participate in a sport before expanding to a fourth class.