A 50-match winner returns

Jackson wrestler Kamden Rampley has posted 89 wins over the past two seasons only to be overshadowed by a group of all-state performers.

Rampley's 50-3 record last season matched the previous school season-high win total set by his brother, Kremer Rampley, two years ago, but could not match the record-setting 52-0 state-champion season by teammate Cody Rouse.

Now in his senior season, Kamden Rampley is ready to take center stage for the Indians. Kamden, who will wrestle at 215 pounds this season after finishing third in the state at 189 pounds last season, needs just 30 wins to put himself in third-place on the all-time wins list at Jackson.

Rampley said while getting recognition is nice, he is more concerned with simply getting better every day.

"To me recognition doesn't have to be there to give it all I've got," he said. "Recognition is always a plus, and it's great for the public -- to be able to get your sport out there -- but it shouldn't be what drives a good athlete."

While most of the headlines focused on Rouse's record-setting season last year, Rampley put together a tremendous season in his own right. Rampley won individual championships at the Tiger Classic, SEMO Conference Tournament, Parkway South Tournament and was the district champion.

"He's hard to handle. He's pretty strong," Jackson coach Steve Wachter said of Rampley. "He's just a good leader. I really enjoy having him on the team."

Added Rampley: "I want to do better than I did last season. I'm a year older, I'm working harder. There's always room to do better. For me, I'm coming out here looking toward the team, pushing everybody."

In order to improve on his stellar season last year, Rampley will have to earn a spot in the championship match this season. Rampley lost to state champion Louis Caputo in the state semifinals last year. Rampley will face new challenges at 215 pounds, where both wrestlers from last year's state final return.

"Winning state is a big goal of mine, but there's always going to be someone up there," Rampley said. "It's just the way the dice lie."

Added Wachter: "I would have to say if he keeps up with what he's doing, he'd definitely be a contender."

Rampley is one of four returning wrestlers who qualified for the state meet last year. Senior Josh Schumacher (40-13) and sophomores Jamie Schumacher (34-14) and Justin Miller (38-16) also made the trip to Columbia. At the state meet, Josh Schumacher finished sixth at 125 pounds, Jamie Schumacher finished 2-2 and Miller finished 1-2.

Jackson lost two all-state seniors and three seniors who qualified for the state meet. Several returning varsity wrestlers who had strong years last year include junior Luke Rayburn (26-14), sophomore Arik Coffel (15-11) and seniors Ben McMillian (34-15) and Sean Gant (38-11).

Jackson's junior varsity team extended its dual winning streak to 134 matches, with several of those wrestlers moving up to varsity this year. Cole Jansen, a senior, was 29-0 at the junior varsity level last year, and fellow senior Anthony Werner was 2-1 in varsity competition and 27-2 at the JV level last year. Will Perry, a junior, finished 24-0 on the JV and will likely wrestle varsity this year.

"This year, probably what I like best is the work ethic, how hard they're working again," Wachter said. "I don't know how good we'll be this year, but they're sure going hard."

The Indians finished their dual season at 9-0 last year, with wins at the Tiger Classic and SEMO Conference Tournament. At the state tournament, Jackson finished seventh in Class 4.

"We had really an outstanding year," Wachter said.

Jackson will host New Madrid County Central on Tuesday in its season opener.

Central has three returning state qualifiers

The progression of Central's wrestling program over the past few years has started to become more apparent, as the Tigers return three state qualifiers.

The Tigers finished 7-2 in duals last year, their third straight winning season.

"The last three years, respectively, we were 7-3, 6-4 and 7-2," Central coach Josh Crowell said. "We've had three winning seasons put together. I honestly believe that hasn't happened since the early to mid-1980s. The kids have set the goal to do that again this year, have a winning season, send kids to state and have state placers."

Central had four state qualifiers last year, with juniors Matt Lathum, Garrett New and Tyler Yeargain all returning. New finished 1-2 at the state meet, while Lathum and Yeargain each went 0-2.

Chris Griffith, a senior, and juniors Brandon Reynolds and Matt Smith are the other returning lettermen.

"What I'm really glad to see so far this season is a lot of leadership from a lot of different kids," Crowell said.

As a team, the Tigers finished fourth in the SEMO Conference meet, with Yeargain the top returnee with a runner-up finish. Central had four other returning wrestlers finish in the top four at the conference meet.

According to Crowell, the Tigers have a strong freshmen group and will infuse some talent from the junior varsity team as well. Many of the freshmen have wrestled at the club level, something Crowell has established in Cape Girardeau during his tenure.

Crowell said he has begun to see kids wearing little league wrestling T-shirts around town and at Central wrestling meets, a positive sign for the school and program.

"There's that interest there that wasn't there in the past," he said.

Central will open its season Dec. 2 at the Fox Tournament.