AREA WRESTLERS TAKE FINAL EXAM FOR STATE

The first postseason test for area high school wrestlers is history.

Now comes the second and final exam -- and it will determine just who qualifies for the state meet.

Jackson and Cape Girardeau Central will have a total of 14 competitors in the Class 4A, Sectional 1 Meet that will be held today at Fox High School in Arnold.

The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for the 4A State Championships, to be held Thursday through Saturday in Columbia.

"This is really what it's all about, making it to state," said Cape Central coach Drew Lilledahl. "Any time you can get there, it's a great accomplishment."

Local grapplers fared well during last Saturday's 4A, District 1 Meet in St. Louis as eight from Jackson and six from Cape Central finished in the top four to make the sectional cut. And that was against rugged competition as District 1 featured defending state champion Oakville along with several other tough squads.

"I believe we were in maybe the toughest district in the state, or at least one of them," said Jackson coach Steve Wachter. "I think anybody that made it out of that district has a chance to make it to state because District 2 (which competes against District 1 in the sectional) wasn't nearly as strong."

No local wrestler brought home a district championship, but a lot of that had to do with the presence of Oakville, which dominated most of the weight classes.

Three Jackson athletes enter the sectional round coming off second-place district finishes: Brett Stroud (112 pounds), Adam Wachter (125) and Lance Schlick (135).

Schlick, who suffered his first loss of the season in the district championship match, will carry a 30-1 record into sectionals.

Also looking to earn state berths for Jackson will be Ricky Feiner (103), Cyle Huck (130), Kyle Watson (140), Mark Wade (152) and Spencer Hobeck (215).

For Cape Central, Matt Strickland (189) brought home a second-place district finish.

Other Tigers competing in the sectional meet will be Hoss Hodges (103), Keith Benton (112), Kevin Allen (119), Alex Elfrink (215) and Craig Knoth (heavyweight).