CAPE CENTRAL'S JENKINS WILL GIVE SOUTHEAST A SHOT

Heather Jenkins, a recent Cape Central graduate who took second place in both the discus and shot put at the Class 4A state meet in Jefferson City, has signed with Southeast Missouri State University.

Jenkins, who holds Cape Central school records in both events, signed with Southeast after becoming a hot commodity after her recent state performance in Jefferson City where she threw the discus 152 feet, 5 inches.

"I know they're getting a quality athlete for her events," said Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins. "She proved that her entire career and especially this year. She had one heck of a year."

Jenkins' senior season consisted of both the conference and district championships. She only got better at the sectional and state meets. After establishing the school record in the shot put as a junior, Jenkins finally overtook former Lady Tiger Laura Lukens for the discus record at this year's sectional meet, throwing 147-5.

Jenkins, who was working with former Southeast standout thrower Lutricia Purham late in the season, finally attained her goal of 150 feet at state.

"It may stay there for a while," noted Brookins of the 152-5 throw.

"It did surprise me, but I worked hard all season," said Jenkins. "I knew at some point in time it would happen, it was just good it happened at state."

Despite her school-record throw, which was just 11 inches short of the state-meet record, Jenkins had to live in the shadow of Marquette's Amarachi Ukabam, who unleashed a throw of 165-1, which ranked second in the nation. Jenkins finished runner-up to Ukabam in the shot, too.

"It felt good coming out of state," said Jenkins. "We both threw well. I wasn't discouraged at all."

Brookins said the 152-foot toss solidified a full-ride scholarship for Jenkins.

Southeast beat out the likes of Missouri, Southwest Missouri State University and Murray State.

Jenkins said she was flattered by the attention by college coaches but is breathing easier since signing on Monday.

"I'm relieved to know where I'm going now," she said. "I visited a couple schools, but the more I talked to coaches and visited a couple schools, the more I wanted to stay at home."

Jenkins said she's leaning toward a major in physical therapy.

"They're getting what I call a low maintenance athlete," said Brookins. "She'll be a pretty focused kid for them."

Chavez headed to MAC

Jason Chavez, Cape Central's ace pitcher last season, has signed to play baseball at Mineral Area College.

Chavez went 6-4 with one save and a 2.39 earned-run average. He struck out 72 batters in 68 innings.

"I think they're both getting a good deal," Central coach Steve Williams said. "Mineral Area is getting a good high school pitcher who has the potential to be a good college pitcher; and Jason will get to go to a place where he can play right away, pitch for two years and go from there."

Chavez, a transfer student from Spear Fish, S.D., will join teammate Justin Welker, who signed with MAC earlier this year.

Tiger Classic could grow

Cape Central's Tiger Classic wrestling tournament, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the state, could expand in a couple of years.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association recently changed a couple of by-laws regarding tournament limitations.

As of next year, Missouri schools will be allowed to have 24 teams in tournaments held during the two-week Christmas period. The previous maximum was 16.

Josh Crowell, Cape Central's wrestling coach, has said in the past he'd like to have a bigger tournament and MSSHAA's new by-laws will allow him to do so.

"Eventually, down the road I feel we'll expand," Crowell said. "But for next year, it's too late. It's definitely something to look forward to."

MSHHAA also eased its limitations on the number of matches a wrestler could compete in during a tournament. MSHHAA allowed only five matches per tournament, but now wrestlers can compete in five matches per day.

The new by-law, Crowell said, will draw more out-of-state competition to the Missouri tournaments. Missouri is one of the few states that had such a limitation. With the way brackets are drawn up, some wrestlers were forced to forfeit their final match of the tournament with MSHHAA's old ruling.

"It was hurting the state pretty bad," Crowell said. "Schools like us, and the schools in St. Louis, Kansas City and towns on the state border were hurt. It would keep us from getting better competition into our tournaments because of the limited matches."