CENTRAL WRESTLING OPTIMISTIC DESPITE LACK OF SENIORS

With only one returning senior from last year's varsity team, the Cape Girardeau Central High grapplers may be wrestling with one hand behind their back.

Even so, first-year Cape Central coach Josh Crowell an assistant the last two years for the Tigers and a former standout wrestler at the school still has high expectations for his team."With the kids working hard in practice," said Crowell, "we should have a successful year. I believe we have five or six potential state qualifiers on this team."Coming off a 6-4 record in dual meets last year, Cape Central graduated two talented wrestlers in Keith Benton and Matt Strickland, bothof whom went to state.

There are, however, several talented returning lettermen from last year's program.

Josh Goodrich, a 140-pound senior, is described by Crowell as tough on his feet and won't let up against opponents. Junior Paul Miller is a scrappy 119-pounder and fellow junior Leland Woelk, a middle-weight, has a very unorthodox style that can be troublesome for opponents. Junior Nick Harter will fill the 170-pound spot and O.J. Turner, a 190-pound junior, qualified for the sectional meet last season. Turner, a running back for the Tigers' football field, brings strength, quickness and explosive power to the mat. Sophomore Shannon Mungle wrestled on the varsity squad last year as a freshman at the same 160 pounds as this season, toughening him up for this year.

JV wrestlers battling for varsity spots include sophomore Dustin Ingram and freshman Paul York."Quite honestly we have several kids who wrestled last year but aren't coming out this season," said Crowell. "But with the returning lettermen from last year taking on leadership roles and the younger kids filling in the holes, we should have a good season. If someone on the team is slacking off while the coach's back is turned, then they get on each other to straighten up."Farmington and Ste. Genevieve are considered by Crowell to be the class of the conference, with Farmington having a very good chance of winning the 3A state title this year. Arch-rival Jackson will also make some noise, having beaten the Tigers by six points last year.

Cape Central will open up its season Tuesday against Murphysboro.