DISTRICT DOUBLES AS STATE PREVIEW

JACKSON, Mo. -- Ever wanted to see a state championship wrestling match?

Well, without driving to Columbia, the Class 4A, District 1 meet at Jackson High School today is the next closest thing.

District 1 -- which includes Cape Central and Jackson -- is arguably the toughest district in the state and it's probable that there will be a few state championship previews today.

The field is so competitive that in one class, 135 pounds, Jackson's Ricky Feiner boasts an impressive 28-3 record but was seeded third. Jackson's Mark Wade is 25-6 at 171 pounds and was seeded fourth. Some wrestlers with more than 20 wins were unseeded.

The top four wrestlers will advance to sectionals which will be held next Saturday at Parkway South.

Today's action will begin 10:30 a.m. in the old gymnasium with the semifinals to begin around 12:30 p.m. and the finals at 6.

"This is an extremely competitive district, no doubt about it," Cape Central coach Josh Crowell said. "I'd put this district against any in the state. That's not me pumping up our district, it's just a fact. If you look at the state place winners and qualifiers, the majority will come out of this district."

Three of the top 10 teams in Class 4A -- Oakville, Jackson and Fox -- will be competing while Northwest House Springs is a high quality team as well.

Jackson coach Steve Wachter said Fox, according to the seeds, looks to be the pre-tournament favorite but he added the Indians and Fox have a good shot at taking the title as well.

The Central Tigers have wrestled well of late, making a claim as the school's best team in a number of years and could play a role as to which team takes first place.

Jackson has 12 top four seeds

Highlighting a splendid field of wrestlers will be Jackson's Ray Goodson. Goodson, at 215 pounds, is the only wrestler in the field who has yet to be beaten.

He currently stands at 32-0.

"He's just not making the mistakes he made last year," said Jackson coach Steve Wachter. "He's wrestling smarter this year."

Jackson has wrestlers seeded in the top four in all but two weight classes.

Brock Howard (103, 28-3), Ben Wachter (112, 11-2), Michael Wright (119, 25-6), Brett Stroud (130, 28-3), Goodson and Luke Wade (Hwt, 21-11) all were seeded first.

But coach Wachter quickly pointed out that a No. 1 seed doesn't mean much in this tournament.

"A lot of these weights can go any which way," Wachter said. "What it comes down to in some of these is who makes a mistake. Each weight class will be competitive."

Also for Jackson, James Love (152, 24-8) got the second seed; Feiner and Justin Rice (140, 18-15) were seeded third; and Willie Southerland (160, 12-7), Mark Wade and Seth Harrell (189, 21-13) were seeded fourth.

Central's top guns

Cape Central has five wrestlers seeded in the top five, including Leland Woelk who is the top seed at 145 pounds with a 26-4 record.

Monroe Hicks (160, 5-6) and O.J. Turner (189, 24-6) received No. 2 seeds; and Nick Harter got the third seed at 171 pounds with a 15-9 mark.

"I think the whole team is turning it on with how we've ended the year," Crowell said. "Our hole team is picking it up a notch and that's what you need."

Crowell's goal is for the team to finish in the top four.

"A district title is pretty much out of the question, realistically," Crowell said. "But if we could get six to eight kids into the sectional that's what we're shooting for. We feel if we can get them to sectionals, we can get them to state."

The other teams

The eight-team field consists of Central, Jackson, Fox, Oakville, Northwest House Springs, Seckman, Poplar Bluff and Mehlville.

Oakville took second in state last year, Fox was fifth and Jackson was ninth.

Some of the wrestlers to watch include: Fox's Ryan Fager (125, 27-3), Oakville's Jake Dieffenbach (125, 196), Seckman's Frankie Valleroy (135, 32-2), Northwest's Justin Cranmer (160, 20-2), Oakville's Adam Stern (171, 32-1) and Fox's Fritz Rouse (171, 32-2).

IF YOU GO

*WHAT: Class 4A, District 1 meet

*WHERE: Jackson H.S.

*WHEN: Today. First round, 10:30 a.m. Semifinals, 12:30 p.m. Finals, 6 p.m.

*HOW MUCH: $4 adults. Children 5 and under - free.