DRAGONS PUT OLD CLASSIC RECORD UP IN FLAMES

The Ste. Genevieve wrestling team turned the 1997 Tiger Classic into the "Dragon Drubbings", scoring a meet-record 283 points to claim the team title Saturday night at the Tiger Fieldhouse.

Ste. Genevieve's point total broke the old mark of 269 set by Mater Dei in 1985. The Dragons placed 12 of their 14 wrestlers in the top six, claiming six individual titles to easily outscore the 16-team field.

"Our whole team came here to place and all of our kids did such a fantastic job," said Ste. Genevieve coach Bill Howren. "We managed to place 12 out of the 14 we brought and the others scored points for us.

"It was an outstanding tournament for us."

The Dragons had seven wrestlers reach the finals of their respective weight-class. Only Tim Thomure was denied a title, losing the 171-pound title to Sikeston's Doug Wiles.

The six champions for Ste. Genevieve were: Clint Wolk (112), Jason Worely (135), Ben Bauman (140), Ryan Gegg (160), Roy Bauman (189), and Jerrod Wolk (215).

"We're not real flashy at any one spot," said Howren. "Yes, we have some outstanding wrestlers, but what we are is we're solid in every spot. It takes a good wrestler to beat us."

Jackson, second after the first night of action Friday, stayed behind the Dragons with a runner-up total of 215 points.

"They just have an outstanding team and they're well-balanced," said Jackson coach Steve Wachter. "All 14 weight classes are all good. They're a tremendous team."

The Indians had two individual champions, with Lance Schlick winning at 125 pounds and Brett Stroud claiming the 103 class. Schlick was a repeat Tiger Classic winner after claiming the 103 title last year.

"They both did an outstanding job," said Wachter of Schlick and Stroud. "I'll have them both back next year and they both had a good tournament and good finals matches."

Cape Central improved over last year's 11th-place showing, placing eighth with 95.5 points. De Soto finished just ahead of the Tigers with 96 points.

"I'm pretty impressed with our performance." said Central coach Drew Lilledahl. "I know we improved a lot. We had five guys in the final round and that's the most we've had in a while."

Central junior Keith Benton had the highest finish for a Tiger, placing second to Stroud at 103. But possibly the most impressive performance by a Tiger was given by Josh Goodrich at 135-pounds.

Goodrich lost his second-round fight on Friday, but won three times in the consolation bracket before losing the third-place match to Jackson's Kyle Huck 16-12.

"Josh really wrestled hard," said Central coach Drew Lilledahl. "He had the kid on the ropes (in the third-place match), but couldn't take him down to tie it in the last seconds.

"Josh is the kind of kid, I could hit him the head with an anvil and he'll just keep coming at me. That's the type of kid I love to coach."

Other top finishers for Central were: Travis Kaufman third at 130; heavyweight Craig Knoth took third and Matt Strickland lost 2-0 in overtime to placed fourth at 189.

Jackson had two other wrestlers in final-round matches. Kent Langston won his third-place match at 215 pounds with a pin and heavyweight Aaron Ross lost to Knoth to take fourth.