Jackson, Central set out on state wrestling goals

The Jackson Indians will strive to accomplish something they've accomplished the last three seasons.

The Central Tigers will shoot for a first in school history.

But both schools' coaches are just hoping their athletes perform to their abilities when the Missouri Wrestling Championships open today at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo.

Jackson, which has finished in the top 10 team standings the last three years, has advanced five wrestlers while Central will take two.

The Indians have a couple of Class 3 title contenders in junior Brock Howard (125, 43-1) and sophomore Cody Rouse (140, 42-3). Also aiming for titles are junior Kremer Rampley (145, 41-5), junior Greg Ludwig (152, 29-18) and senior Matt Kahle (189, 38-8).

The fivesome forms a slightly smaller group for Jackson, which usually qualifies about seven wrestlers for state.

"We like to finish in the top 10 every year," Jackson coach Steve Wachter said. "This year that will be a tough goal to achieve taking just five wrestlers, but you never can tell what will happen."

Central, which saw Andy Lowes finish second in 1986, is looking for its first state champion. Trever Duncan (41-3), a 160-pound senior, carries the latest hopes. Duncan, ranked second state-wide in his weight class, makes his second state appearance after being the Tigers' lone representative last year. This time he'll be accompanied by sophomore Corey Huskey (152, 28-18) in the Class 2 competition.

If Duncan can become the Tigers' first state champion, he'll have earned it. He faces one of his biggest obstacles in the first round in Excelsior Springs' Chris Lingle (39-3). Lingle was ranked ahead of Duncan before placing third after a sectional upset. Duncan placed second in his sectional, losing to a Farmington wrestler he defeated earlier in the year.

Duncan, Lingle and Chad Loethen (37-3) of Helias are tied with the fewest losses in their field of 16.

Huskey, who went 8-20 as a freshman on the varsity a year ago, also has a tough first-round match in Butch Egnor (30-5) of Waynesville.

Among the Indians, Howard, a two-time all-state wrestler, has a sparkling record at 125, but will be in tough company. His toughest adversary will be Tim Kephart of Francis Howell. Kephart is 41-0 after winning the 119 state crown as a junior. Howard and Kephart are the only two wrestlers in their division with less than five losses.

Rouse has three losses but faces Kellen Delaney (39-4) of Park Hill in the first round. The 140-field is also strewn with such mines as two-time all-stater Kyle Dahman (45-1) of Raymore-Peculiar and last year's 135-pound state runner-up Justin Cole (44-1) of Oak Park.

Rampley, Ludwig and Kahle will face wrestlers with fewer losses than their own in the first round.

jbreer@semissourian.com

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