Jackson sends 7 wrestlers to state tournament

In a season full of adversity, the Jackson wrestling team still had high hopes of advancing to the state championships.

That long road of battling injuries and trying to pursue a common goal came to fruition for seven Indian wrestlers who qualified for state at the Class 4 District 1 tournament Saturday at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill, Missouri.

Jackson had three first-place qualifiers, along with four others who finished in third. The top four wrestlers in each weight class advanced to the state tournament, which will be held Thursday through Saturday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri. The Indians also finished second in the team standings with 177 points.

"For this year, it's really outstanding. You have seven guys qualify, and it was a great team effort to be able to take second," Jackson coach Steve Wachter said. "That's especially true since we were missing three wrestlers that are out, and we forfeited two weights. It really wasn't just a great team effort from those seven who qualified, but every single kid contributed. All 12 did their best to help us finish second in the district."

Preston Hobeck is one of three Jackson wrestlers that battled an injury this season. The senior, who compiled 25 wins this season, won the heavyweight class with a 3-1 decision over St. Louis University High School's Max Kavy.

"He had an outstanding performance. All three of the kids that were champs have all been fighting injuries all year long, and Preston wasn't any different," Wachter said. "He wrestled really well, especially in the finals. He defeated a wrestler from SLUH that had beaten him earlier in the year. So it was really a big win and an outstanding performance for Preston."

Jackson junior Carson McCord won the 170 division with a 5-3 decision over Seckman's Christian Ryan. McCord has been one of the Indians' most consistent wrestlers, according to Wachter.

"Carson McCord wrestled really consistently throughout the whole tournament, and he has really all year," Wachter said. "Like the other guys, he has been battling an injury, but he wrestled on top of it today."

Jarrett Resinbichler missed most of the season with multiple injuries but was able to get back in shape and win several important matches toward the end of the season. The senior nailed down first place in the 113 division, defeating Lafayette's Cameron Wegener in a 14-3 major decision.

"He broke his hand earlier in the year. First, he had a knee surgery, wrestled in the Tiger Classic, and then broke his hand right after it," Wachter said. "So he went into districts at 8-0. Him winning a district title right here at the end has really been huge for him. I guess I might be as proud of him as any. He hasn't gotten many matches in, and he's really an outstanding wrestler. He's probably worked as hard as anyone I've ever seen. Having an injury and battling back through the year without getting to wrestle, but still working hard and looking forward to the end is what he's all about."

Wachter said his team sets goals at the beginning of the season and those haven't changed. With everything the Indians have been through this season, setting their sights on a state championship doesn't seem so far out of reach anymore.

"We kind of have a goal to be in the top 10 in Missouri. So our goal has remained the same this season," Wachter said. "But this year, with all the adversity we had, I'm just glad to get some kids to the state championships. Coming into it, we weren't so sure we'd make it here. I don't want to put a number on where we're at, I'd just be happy if we got in the top 10.

"We just want to wrestle and try to be the best that we can be up at the state tournament under all that pressure, but really anything is possible with these guys."

In the Class 3 District 1 tournament, Central's Tj Marquis lost his third-place match at 195 with Poplar Bluff's Steven Haley but will still represent the Tigers at the Class 3 state tournament.

In the Class 2 District 1 tournament, Notre Dame's Noah Huff took second in the 120 division after losing an 11-1 major decision to Wade Dickens of Ste. Genevieve. The senior will represent the Bulldogs at state.

Class 2 District 1

120 -- First-place match: Wade Dickens (Ste. Genevieve) won by major decision over Noah Huff (ND) 11-1.

Class 3 District 1

195 -- Third-place match: Steven Haley (Poplar Bluff) won by fall over Tj Marquis (C) 4:14.

Class 4 District 1

106 -- Third-place match: Gus Guilliams (J) won by fall over Mark Mackenzie (Kirkwood) 0:45.

113 -- First-place match: Jarrett Reisenbichler (J) won by major decision 14-3 over Cameron Wegener (Layfayette).

126 -- Third-place match: Jake Byrd (J) won by fall over Collin Hodo (Kirkwood) 0:55.

138 -- Third-place match: Micah Collier (J) won by fall over Brian Mackenzie (Kirkwood) 2:45.

152 -- Third-place match: Clayton Collier (J) won by fall over Jack Marak (Parkway South) Fall 0:37

170 -- First-place match: Carson Mccord (J) won by decision over Christian Ryan (Seckman) Dec 5-3.

285 -- First-place match: Preston Hobeck (J) won by decision over Max Kavy (St. Louis University High) Dec 3-1.