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SportsFebruary 19, 2004

Over the last three years, the championship teams in Class 3 have averaged about seven wrestlers in medal-round matches. While it may be asking for a bit much to expect all seven of Jackson's state-qualifying wrestlers to advance to the final day, the Indians' playoff-experienced wrestlers could make a strong run at their second state title...

Over the last three years, the championship teams in Class 3 have averaged about seven wrestlers in medal-round matches.

While it may be asking for a bit much to expect all seven of Jackson's state-qualifying wrestlers to advance to the final day, the Indians' playoff-experienced wrestlers could make a strong run at their second state title.

"If everything goes right we have a shot to place a little higher than the top 10," Jackson coach Steve Wachter said.

The state wrestling meet begins today at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. First-round action will begin at 2 p.m. for Class 2 and 6 p.m. for Class 3. The meet continues Friday and concludes Saturday.

Jackson had two sectional champions at Lindbergh High School on Saturday and has four wrestlers going back to state for a second straight year.

Senior Brock Howard (42-3) is looking to become the third Jackson wrestler to be three-time all-state. Howard, making his fourth trip to state, handed Marquette's Anthony Haddad his first loss in the sectional final.

"That win was huge," Wachter said. "That's an outstanding wrestler he pinned from Marquette."

Kremer Rampley, the team's lone undefeated wrestler at 45-0, is making a return trip to the state meet. His 45 straight wins set a new school record.

Other wrestlers returning to the state meet include Cody Rouse (43-2) and Greg Ludwig (22-7), both runner-ups at sectionals.

Rouse, a junior, was Jackson's top finisher at state last year with a third-place finish at 140 pounds. He is making his third trip to state as a junior.

Rouse won five straight matches at state last year after losing his first match. He said he hopes to have a better start this year.

"I think I figured out that's something I really don't want to do again," Rouse said. "I can't come out and be timid."

Kamden Rampley (38-11), Andy Glass (20-11) and Blake Ulrich (40-7) will make their first trips to the state meet. Jackson will try to get its first top-five finish since 2001, when it placed fourth. Jackson has six top-10 finishes since 1993.

Wachter said he would not be surprised to see several of his state-qualifiers make it to the medal rounds.

"There's three of them who I look to, and maybe as many as five in the semifinals," he said. "The key is to wrestle well. When you get up there anything can happen."

Tigers send two to stateCentral junior Cory Huskey will make his second straight trip to the state meet for the Tigers, and senior Jonathan Poston will make his state debut.

Huskey has 29 regular-season wins, but will have a tough road to the medal rounds. Huskey opens with state-ranked Andrew Wood of Hannibal.

Poston also will face a state-ranked opponent in the first round.

"Both of their first round opponents are going to be extremely tough," Central coach Josh Crowell said.

Poston enters the state meet at 32-13. It has been a breakout year for the senior, who finished third at sectionals.

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Crowell said Poston has gone non-stop since having some doubts about trying out.

"He's had a lot of success," Crowell said. "He's really pumped about getting this far."

Last year the Tigers also brought two wrestlers to the state meet, with Huskey joining Trever Duncan, who finished fifth at 160 pounds.

Crowell said having back-to-back years with a medalist would be quite a feat.

"It's been a while since our program's done that," he said. "We put together back-to-back winning seasons, so it would be nice to have a medalist."

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 171

STATE PAIRINGS

First-round matchups for the MSHSAA state wrestling tournament, which begins today in Columbia, Mo.:

Class 2

125 -- Jonathan Poston, Central (33-12) vs. Kylar Ponder, Carl Junction (30-5)

152 -- Cory Huskey, Central (29-11) vs. Andrew Wood, Hannibal (27-10)

Class 3

140 -- Brock Howard, Jackson (42-3) vs. Shane Miller, Hillcrest (30-12)

145 -- Cody Rouse, Jackson (43-2) vs. Lucas Fix, Lee's Summit (40-5)

152 -- Greg Ludwig, Jackson (22-7) vs. Jeff Nagle, Ritenour (29-9)

160 -- Kremer Rampley, Jackson (45-0) vs. Will Martin, Rock Bridge (27-15)

171 -- Blake Ulrich, Jackson (40-7) vs. Jeff Bowman, Blue Springs (32-10)

189 -- Kamden Rampley, Jackson (38-11) vs. Matt Lawrence, Parkway North (23-1)

215 -- Andy Glass, Jackson (20-11) vs. Pat Akley, Rolla (37-1)

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