Jackson wins Tiger Classic wrestling meet

Winning tournaments is nothing new to the powerhouse Jackson High School wrestling team.

But Saturday's victory carried special meaning considering it came only a few miles from home in the region's premier event.

"It's kind of like a home meet for us," Jackson senior Kodi Byrd said. "It was one of our goals this year."

Jackson, after finishing as Tiger Classic runner-up the past three seasons, broke through in the 39th annual, two-day meet at Central Junior High School.

The Indians captured the 17-team Tiger Classic for the first time since 2008, scoring 322.5 points. Defending champion Northwest was second with 280 points. Host Central (93) and Notre Dame (69.5) were 15th and 16th, respectively.

Jackson's Tyler Rush has the advantage over Dexter's Trevor Waldner in their 138-pound championship match at the Tiger Classic Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 in Cape Girardeau. Rush won the match. (Fred Lynch)

"That was definitely one of our goals, to win this tournament. It is every year," Jackson sophomore Jarrett Reisenbichler said. "It feels good."

Jackson coach Steve Wachter was excited to finish in the winner's circle again after near-misses the last few years.

"It's a big win for us. This is always a great tournament," said Wachter, whose squad has finished in the top four at the Tiger Classic all but one year since 1990.

The Indians entered Saturday's medal round with a comfortable lead, although Wachter didn't think they had wrestled particularly well to that point.

"I know it sounds strange to say, but we hadn't been on top of our game throughout the tournament," said Wachter, whose team already has won three tournaments this season. "But I thought in the finals we wrestled well. And I thought our effort was great the whole tournament."

Jackson had four individual champions. Three others lost in the finals to finish as runners-up.

Three Indians won their second Tiger Classic titles: Reisenbichler (106 pounds), Byrd (113) and junior Tyler Rush (138). Jackson's other champion was sophomore Preston Hobeck (heavyweight).

"We have a really good team this year," Rush said. "I think we have a real good chance of placing high at state."

Reisenbichler took care of business in a hurry as he repeated at 106, pinning De Soto's Alex Waggoner in 1 minute, 47 seconds.

"I wrestled really good," said Reisenbichler, who improved to 20-0. "It's early in the season, but I feel good. I just have to keep it up."

As do all the Indians.

"We're really young, but we work really hard and we have great coaches who push us," Reisenbichler said.

Byrd, one of just four seniors in Jackson's lineup, was glad to be back on the first-place podium. He slipped to third a year ago after winning the 103 title as a sophomore in 2010.

Byrd posted a 9-1 major decision over Ben Stahlman of Northwest.

"I wrestled pretty good," said Byrd, who is 19-1. "I just wrestled like I do in practice, relaxed."

Rush, after winning at 132 last season, had no trouble moving up a weight class. He recorded a 13-4 major decision over Dexter's Trevor Waldner.

"I thought that match was pretty good for me," said Rush, who is 21-1. "It does feel nice [to repeat]."

Hobeck captured his first Tiger Classic title after placing third at heavyweight a year ago.

Hobeck squeezed out a tough 3-2 victory over previously undefeated Daniel Terrana of Ste. Genevieve.

"That was a great match," Wachter said. "That kid [Terrana] is outstanding. It was a big win for us."

Hobeck and Terrana were tied 2-2 after two periods. Terrana conceded an escape point to Hobeck early in the final period but never could take him down.

"I'm excited," said Hobeck, who is 20-1. "I thought he would let me get it [the esecape point]. I was kind of scared he might take me down, but I got defensive."

Losing in the finals for Jackson were sophomore Clayton Collier (152), sophomore Josh Stone (182) and junior Clay Darnell (220).

Also placing in the top six for Jackson were freshman Jake Byrd (third, 120), junior Dylan Rush (fourth, 145), senior Jackson Rushin (sixth, 160) and senior Chris Reed (sixth, 170).

"We've been second I don't know how many times," Wachter said. "To win it again is really good. I'm very proud of them."

Central and Notre Dame, both fielding inexperienced rosters, fell well short of their performances from last year, but both coaches were not disappointed.

Central had two wrestlers reach Saturday's medal round as senior Tremaine Grant (138) and junior Darvile Hopkins (heavyweight) finished fifth.

"They put it together this weekend and got to the medal round. That was good," Central coach James Brake said. "We're making progress. I've said all along this season that the way we're going to measure success, are we better this week than last week?

"I think we've improved. They're a fun group. They're hard workers."

Notre Dame sophomore Noah Huff (106) reached the medal round and placed fifth.

"He did a good job," Notre Dame coach Marc Stevener said. "We give up a lot of points as far as not having enough kids to fill the weight classes. But the kids wrestled hard. I feel like we're making great strides. This is a really tough tournament."

The Bulldogs would have likely fared much better but their returning medal winners from last year both missed the meet due to illness.

Senior Trevor Foltz was the defending 182-pound champion while senior Alex Elsey was fifth at 170.

"That hurts not having those two," Stevener said.

The Tiger Classic was held at Central Junior High School for the final time. Beginning next year it will be contested at Central High School.

Championship matches

106 -- Jarrett Reisenbichler (Jackson) fall Alex Waggoner (De Soto) 1:47.

113 -- Kodi Byrd (Jackson) maj. dec. Ben Stahlman (Northwest) 9-1.

120 -- Travis Jones (Ste. Genevieve) dec. Caleb Austin (Christian County) 10-5.

126 -- Cole Reynolds (Ste. Genevieve) dec. Sam Ritchie (Francis Howell North) 5-3.

132 -- Aaron Minx (De Soto) dec. Tyler Smith (Francis Howell North) 7-3.

138 -- Tyler Rush (Jackson) maj. dec. Trevor Waldner (Dexter) 13-4.

145 -- Lawrence Krabbe (Mehlville) dec. Dakorian Polley (Christian County) 10-8.

152 -- J.T. Tuck (Northwest) dec. Clayton Collier (Jackson) 4-1.

160 -- Jeremiah Reed (Francis Howell North) tech. fall Ethan Vaeth (Ste. Genevieve) 16-0, 4:27.

170 -- Ian McIntosh (Rockwood Summit) fall Kyle Benz (Northwest) :53.

182 -- Shawn Wielms (Francis Howell North) dec. Josh Stone (Jackson) 5-2.

195 -- Nick Nichols (Sikeston) fall Dalton Turner (Sullivan) 1:59.

220 -- Jarred Sheppard (Hillsboro) fall Clay Darnell (Jackson) 1:07.

HWT -- Preston Hobeck (Jackson) dec. Daniel Terrana (Ste. Genevieve) 3-2.

Tiger Classic

Team totals -- 1. Jackson 322.5; 2. Northwest 280; 3. Ste. Genevieve 233; 4. Sikeston 195.5; 5. Rockwood Summit 180; 6. Francis Howell North 167; 7. Rolla 161; 8. De Soto 159.5; 9. Union 153.5; 10. Mehlville 147.5; 11. Hillsboro 143; 12. Christian County (Ky.) 129; 13. Sullivan 109.5; 14. Dexter 107.5; 15. Central 93; 16. Notre Dame 69.5; 17. University City 16.