Jackson wrestlers eliminated from state title contention

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A perfect season for the Jackson wrestling team was derailed at the Missouri Wrestling Championships on Friday.

The Indians had five on their nine Class 4 state qualifiers win opening-round matches on Thursday at Mizzou Arena, but all five lost matches Friday and were eliminated from title contention.

The Indians won all 10 of their dual meets during the regular season and all four tournaments in which they participated. They added to that resume by winning their first district title in a decade last weekend at Parkway South.

The victorious tone changed drastically Friday.

"Like you seen out here, the 4A is just real tough," Jackson coach Steve Wachter said after Friday's events. "If you're not on top of your game, you can get beat. I'm not disappointed in our effort. I'm just disappointed for them that we didn't place as high in some situations that we did."

The casualties included previously unbeaten 106-pound junior Jarrett Reisenbichler, the only Indian who advanced to the evening semifinals.

It was there that Reisenbichler's 33-0 run ended with a 3-2 overtime loss to Eureka freshman Kyran Hagan, who improved to 44-2 and advanced to Saturday's championship match.

Reisenbichler had made the state final as a sophomore. He will will wrestle Blue Springs freshman Gage Harmon in the third-place semifinals Saturday morning. Reisenbichler has clinched at least an all-state sixth-place finish.

Jackson's Jake Byrd (120), Tyler Rush (138), Clayton Collier (152) and Preston Hobeck all dropped their quarterfinal matches and went into the wrestleback bracket and were eventually eliminated.

Two other Indians in addition to Reisenbichler remained in the tournament. Sophomore Carson McCord, at 170, and senior Clay Darnell, at 220, remained alive in the wrestleback bracket, winning two matches on Friday after winning their first wrestleback match Thursday.

"We have three that are still in it and are all-state, but yeah, overall, it's a little disappointing," Wachter said. "We've had a tremendous season and we just didn't wrestle as well today."

Byrd (37-4), a sophomore, lost 2-0 to Waynesville senior Isaiha Johnson in the quarterfinals. Johnson improved to 38-3 in advancing to the semifinals. Byrd later posted a 5-1 decision over Seckman sophomore Zack Durbin before being eliminated by CBC senior Bay Roehr, who posted a pin at the 4:48 mark.

Rush, a senior, dropped an 11-2 decision to Fort Osage senior Jesse Jefferies in quarterfinals. Rush was pinned in his first wrestleback by Park Hill South senior Geroge Barth. Rush closed the season with a 33-3 reord.

Collier (36-4) sustained a pin by Park Hill junior Colston DiBlasi with 19 seconds left in their 152-pound quarterfinal. Collier rebounded with a 7-2 wrestleback win over Fort Zumwalt West sophomore Chase Hosack before being eliminated with a 5-3 loss to Lindbergh senior Jack Korenak.

Hobeck, a junior, took a 32-2 record into his quarterfinal match against unbeaten Daniel Vaughn of Hazelwood West. Vaughn emerged with a 3-2 victory. Hobeck, making his first state appearance at state, pinned Park Hill junior Anthony Enriquez at 1:34 in his first consolation match, but lost 2-1 in overtime to Blue Springs South senior Cole West.

Three of the four Indians who started the day in wrestlbacks won matches.

McCord (15-2) posted a 5-1 victory over senior Juan Castaneda of Lee's Summit in a 170-pound second-round wrestleback, then notched a 3-0 decision over Seckman senior Clayton Jeske to stay alive in the tournament.

At 182, junior Josh Stone (31-6) posted an 8-3 decision over Northwest Cedar Hill senior Andrew Erxleben then was eliminated with a 9-6 loss to Kickapoo sophomore Dennen Porter.

Darnell (33-5) recorded a second-round consolation win with a 6-2 decision over senior Ben Melton of Nixa. He then pinned senior Adew ale Adeoye of Ritenour to stay for a third day.

Notre Dame junior Noah Huff, one of two Bulldogs who qualified in Class 2, lost his quarterfinal at 113 pounds to unbeaten sophomore Josh McClure of Fulton. McClure won by pin at the 3:05 mark and later won his semifinal match to improve to 33-0. Huff posted a pin against Affton freshman Brayton Tucker before dropping a 6-2 decision to Berkeley junior Darion Young. Huff finished the season with a 37-12 record.

Notre Dame senior Nick Pfau (33-16) was eliminated from the 152-pound class Thursday.

Action resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday.