JACKSON'S SCHLICK WINS 4A OPENER

COLUMBIA -- Jackson's Lance Schlick bucked a losing trend Thursday in Thursday's opening round of the Missouri State Wrestling Championships.

A total of seven wrestlers from Cape Central and Jackson made the trek to state for the 4A competition, but Schlick was the only one to emerge victorious, posting a 9-0 victory over Blue Springs' David Hegarty (38-8) in the 135-pound class.

Schlick, making his fourth state appearance, improved to 33-2 on the season.

Jackson took four other wrestlers, but two lost by decision and two lost by pin. All first-round losers must wait until today to see whether they qualify for wrestlebacks. First-round losers remain in the tournament if their first-round opponent wins his second-round match.

The Indians' Brett Stroud (27-9) dropped his 112-lb. match 12-2 to Merrick Myer (35-3) of Francis Howell North. Adam Wachter (25-9) was pinned at the :47 mark of his 125-lb. match with CBC's Dominic Licari (32-6).

Cyle Huck (27-9) suffered a pin at the 5:31 mark of his 130-lb. match to Tim Dillon (36-5) of Francis Howell North. Kyle Watson (25-10) lost a 6-3 decision to Jarrod Aranda (31-7) of DeSmet in 140-lb. competition.

Both Cape Central wrestlers lost. In 112-lb. competition, Keith Benton (14-11) was pinned by Paul Kircher (28-7) of Fort Zumwalt South at the 4:59 mark. Matt Strickland (24-10) dropped a 12-4 decision to Dafsh Dishoran of Winnetonka in 189.