JACKSON'S WACHTER REACHES STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

COLUMBIA -- Jackson High School advanced 140-pounder senior Adam Wachter into the state title match at the Class 4A Missouri State Wrestling Championships Friday at the Hearnes Center.

Wachter will take a 34-4 record into tonight's title match, where he will meet Travis Craig of Oak Park, who bring in a 42-1 record.

Wachter, one of four Jackson wrestlers to win their first-round matches on Friday, won quarterfinal and semifinal matches on Friday. Wachter received his toughest test of the state meet in the quarterfinals when he nipped Tim Yazawa (28-11) of Hazelwood West 5-3 in overtime. He had an easier time in the semifinals with an 8-3 decision over Casey Sanders (37-5) of Belton.

Jackson's Brett Stroud and Ray Goodson also won quarterfinal matches on Friday, but fell to semifinal opponents.

Stroud (36-4) opened Friday with a narrow 7-6 quarterfinal decision over Aaron Anyan (35-7) of Francis Howell in 125-lb. action. He then ran into a buzz saw in Oak Park's Dustin Brewer, last year's 119-pound state champion. Brewer improved his season record to 41-0 with an 18-3 technical fall over Feiner.

Goodson (34-4), wrestling in the 215-pound division, pinned Lee Weeden (40-4) of McCluer in the first period, winning at the 1:18 mark. Goodson then dropped a 16-8 decision to Steve Watson (39-4) of Francis Howell in the semifinals.

Jackson's Cyle Huck (32-9) also wrestled in the quarterfinal round but lost a 13-10 decision to Merrick Meyer (38-3) of Francis Howell North. Huck went into wrestlebacks where he defeated Cody Rapp of Truman 10-5, before losing to Klint Calton of Blue Springs 12-9.

Jackson's 112-pounder Ricky Feiner and 152-pounder James Love both qualified for wrestlebacks after losing first-round matches on Thursday. But both wrestlers fell to 0-2 at the tournament. Justin Cole of Oak Park posted an 8-0 major decision over Feiner (26-14). Dan Seymour of Lee's Summit edged Love 5-4. Love completed the season with a 29-15 record.

Jackson heavyweight Spencer Hobeck did not qualify for wrestlebacks after dropping his first-round match.