Local wrestlers set their sights on state medal haul

There will not be any undefeated state champions coming out of the area's five state qualifiers this year, but all five should have legitimate shots to make their way to the medal round in the three-day state wrestling meet, which begins today at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

Kamden Rampley became the 11th state champion from Jackson last season, following in the footsteps of 2005 champion Cody Rouse. Both wrestlers finished their senior seasons undefeated.

This year, Central seniors Garrett New and Tyler Yeargain both are making their third straight trips to the state meet, and both are coming off all-state finishes last year. Yeargain was sixth at 130 pounds and New finished sixth at 152 pounds. Both will compete in those weight classes this weekend in the Class 3 tournament.

"Me and Tyler should do even better than we did last year," New said.

New was one of two local sectional champions, along with Jackson junior Jamie Schumacher. Last year New also claimed a sectional title, and won his first two matches at the state meet before settling for sixth.

This year, New will open with Chris Duncan (22-9) of Nixa. Duncan is ranked eighth at 152 pounds according to missouriwrestling.com, while New is ranked No. 6.

Neosho's Brandon Crandall and Daniel Hewitt of St. Charles West are ranked Nos. 1 and 2 according to the Web site.

"I'm not really worried about who's out there," New said. "I've got to wrestle my best. The way I see it, everyone's 0-0. I'm just going to go up there and try to win it."

Yeargain appears to have a tough challenge in the opening round with Parkway West's Jordan Young. Young (33-6) beat Yeargain earlier this season and is ranked No. 3 at 130 pounds according to missouriwrestling.com.

"Both those weight classes are extremely tough weight classes," Central coach Josh Crowell said. "I don't look for anybody to slide into an all-state spot. Whoever gets all-state spots will have definitely earned them."

Nervousness should not be a factor for the Tigers' two seniors. New and Yeargain became the first wrestlers to make three straight appearances at the state meet under Crowell.

"They both know not to look past their first matches, take it one at time," Crowell said. "We'll just have to see how it goes once we get out there."

Inexperienced Indians

Schumacher is the lone Indians wrestler with state experience, although the Jackson junior missed out on going to state last year. Senior Will Perry and sophomore Blake Peiffer will be making their debuts at Mizzou Arena in the Class 4 tournament.

All three Jackson wrestlers will face ranked opponents in the opening round. By far the toughest draw among the five area wrestlers goes to Peiffer (42-11), who drew Liberty senior Deron Winn. Winn is a two-time state champion and three-time all-state wrestler, taking titles at 189 and 171 the previous two years. The past two years the nationally-ranked Winn has been unstoppable at state -- Winn has won his two state titles by tech falls, 21-5 last year and 22-7 in 2005 -- and this year he enters as one of just four undefeated wrestlers at 42-0.

"The kid Blake is wrestling in the first round is one of the best in the country," Jackson coach Steve Wachter said. "I don't think he's been beaten in two years."

At 145 pounds, Schumacher will face seventh-ranked Nathan Fine (42-8) of Pattonville. Schumacher (39-12) has been consistent throughout the season and continued his strong year with a sectional championship. Fine defeated Schumacher earlier this year at the Tiger Classic.

Schumacher said he thinks wrestling a familiar opponent will be to his advantage.

"I know that he beat me, but I know how to wrestler him now and I think I can beat him," Schumacher said. "If I beat him, that will really put me in a good position; but if not, I'll just wrestle my hardest."

Perry, who just missed out on a sectional title with a double-overtime loss, enters with a 38-4 record. The senior will face Drae Cox (34-5) in the opening round. Cox is ranked No. 8 at 152 pounds.

"I see this as a stepping stone," Perry said of his first state berth. "It goes state, then place. Placing, that's my main goal."

Jackson has had at least one all-state wrestler every year for more than a decade. In what has been somewhat of a rebuilding year for the Indians, Jackson's trio of state qualifiers has a chance to make it yet another successful campaign for the Indians.

"I know it's tough, and it will be an uphill battle," Wachter said, "but it is for a lot of wrestlers. I've seen a lot of state tournaments and you just never know what will happen.

"The biggest thing I'm proud of is we've improved. I don't think any coach can be disappointed when kids improve."