Mules defend home mats on senior night

Regional rival Dexter made the short trip to Poplar Bluff late Monday to finally get to work on a dual that was suspended a week due to winter storms at the beginning of the month. 

However, the host Mules were celebrating senior night and that would be all they needed for motivation, plus a shorthanded Dexter lineup, to cruise to a 54-15 win over the Bearcats on Monday night.  

The Mules celebrated the careers of seniors Daine Dugas, Hudson Matthews, Lucas Roberton, Madison Hayman and Dace Wisdom before the match commenced. 

“This group of seniors have put in a ton of work over the years and have trusted the process so I am very excited to see them compete at the district tournament,” Poplar Bluff head coach Kelton Thompson said. “Overall, we are trying to get back on pace for districts after some days off for ice last week. We practiced through the weekend and got a good practice before the match. We are fine-tuning some small details in our neutral game, as well as our mat wrestling. We want to be able to escape from the bottom position against anyone we face in the postseason.  

“When we are in top position we want to put our opponents in danger and score points.” 

Lucas Robertson and Zoe Freeman, two of the program’s top wrestlers, did not compete for the Mules due to some “minor issues” that have slowed them down and Thompson said he was taking precautions prior to the district meet. 

Poplar Bluff’s boys earned wins from Caden Hambrick (126 pounds, 6-2 win), Grant Reynolds (136, third-round pin), Dace Wisdom (144, first-round pin), Jack Ernest (157, 8-2 win), Dugas (175, first-round pin), Bryce Dobbs (190, second-round pin), Hudson Matthews (285, second-round pin) and three forfeit victories). 

Dexter countered with wins from Eric Harmon (132, 16-1 win), Kasen Forkum (150, 15-6 win), and one forfeit. 

“We completed in most matches,” Dexter head coach Cody Boyer said. “In five out of the nine matches, we went into the third round. At the beginning of the year, we struggled to get out of the first. We have been better at going longer in matches. Eric, Kasen and Chase Berry (via forfeit) got us wins tonight. Conrad Purnell and James DeBerry lost by points but went six minutes. Wyatt Hockersmith was winning his match until the third where he lost by pin but showed good technique at times.’ 

Madison Hayman of Poplar Bluff won the only girls match to hit the mat, pinning Kaylie Cook at 140 pounds in the first round, but Dexter earned two forfeit wins – Kayleigh Dazey of Poplar Bluff did as well - and the rest of the contests were double forfeited with Dexter winning on a tiebreaker.  

“On the girls side, there was only 1 match. Kaylie Cook at 140 lost by pin in the first. Emily Barrett and Kennedy McCormick won by forfeit.” 

The district tournament for the girls is this weekend.