Mules, Dexter ready for SEMO wrestling tourney

Two teams dealing with different narratives will head to Cape Girardeau for the next two days to compete in the Southeast Missouri Conference wrestling tournament.

Beginning at 5:30 p.m. today at Cape Junior High School, Poplar Bluff and Dexter are going to hit the mats in hopes of having a weekend that could be a harbinger for bigger and better things to come.

Albeit, Poplar Bluff comes in riding high from a strong showing at the St. Charles Invitational last weekend, finishing second out of 27 teams. Dexter, on the other hand, has shown plenty of promise, but the proverbial ‘what ifs’ are still a part of the landscape with injuries upon each other possibly slowing a potentially bigger campaign.

The action continues at 10:30 a.m. Saturday for the final rounds and championships of each weight bracket.

POPLAR BLUFF

A year ago, the Mules placed fourth out of 16 teams and were the tournament host. It was the third straight top-four finish at this meet for the Mules and head coach Kelton Thompson.

“The field is very tough this year,” Thompson said. “Hillsboro is the top team in Class 3 right now and is good at about every weight. Jackson, Farmington, and St. Genevieve all have strong wrestling histories and all have good squads this year as well.

“We are preparing to win the tough matchups for our top guys and get more from our greener guys. We need a well-rounded effort to remain in the top five teams.”

Lucas Robertson will have his work cut out for him as the 150-pound senior will have to potentially grapple with defending Class 3 champions Evan Morris of Hillsboro, to win another conference title.

Logan Hite (175 pounds) is also a reigning champion and should have some good matchups this weekend according to Thompson.

Both Robertson and Hite are No. 1 seeds.

“We want to see all of our upperclassmen on the podium,” Thompson said.

The Lady Mules will place individual title hopes on top-seeded sophomores Zoe Freeman and Kayleigh Dazey.

The expected lineup for the teams include:

BOYS — Caden Hambrick (126 pounds), Garret Dearborn (132), Grant Reynolds (138), Dace Wisdom (144), Robertson (150), Jack Ernest (157), Kayden Walker (165), Hite (175), Daine Dugas (190), Hudson Matthews (215) and Andre Aguilar (285).

GIRLS — Dazey (105 pounds), Maddie Porter (125), Maddie Hayman (140), Kylee Hayman (155), and Freeman (170)

“Right now, we are in a critical part of the season where we need to keep improving and turning the corner,” Thompson said. “We need to stay locked in mentally and continue to trust the process.”

DEXTER

The Bearcats finished ninth in last year’s field and brought back one individual medalist – Eric Harmon, who took third.

Head coach Cody Boyer has had to fight through a slate of injuries that have reduced his group to five Bearcats who will head to Cape with nothing but competing at a high level as a hoped-for expectation.

“I know going in that this tournament is harder than our district,” Boyer said. “We will have to battle to have someone medal this year. My two seniors will be out so that hurts us. It all depends on who the other teams have at (individual) weights.”

Dexter will send Chase Berry (113 pounds), Conrad Purnell (126), Ryan Young (144), Kasen Forkum (150), and James DeBerry (157) to the mat.

“We have been banged up all year and I don’t think we have had a healthy lineup,” Boyer said. “We just have to keep moving forward and get better every day.”