Poplar Bluff's Jack Ernest switches gears for district tournament

Poplar Bluff High School senior Jack Ernest is ready to give it all he’s got heading into this year’s district tournament.

The Poplar Bluff Mules boys wrestling team will hit the road to compete in the Class 4 District 1 Tournament on Friday and Saturday at Lafayette High School. With one more opportunity to compete at state, Ernest is looking to place high in districts to set his path to the big dance for the first time.

Ernest had some tough battles this season, but with the support of his team, he’s been able to pull through with many wins. Though the pressures of extending his wrestling career further into the postseason are on his mind, Ernest stays focused on one match at a time. Alongside Ernest will be fellow senior Logan Hite, the only two seniors competing for the Mules.

“We’ve been practicing really hard the last couple of weeks,” Ernest said. “Our goal has been to get really dialed in before we step onto the mat. I’ve honestly just been trying not to think about it too much or overhype it more than it already needs to be. I don’t want to make myself too nervous, and I know my ultimate goal is to make it further this year.”

Last year, Ernest went 4-4 at the district tournament, and with a lot of work during the offseason, he’s hoping to do better. Ernest came into the year with a completely different energy and finished the regular season with a 29-11 record. He earned All-Conference by placing sixth in the 2023 SEMO conference, finished third in the Union wrestling tournament, and kicked off the year by placing second in the 175lb weight class in the Bolivar tournament.

Ernest said he’s seen a lot of growth since he first stepped onto the mat his freshman year.

“During my freshman season, I was not very athletic and was inexperienced with the sport as a whole,” Ernest said. “Coming into this year. I feel like I’ve really grown as a person, not only in wrestling but also throughout the team. One big thing that I’ve had to get corrected was finishing in on shots because I would get into people’s legs, and I wasn’t able to get a finish and take them down.”

Poplar Bluff High School senior wrestler Jack Ernest pins his opponent on the mat during the regular season. DAR/D�Courtland Christian

Ernest said picking up his opponents and slamming them is always fun, but practicing and going through the hardships with a bunch of people who’ve become his friends over the years is irreplaceable. He said seeing how other people do is also fun because they’ve been his teammates for so long, and he loves seeing them succeed.

While he gets ready to participate in his final postseason with the Mules, Ernest said he wouldn’t feel right not mentioning the help and guidance he has received from head wrestling coach Kelton Thompson.

“I felt like Coach Thompson has been a great coach,” Ernest said. “I really don’t think I could ask for a better coach. He’s always nice, but if he needs to become stricter, he helps you focus on reaching your goals.”

Before Ernest takes his final match with the Mules, he would like to leave an everlasting impact on the Mules’ wrestling program.

“I’m not sure where I will be on my final match,” he said. But every year, they put up a picture of all the state qualifiers, and that is something that I would love to see.”