Rouse's 52-0 year put indelible marks in the books

The Jackson wrestler set or matched three state records.

Jackson's Cody Rouse was one of many high school seniors to complete their athletic careers on high notes. But Rouse's high note will linger longer than most, due to its place the state record book.

Rouse completed his wrestling career at the top of three categories in the Missouri State High School Activities Association record book.

Rouse's 52-0 senior season -- which ended in a state championship in the Class 4 152-pound weight class -- tied him for the best single season record in state history. Louis Caputo of Blue Springs also went 52-0 this year en route to a Class 4 state title at 189 pounds.

Rouse also finished as the winningest wrestler in state history with a career mark of 179-19. His 198 total matches is also a state mark.

Rouse finished all-state three times, finishing third as a sophomore and second his junior year before his state title.

As well as putting his name atop the state record books, Rouse also set school marks for career wins, wins in a season, consecutive wins and best season record.

Saxony hires coach

Saxony Lutheran will field a girls basketball team for the first time next season. The team will play at the junior varsity level, leaving Vanderbilt University-bound Lauren Lueders playing on the varsity level with the boys team.

Saxony has hired a coach with a winning track record: Steve Fritzler. Fritzler, who was announced Wednesday as the coach, had a 158-58 record in 10 years as boys basketball coach at St. Paul Lutheran in Concordia, Mo.

The Crusaders plan on moving to the varsity level starting the 2006-07 school year.

Adding a sectional

A sectional meet will be added for class 1 and 2 track and field on a two-year trial basis starting in 2007.

Currently, class 1 and 2 qualify athletes for the state meet directly from the eight district track meets for each class by finishing in the top two.

Coaching all-stars

Local coaching legends Ronnie and Carroll Cookson will be coaches at the 11th annual Gerald Pilz and Friends Basketball All-Star game today at the College of the Ozarks. Ronnie Cookson built the dynasty at Scott County Central, while Carroll Cookson won state titles at Advance.

Former Central coach Rod Gorman, now at Logan-Rogersville, will also act as one of the coaches. No area players will take part in the game.

All-stars

Scott Dannenmueller of Scott City and Alex Armbruster of St. Vincent were among the players in Friday night's St. John's Midwest Sports Medicine Missouri Baptist All-Star Games at the Hammons Center in Springfield.

They played in the game for boys in classes 1 through 3.

Southeast Missouri State recruit Rachel Blunt of Dexter played in the girls game for classes 4 and 5.

Hall of Famer

Also in Springfield on Friday night, Notre Dame boys basketball coach Paul Hale was among those inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

A luncheon honored the 2005 inductees, who also were introduced between games at the All-Star Games at the Hammons Center.

Hale, who also has coached at Stoutland, Delta, Bernie and Dexter, recorded his 500th career win this year in his first season at Notre Dame while leading the Bulldogs to the Class 4 state final four.

College commitments

• Recent Jackson graduate Chad Minson committed to play baseball at Shawnee Community College.

Minson helped lead the Indians to their first district title since 2002 this past season. Along with being one of the best-fielding third basemen in the area, Minson added a .324 batting average with 16 RBIs and 19 runs scored.

* Chris Smith, a former Central football standout, will play for Central Missouri State University after signing with the Mules following a two-year stint at Joliet Junior College.

Smith earned all-state honors his senior season at Central while playing on both the offensive and defensive lines. In college, the 6-foot-3, 325-pounder has played on offense.