Seven Jackson wrestlers qualify for state

~ Miller and Peiffer won Class 4 district championships Saturday.

ST. LOUIS -- Jackson senior Justin Miller spent part of last February in St. Louis at Children's Hospital for surgery to repair a hole in his heart.

He was back in St. Louis this February, but this time he was standing on the top of the podium after winning the Class 4 District 1 wrestling championship at 152 pounds. His championship helped the Indians to a fourth-place team finish in the tournament at Lindbergh High School.

"I didn't get to wrestle last year and really missed it," said Miller, who had qualified for the state meet as a freshman and just missed out as a sophomore. "I was ready to wrestle this year and got right back in it."

Miller won the Marquette tournament and the Missouri Duals in Jefferson City, but the district championship was the highlight of the season and his career.

"My goal was definitely to be in the finals today, and if I got there, to win it, too," Miller said.

Miller pinned his first opponent, Chris Dotzauer of Parkway South, then won tight matches against Ben Fowler of Northwest, 4-2, and Ben Giesler of Fox, 7-4, in the championship match.

"I feel good right now and my goal next weekend is to place at the state tournament," Miller said.

Miller will be headed to Columbia next weekend with six of his teammates. Junior Blake Peiffer also will be going as a district champion. Peiffer had three falls and then won one of the afternoon's most exciting matches in the championship match at 215 pounds. Peiffer broke a 2-2 tie in the final second to defeat Jake Glore of Seckman, 4-2.

Jamie Schumacher and Levi Rayburn were other Jackson wrestlers to compete in Saturday's championship round. Schumacher, a senior, lost a tough match at 145 pounds to Kyle Mankowich of Seckman, 9-6. Rayburn, who is a freshman, fell to Jeff Seudmeyer of Fox by major decision, 14-3, at 103 pounds.

Junior Doug Froemsdorf (third at 125 pounds), freshman Michael Riney (fourth at 171 pounds) and junior Justin Darnell (fourth at 189 pounds) are the other Jackson state qualifiers.

"This is a tough district and a very competitive and tight one," Jackson coach Steve Wachter said. "I was hoping we could get anywhere from seven to nine kids to state, but I didn't know which ones. I felt we wrestled pretty well and was happy that we were able to get four kids into the championship round."

Seckman won its first team district championship, breaking a three-year run by Northwest, which finished second. Parkway South was third.