TWO JACKSON WRESTLERS REACH FINALS

COLUMBIA -- Jackson wrestlers Joe Wiseman and Travis Reiminger reached the title matches in their respective weight divisions Saturday at the Missouri State Wrestling Championships at the Hearnes Center.

Jackson put three wrestlers in the semifinals but saw 103-pounder Lance Schlick fall.

"We had a good day," said Wachter. "We almost got all three through. All three wrestled tough."

Reiminger encountered his closest match of the season, a 12-8 victory over Lee Summit's John Hertzog (20-6) in the semifinals of the Class 4A 215-lb. competition. Reiminger, a perfect 37-0 on the season, pinned Lafayette's Jeff Mile in 1:29 earlier in the day in the quarterfinal round.

Reiminger will compose one half of a match of unbeatens tonight. He will face Brian Busby of Jefferson City. Busby carries in a 33-0 record after pinning Oakville's LaRon Coleman at the 5:11 mark of their semifinal match.

"They're both outstanding at 215," said Wachter. "No doubt about that. (Reiminger) had a tough match to get there."

Wachter said Reiminger led throughout his semifinal match, but was put on his back by Hertzog and was able to fight off a pin.

Wiseman, wrestling at 130, improved to 37-2 with a 15-8 semifinal victory over Jefferson City's Ben Sanford (32-4).

Wiseman trailed 4-1 at one point of the match.

"Joe wrestled a tremendous match," said Wachter. "Joe probably wrestled the best match I've ever seen him in his career at Jackson. He really turned it up."

Earlier in the day, Wiseman won an 11-3 major decision over Corey Crandell (35-12) of Fort Osage in the quarterfinals.

Wiseman will face Brett Lieberoff (27-12) of Oakville in today's final. Lieberoff defeated Andrew Elder of Park Hill 15-4 in the other semifinal.

Jackson advanced three wrestlers to the semifinals, but saw 103-pounder Lance Schlick (28-6) fall 12-7 to Dustin Brewer (39-1) of Oak Park.

In the quarterfinals, Schlick won by default over Aaron Jones (28-9) of Blue Springs South. Schlick was leading the match when Jones suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to withdraw.

Jackson's Kent Langston did not qualify for Friday's wrestlebacks. Langston finished the season with a 24-12 record after being pinned by Casey Vokolek (17-6) of Oak Park.

In the 152-pound division, Cape Central's Dustin Gross (26-12) lost by decision to Josh Overy of Francis Howell North, 8-4, in Friday's quarterfinals. Gross then pinned SLUH's Tim Ferrell (21-20) in wrestlebacks before falling 16-2 to Pat Hagarty (24-16) of Blue Springs.

In Thursday's opening round, Gross won a thrilling overtime decision, 12-10, over North Kansas City's Donnie Whitton (27-8).

Central teammate Ben Keefe (30-7) lost his opening round match Thursday night at 135 pounds, getting pinned by Phil Bartolotta (27-10) of Blue Springs in 2:41. Keefe did not qualify for wrestlebacks.

Thursday night in the opening round of meet, Jackson wrestlers earned three victories in their four matches.

Schlick won by major decision over Craig Brown of Pattonville with an 8-0 shutout. Wiseman pinned Scott Blackston of Fort Zumwalt in 2:13. Reiminger made short work of his opening round opponent with a 31-second pin of McClure's Romarco Ford.

Kent Langston (24-12) lost his opening round match at 179 pounds, getting pinned in 1:06 by Casey Vokolack of Oak Park.