SHS wrestlers take third in district, seven qualify for sectional tourney

STE. GENEVIEVE - The Sikeston Bulldogs wrestling team placed third in the Class 2, District 1 Tournament on Saturday in Ste. Genevieve.

Sikeston finished with 121 points, behind first place Farmington (204.5 points) and Ste. Genevieve (178).

Other teams that placed were DeSoto (4th-108), Windsor (5th-93.5), North County (6th-83.5), Cape Central (7th-53), Affton (8th-48) and Hillsboro (9th-37).

"This was a complete tournament for us team-wise," said Sikeston head coach Chris Hodgkiss. "To finish third behind Farmington and Ste. Gen is a big accomplishment for us. We had a lot of individuals that stepped up and performed well. I was very pleased with the overall performance as a team."

The Bulldogs had seven wrestlers qualify for Saturday's sectional meet in Farmington at the Civic Center at 10 a.m. The top four wrestlers at the sectional meet will qualify for the state tournament.

Headlining the list was 160 pounder Lance Berry, who went 3-0 to take first in the district.

"Lance continues to have a fabulous year," said Hodgkiss. "It's a big deal to win a district championship, especially in the tough district that we compete in."

Malcolm Williams (189) went 1-1 to take second place. Kyle Weeks (135), Scotty Keenan (171), Andy Croxford (215) and Joe Johnson (heavyweight) all went 3-1 to take third place.

Tony Reynolds (145) also qualified by going 3-2 to take fourth place.

"Andy and Malcolm really stepped up and wrestled well," said Hodgkiss. "Tony Reynolds has had a good, steady senior year. Scotty Keenan injured some ribs in the middle of the tournament and he gutted it out and came through the loser's bracket to take third place. That was a big test for him."

Johnson, who was seeded fourth, took out his frustrations of the low seed with an eight-second pin in his opening match against Windsor, setting a new season-record.

"Joe continues to wrestle well," said Hodgkiss. "He's just gotten paired up against the Farmington kid the last couple tournaments during the semifinals. Hopefully he can get past him if they meet again."

Weeks broke Jerry Winberry's school record for career pins on Saturday. Weeks' three pins gives him 78 for the season, breaking Winberry's mark of 76 that had stood from 1991-1994.

Ben Powers (103), Cody Ryan (125), Shawn Cooper (130), Cody Weeks (140) and Cullen Looney (152) all went 1-2 at the district and did not qualify for sectionals.