Bulldogs split tri-meet in season's first action at home

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Despite dealing with injuries and illness, the Sikeston Bulldogs managed to end their first home meet of the season on a high note.

In a tri-meet with Marion, Ill., and Poplar Bluff, the Bulldogs suffered a 45-25 loss to the Wildcats before closing out the night with a 40-27 come from behind win against the Mules.

Sikeston's Christian Crumpecker maneuvers around Poplar Bluff's Michael Kerr Wednesday, Jan. 8, during a wrestling tri-meet at the Sikeston Field House. (Chris Pobst photo)

Sikeston's Christian Crumpecker maneuvers around Poplar Bluff's Michael Kerr Wednesday, Jan. 8, during a wrestling tri-meet at the Sikeston Field House. (Chris Pobst photo)

"We have some injuries, but I'm not going to make any excuses," Sikeston head coach Chris Lowe said. "I thought the boys wrestled hard. We started off a little slow, but Marion is a good team. So is Poplar Bluff.

"We rallied when we needed to and learned a lot. Some of the kids just really stepped up so all-in-all being a really young team I'm happy with the way they wrestled."

Though their bout with Marion was never close it was a late rebound against the Mules that sent the Bulldogs out with a win.

Trailing 27-25 late in the meet, Sikeston won three-straight matches to close out the night and overtake Poplar Bluff.

Josh Stinnett gave the Bulldogs the lead 31-27 with a pin on Anthony Green in the 195-pound division to kick off the rally.

Gabe Barber followed suit with a pin on Tyler Harper for another six points at 220-pounds and Mitchell Garner closed things out with a 8-6 decision over Poplar Bluff's Nicholas Mitchel at 285-pounds.

Sikeston's Courtney Hawkins attempts to pin Poplar Bluff's Gavin Wells Wednesday, Jan. 8, during a wrestling tri-meet at the Sikeston Field House. (Chris Pobst photo)

Sikeston's Courtney Hawkins attempts to pin Poplar Bluff's Gavin Wells Wednesday, Jan. 8, during a wrestling tri-meet at the Sikeston Field House. (Chris Pobst photo)

One of the more exciting matches of the night came when freshman Michael Porter overcame a late deficit to take down Poplar Bluff's Walker Austin, 9-8, in the 145-pound division. Porter was down by two points in the closing seconds of the match, only to score three at the buzzer to pull out the win in stunning fashion.

"Michael did a great job," Lowe said. "He's a freshman that if we had everybody (healthy) would probably be a jayvee kid, but he never backs down.

"Great big win for him. He's one of those kid who you just like to have on the team because he's going to help you out."

Other Bulldogs with big wins include Garrett Middleton (113) and Courtney Hawkins (138). Middleton, Hawkins, Stinnett and Garner were the only four Sikeston wrestlers to win both their matches against Marion and Poplar Bluff on Wednesday.

Next up Sikeston will host Jackson, Ste. Genevieve and Windsor in a quad meet Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Sikeston Field House.

Individual Sikeston results from both matches are as followed:

Sikeston v. Marion

106 - Elijah Hale (M) def. Ty Fowler (S), 6-2

113 - Garrett Middleton (S) def. Caleb Fishback (M), pin

120 - Javeon Bonner (S), forfeit

126 - Adolph Paulson (M) def. Richard Garcia (S), pin

132 - Justin Edwards (M) def. Luis Valdez (S), 18-4

138 - Courtney Hawkins (S) def. Zach Belanger (M), 11-3

145 - Luke Abbott (M) def. Michael Porter (S), pin

152 - Jeremy Green (M), forfeit

160 - Mitchell Bartle (M) def. Taylor McIlwain (S), pin

170 - Jonah Belanger (M) def. Christian Crumpecker (S), 17-1

182 - Killian White (M) defr. Braydon Reynolds (S), pin

195 - Josh Stinnett (S) def. Tony Allen (M), 8-1

220 - Tyrone Maples (M) def. Gage Barber (S0, 6-5

285 - Mitchell Garner (S) def. Shawn Abernathy (M), pin

Sikeston v. Poplar Bluff

106 - Ty Fowler (S), forfeit

113 - Garrett Middleton (S) def. Bailey Alford (P), 11-0

120 - Matthew King (P) def. Javeon Bonner (S), 1-0

126 - Chance Moore (P) def. Richard Garcia (S), pin

132 - Aaron Vincent (P) def. Luis Valdez (S), 5-3

138 - Courtney Hawkins (S) def. Gavin Wells (P), pin

145 - Michael Porter (S) def. Walker Austin (P), 9-8

152 - Colton Jordan (P), forfeit

162 - Taylor McIlwain (S), forfeit

170 - Michael Kerr (P) def. Christian Crumpecker (S), 14-12

182 - Jordan Lansford (P) def. Braydon Reynolds (S), pin

195 - Josh Stinnett (S) def. Anthony Green (P), pin

220 - Gage Barber (S) def. Tyler Harper (P), pin

285 - Mitchell Garner (S) def. Nicholas Michel (P), 8-6