sports@standard-democrat.com
FARMINGTON -- After another strong regular season the Sikeston Bulldogs start a potential road to the Missouri state meet.
The Class 3, District 1 wrestling tournament begins today at Farmington and the Bulldogs will look to build on last season's success where they sent five wrestlers on to the state tournament.
"If we wrestle well the opportunities are there," Sikeston head coach Chris Lowe said. "Everyone is healthy so hopefully we wrestle up to our potential and good things will happen. I think we're in a maybe a little better spot compared to last year as far as how some of the kids are reacting and been wrestling this year. The opportunity is there and we just have to perform."
Of the five wrestlers sent last year, three return for another shot at a championship. That list includes senior Gage Barber, junior Garrett Middleton and sophomore Josh Stinnett.
Middleton will be competing in the 126-pound weight class, Stinnett at 182 pounds and Barber at 285 pounds.
Seeding for the bracket-style tournament took place Thursday night with Middleton earning the second seed at 126 pounds while Mitchell Garner also earned a second seed, competing at 220 pounds.
Sikeston's lone wrestler to earn a top seed was Courtney Hawkins, who competes in the 138-pound division. Hawkins has shined so far this year, winning his weight class at the SEMO Conference Tournament in January.
With no pool play, the tournament will run through the first three rounds today, which includes the first round, first-round losers and the quarterfinals. Saturday will consist of the semifinals all the way through to the finals.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class move on to the state tournament.
"We came out pretty good and we're we got put in," Lowe said of the seedings. "We look at it as seeds try to keep the better wrestlers apart until later. If you don't wrestle well though, it doesn't matter.
"We just have to wrestle well regardless of where we're at and I think every kid has a great opportunity to at least get to the bubble match and an opportunity to go."