NMCC wrestler signs with Hannibal-LaGrange

Wendy Wilcox watches as her son, Jakob Wilcox, signs his letter of intent to wrestle at Hannibal-LaGrange University. Also pictured at the signing is HGLU head wrestling coach Daniel Capp.

Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

NEW MADRID, Mo. - New Madrid County Central senior Jacob Wilcox will continue to hone his wrestling skills but now at the collegiate level.

On March 9, Wilcox pulled on a Hannibal-LaGrange University T-shirt and signed a letter of intent to become a member of the Trojans’ wrestling team.

Wilcox said he first visited the university, which is located in Hannibal, Mo., as a junior. He liked what he saw.

“The whole campus is beautiful,” he said. “I love the area, too.”

Wilcox said he was also impressed with the wrestling facilities, the team and coaches.

“There is a lot of diversity in wrestling styles and where everyone is from but luckily I think I will fit in great,” he said.

Wrestling for the Eagles at 174 pounds, Wilcox placed second in the MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 this year. Daniel Capp, head wrestling coach with HLGU, said he expects Wilcox to wrestle at 165 pounds for the Trojans.

Capp said he initially saw film of Wilcox wrestling as a junior and became interested in the NMCC wrestler becoming a member of his team. The coach continued to follow Wilcox during his senior year at NMCC including at the state tournament.

“I love what he has got in his arsenal, his drive and his potential as a wrestler,” Capp said.

Capp, who is beginning his third year as wrestling coach at HLGU, said the wrestling program is growing at the school. The addition of Wilcox to the squad will continue their efforts to move forward.

“I think he is going to do really well in our line-up. We have got really good wrestlers above him and below him in the weight classes and I think it will push him and help him to get to where he wants to go,” said Capp.

NMCC head wrestling coach Jerry Winberry described Wilcox as very coachable and as a wrestler who has steadily improved his skills.

“He has really come along these last couple of years and has been a force to be reckoned with on the team,” Winberry said. “I believe that he will really do well up there.”

While he has signed on for college wrestling, Wilcox said he will head back to the high school gym. He explained he plans to lift weights and get in lots and lots of practice to prepare for the next chapter in his wrestling career.