Sikeston fields younger squad of grapplers for upcoming season

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- After fielding teams laden with experienced upperclassmen the past few seasons, the Sikeston Bulldogs wrestling team will have a younger look when it takes to the mat in December.

That doesn't mean expectations won't still be high as head coach Chris Lowe looks to build on what was a solid first year with the program.

"We lost some really good seniors, but everybody is working really hard and pushing the pace pretty hard mentally and physically," Lowe said. "All the kids seem to be buying in. Every year we're trying to get a little better and try to develop a program that Sikeston will be proud of."

With graduation last spring went a solid core of Bulldogs who helped solidify the Sikeston wrestling program the past four years which included Jacob Stinnett, Cody Middleton and Tarrington Marks, who all qualified for the state tournament last year in Class 3.

Also lost was Nick Nichols, who reached the state competition his junior season in the 182-pound division.

Sophomore Garrett Middleton is the only returning member of last year's state team, wrestling in the 106-pound division. He'll be joined by senior Clay Porter, who made it to state as a sophomore, as two of the more successful and experienced grapplers on this year's roster.

Sikeston wrestling coach Chris Lowe looks on during a recent practice at the Sikeston Field House. (Chris Pobst photo)

Sikeston wrestling coach Chris Lowe looks on during a recent practice at the Sikeston Field House. (Chris Pobst photo)

"We're really looking forward to them leading," Lowe said of Middleton and Porter. "Garrett is pulling a little weight, he's trying to get back down to 106 again. Clay is looking about the same weight he was last year (at 170 pounds).

"We just need them to step up and lead by example. That's what we're looking for."

Other experienced wrestlers coming back include John Paul Rowland, Javeon Bonner and Chase Rodgers.

They'll be joined by newcomers that include senior Austin Brown, who also played football, freshman Josh Stinnett and sophomore Devin Cochran.

Though many of the newcomers lack quality time on the mat, Lowe sees plenty of potential as his team is just getting started at their ultimate goal of state.

"We have Josh Stinnett, he's a freshman this year and he looks pretty good. John Paul Rowland is back for his sophomore year and so is Devin Cochran. Cochran had a tremendous football season and his work ethic is just unbelievable. He looks to be back at about 182-pounds again this year.

"Chase Rodgers looks good and Javeon Bonner is trying to cut down another weight class. He's going to be good anyway, but if he makes that he'll be really tough."

Unlike in previous years when it was the lighter weight classes making noise come district time, Lowe sees a squad who's strength lies in the upper divisions.

"Believe it or not this year I have more big kids than smaller ones," he said. "I have a lot of 195-pounders and heavier, but we're thin down low with a lot of inexperience.

"They'll all get a lot of time in and look like they have a lot of promise. They've had a good work ethic so far."

One way Lowe hopes to get his team ready for districts, and hopefully state, at the end of the year is with a beefed up schedule that includes an early season, 10-team home meet. With any luck, these along with some added tournaments in the St. Louis region will have the Bulldogs once again contending come February.

"We're just going to try and be a tough, tough team and battle," Lowe said. "We bumped our schedule up tremendously. We're hosting the duel tournament here on Dec. 7th and there's 10 teams in that tournament, five from Missouri and five Kentucky schools. We're wrestling all the Kentucky schools.

"We're going back to the Tiger Classic then we'll go to Lindbergh. We dropped a few and we picked up a big tournament in St. Louis, the Francis Howell, which is going to be much like Lindbergh where we'll be one of the smaller schools. We're just hoping that gets us where we need to be at district time."

Sikeston starts its season Thursday, Dec. 5 on the road at Dexter in a meet with Notre Dame and Dexter.