An abundance of state tournament-tested wrestlers will compete in the C.J. Classic beginning at 10 a.m. today at Carl Junction.
The 11-team tournament includes defending champion Willard, but Carl Junction head coach Jeremy Finley said he expects challengers to emerge for the team championship.
“Carthage is going to be tough,” Finley said. “I expect Willard to be in the running, too. Webb City is pretty tough. They have a lot of kids out and a lot of experience.”
Carthage has five returning state qualifiers in Dakota Jones, Tyler Harden, Gage Gartner, Trevor Feagans and Seth Logan. Carthage will be a Class 3 district opponent for Carl Junction along with McDonald County, Webb City and Willard.
Carl Junction is led by Nick Koon, who placed fifth at 132 pounds in last season’s state meet. Other varsity returnees include juniors Calvin Bremmerkamp and Taylor Dawdy and senior Mason Markham.
“We have quite a few new guys who have stepped into the lineup,” Finley said. “It’s early in the season, but I feel like they have a bright future as long as they keep working hard.”
McDonald County’s returnees include state qualifiers Josh Chewey and Jordan Moffett.
Nevada and Monett are the two Class 2 schools in the tournament. Nevada’s Slade Stiles, Johnathon Ireland, Zach Shepherd and Colby Smith competed at the state meet last season along with Monett’s Chase Brennan, Kedric Brink, Devon Overall and Matt Wentz.
Seneca and Diamond were assigned to Class 1. Diamond returns Jake Goade, Jeremy Morris, Dylan Flint and Jordan Douglas, while Seneca is led by Cole Lankford, Logan Grady and state runner-up Will Roark.
“There are going to be quite a few state medalists and multiple state medalists in some weight classes,” said Seneca head coach Jeff Sill. “We’re trying to get into tournament shape and see some good competition. We just won’t have everybody at their weight classes yet.”
Two Kansas schools — Labette County and Cherryvale — round out the field. Curtis Hodges, Kaden Housel and D.J. Cook represented Cherryvale at the Kansas 3-2-1A state meet last season.
High School Sports
State-seasoned stars clash in CJHS meet
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Eagles' state tennis entries are veterans
Joplin High School is taking the same entries to the boys state tennis tournament this year as last year — senior Jeremy Lynn in singles and juniors Luke Frogge and Edran Ali in doubles.
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Homer takes position coaching Wyandotte
Brad Homer quickly secured another position as a high school football head coach.
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Large-school state track and field competition begins today
Shane Williams of Mount Vernon is among the favorites in three events at the MSHSAA Class 3 Track and Field Championships on Friday and Saturday at Dwight Reed Stadium in Jefferson City.
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Colgan romps in state opener
It didn’t take long for the St. Mary’s-Colgan Panthers to make some noise in Class 3A.
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Colgan recovers, reaches state meet
Three games into the season, the St. Mary’s-Colgan baseball team found itself in an unfamiliar position.
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McAuley's season unravels in sixth inning
Nearly mistake free through the first five innings, things began to come apart for the McAuley Catholic Warriors in the bottom of the sixth.
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Kennedy's goal sparks Carl Junction soccer
On its first appearance in the MSHSAA girls soccer playoffs, Carl Junction provided some quick excitement with an early goal.
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Seneca falls to Warrensburg in 10 innings
Warrensburg, lifted by a tying two-run seventh inning without a hit, outlasted Seneca 8-5 in 10 innings in the sectional round of the MSHSAA Class 4 baseball playoffs on Wednesday.
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Big bats, Gorham lead Frontenac to state tourney
The Frontenac Raiders have been the definition of consistency at the plate. The softball team boasts a .353 team batting average and eight players are hitting better than .300.
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Shot put champion Kaderly selects Ottawa
Jasper High School’s Jed Kaderly No. 1 heave in the shot put came at the right time.
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