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Sikeston's Tripp Coleman wins state wrestling title (3/12/24)Tripp Coleman of the Sikeston Wrestling Club brought home a championship title from the Missouri USA Wrestling State Folkstyle Championships. Coleman won the 8-year-old-and-under, 100-pound weight class at Wilson Logistic Arena on the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Missouri...
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Jackson’s Vassalli stands out among local state medalists (2/29/24)Of the 24 Southeast Missouri-based wrestlers to reach the MSHSAA State Tournament, only three have finished the season on the medal stand. Landon Vassalli finished his senior season fifth in the Class 4 State Tournament for the third straight year. The rest of the Jackson seven were experiencing the tournament for the first time but it was nothing new to Vassalli...
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Poplar Bluff's Freeman brings home third at state (2/27/24)COLUMBIA — The MSHSAA State Wrestling Tournament has ended, and one Poplar Bluff wrestler has moved a step closer to capturing a gold medal. After finishing fifth in last year’s state tournament, junior Zoe Freeman came into the season with the mindset of reaching the finals. Though the ultimate goal of making the finals didn’t happen this year, Freeman battled against some of the top wrestlers in the state to capture a third-place medal in the girls 190lb Class 2 state tournament...
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2024 MSHSAA Class 2 State Girls Wrestling - Day 2 (2/24/24)Zoe Freeman of Poplar Bluff took part in the final day of the 2024 MSHSAA Class 2 Girls Wrestling State Championships on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
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2024 MSHSAA Class 3 State Boys Wrestling - Day 2 (2/24/24)Davarious Nunley of Cape Central took part in the final day of the 2024 MSHSAA Class 3 Boys Wrestling State Championships on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
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Freeman advances to state semis (2/24/24)COLUMBIA — Poplar Bluff Lady Mules wrestler Zoe Freeman took another step forward on her quest to reach the state wrestling finals. After a long season of training and nonstop battles, the Mules got the opportunity to showcase their talents on the mat with some of the best wrestlers in the state. ...
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2024 MSHSAA Class 4 State Boys Wrestling - Day 1 (2/23/24)Jackson and Poplar Bluff took part in the first day of 2024 MSHSAA Class 4 Boys Wrestling State Championships on Friday, February 23, 2024 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
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2024 MSHSAA Class 2 State Girls Wrestling - Day 1 (2/23/24)Jackson and Poplar Bluff girls wrestling took part in the first day of the 2024 MSHSAA Class 2 Girls Wrestling State Championships on Friday, February 23, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
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2024 MSHSAA Class 3 State Boys Wrestling - Day 1 (2/23/24)Cape Central and Sikeston boys wrestling took part in the first day of the 2024 MSHSAA Class 3 Boys Wrestling State Championships on Friday, February 23, 2024, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
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Headed to STATE: Mules, Dexter sending six wrestlers to battle for championships (2/22/24)The MSHAA state wrestling tournament is about to get underway, and six wrestlers are making their way to Mizzou Arena on Friday and Saturday with the hopes of winning the gold. From start to finish, these three wrestlers have made a pivotal impact on the Poplar Bluff High School Mules wrestling team. The Mules are sending seniors Logan Hite and Jack Ernest, and junior Zoe Freeman will represent the Lady Mules...
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Semoball state wrestling roundup: Class 1-2 (2/22/24)Notre Dame bowed out in the first day of action in the Class 1 MSHSAA wrestling tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 21, in Columbia, Mo. Senior Charlie West finished his career with a 37-4 record and a first-round pin over Ethan Stewart of Carrollton in the first round of the 215-pound bracket. He lost the next two matches to end his run...
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2024 MSHSAA Class 1 State Girls Wrestling - Day 2 (2/22/24)Sikeston girls wrestling took part in the second day of the MSHSAA Class 1 Girls Wrestling State Championships on Thursday, February 22 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
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2024 MSHSAA Class 1 State Boys Wrestling - Day 2 (2/22/24)New Madrid County Central boys wrestling took part in the second day of the MSHSAA Class 1 Boys Wrestling State Championships on Thursday, February 22 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
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2024 MSHSAA Class 1 State Girls Wrestling - Day 1 (2/21/24)Notre Dame and Sikeston girls wrestling took part in the first day of the MSHSAA Class 1 Girls Wrestling State Championships on Wednesday, February 21 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
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2024 MSHSAA Class 1 State Boys Wrestling - Day 1 (2/21/24)New Madrid County Central and Notre Dame boys wrestling took part in the first day of the MSHSAA Class 1 Boys Wrestling State Championships on Wednesday, February 21 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
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Sikeston Bulldogs punch tickets to the state meet (2/20/24)FARMINGTON, Mo. — Sikeston had three wrestlers qualify for the state meet. The Bulldogs’ George Rodgers, Jax Lancaster, and Conner Michael battled through a tough MSHSAA Class 3, District 1 Tournament, securing their chance to shine in Columbia...
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NMCC sends five wrestlers to state (2/20/24)FESTUS, Mo. —New Madrid County Central flexed its muscles at the MSHSAA Class 1, District 1 Tournament, showcasing its depth by sending five wrestlers to the state meet. Caleb Moore (31-2) and Gavin Colbert (17-5) led the charge, each dominating their way to district championships...
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Local district tournament wrestling roundup (2/18/24)Four sites, four district tournaments, and a whole lot of wrestlers literally fighting for their place at state on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16-17. Here's the lowdown on how all eight area programs fared in their quest to Columbia, Mo. Next year, it will be nine, with the addition of Kelly...
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Poplar Bluff's Jack Ernest switches gears for district tournament (2/16/24)Poplar Bluff High School senior Jack Ernest is ready to give it all he’s got heading into this year’s district tournament. The Poplar Bluff Mules boys wrestling team will hit the road to compete in the Class 4 District 1 Tournament on Friday and Saturday at Lafayette High School. With one more opportunity to compete at state, Ernest is looking to place high in districts to set his path to the big dance for the first time...
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Sikeston’s Douglass and Wilkins qualify for state (2/15/24)UNION, MO. — Sikeston had two athletes qualify for the state meet following a strong performance at the MSHSAA Class 1, District 1 Meet held at Union High School. Ellie Douglass, a seasoned veteran, clinched her third consecutive state meet appearance with a dominant second-place finish in the 100-pound weight class. Douglass showcased her prowess with back-to-back pins, defeating Genevieve’s Camille Melahn (9-23) in 2:36 and Brentwood’s Ashlyn Wildgrube (18-8) in just 1:16...
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Poplar Bluff's Freeman battles way to district championship (2/13/24)Poplar Bluff High School Lady Mules wrestler Zoe Freeman completes the first step to getting back into the state wrestling tournament. Freeman competed in the MSHSAA Girls Class 2 District 1 tournament as the No. 1 seed, where she claimed her second district championship as a Lady Mule in the 190-pound weight class...
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Freeman pursues district wrestling title (2/10/24)A Poplar Bluff High School wrestling standout has received the top seed heading into the district tournament. Junior Zoe Freeman is wrestling in the Class 2 District 1 tournament on Friday and Saturday in St. Louis as the No. 1 seed for the opportunity to punch her ticket to state, which would her third appearance...
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Wrestling: Cape Central Quad vs. Notre Dame, Dexter, and Kennett (2/6/24)Cape Central, Notre Dame, Dexter, and Kennett compete against one another in a series of duel meets on Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Cape Central High School.
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Sikeston's Wilkins Captures Gold at Lindbergh Flyers Invitational (1/30/24)ST. LOUIS — Kimarhri Wilkins' rise on the mat continued at the Lindbergh Flyers Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 27. The Sikeston wrestler, boasting a stellar 35-5 record, dominated the 140-pound class w Wilkins started strong, pinning Holt's Lauryn Holmes (12-18) in just one minute and 26 seconds and Lafayette’s Raquel Saddler (7-14) in a swift 1:45...
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NMCC captures Priory Invitational Championship with two individual titles and three runner-up finishes (1/30/24)CREVE COEUR, Mo. — New Madrid County Central wrestling won the 14-team Priory Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 27, dominating the competition with a 165-point haul. Standout performances came from Caleb Moore and Jesse Perry, winning individual titles at the 113 and the 132-pound weight classes, respectively...
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Wrestling: SEMO Conference JV Tournament (1/28/24)Local wrestlers from around the Bootheel compete in the SEMO Conference JV Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 27, in Jackson, Mo.
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Blazing a trail: Freeman making history on the mat for Mules (1/26/24)It’s halfway through the wrestling season, and Poplar Bluff High School junior Zoe Freeman continues to blaze a trail for the Lady Mules wrestling team. Coming into the season, Freeman said her main goal was to be better and take her wrestling career to heights she’d never seen before. So far, she has found her stride on the mat and set a new standard for girls wrestling...
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PB wrestling makes history at SEMO Conference (1/23/24)The Poplar Bluff High School Mules wrestling team made history at the 2024 SEMO Conference Wrestling Tournament. The Mules went up against 14 other teams over the weekend in Sikeston, taking on some tough competition in the surrounding areas. Despite not placing high as a team, three of the Mules’ top wrestlers left their mark on the mat...
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Home turf triumph: Douglass and Wilkins deliver gold for Sikeston in SEMO Tournament (1/22/24)SIKESTON — Undeterred by the pressure of defending titles, Sikeston's Ellie Douglass and Kimarhri Wilkins once again reigned supreme at the SEMO Conference Tournament this past weekend at the Field House. “It felt great winning my second title,” Douglass said. “Winning again was the goal, but the hardest part is always getting past the pre-match nerves, fears and wrestling like I know I can.”...
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Poplar Bluff's Logan Hite wins third SEMO Conference wrestling championship (1/21/24)By the slimmest of margins, Poplar Bluff senior Logan Hite defeated Jackson senior Hayden Wessell by a 3-2 decision to win his third SEMO Conference championship on Saturday, Jan. 20, in Sikeston, Missouri. Hite’s three-peat is the first in school history, which is an amazing feat for a program with such a rich wrestling history...
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SEMO Conference wrestling tournament Day 2 (1/20/24)Local wrestlers compete for medals in the SEMO Conference Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 20, in Sikeston, Missouri.
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Lily Ahlvin looking to leave a legacy at Notre Dame wrestling (1/12/24)The sport of girls wrestling made great strides during 2023. The Semoball Awards expanded the finalist list to 10 because there were at least 10 female wrestlers who made it to the state tournament, including one champion in Sikeston. The sport looked like it was growing among the big three, but the growth has stalled in certain places...
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Notre Dame wrestling: Charlie West enjoying challenge as senior leader (1/11/24)For the second straight season, Notre Dame wrestling celebrated their only male and female senior on Monday during a quick 48-18 win over St. Puis X. Charlie West started the season undefeated in the 215-pound weight class until going to the Poplar Bluff tri-meet on Tuesday and going up a weight class to wrestle Kennett heavyweight Kevin Thompson and was defeated by pin. Notre Dame won the meet 33-30 but lost to Poplar Bluff 49-18...
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Senior Night: Mules sweep past Kennett, ND (1/10/24)Senior night is a wonderful opportunity to thank seniors for their efforts. Every year, student-athletes eagerly anticipate this tradition, and on Tuesday, members of the Poplar Bluff High School wrestling team received their flowers for their hard work and dedication to the team...
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Wrestling: Poplar Bluff vs. Kennett & Notre Dame (1/10/24)
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Jackson wrestling dominating with depth (1/4/24)After winning the Farmington scramble on Dec. 9, Jackson wrestling coach Steve Wachter described his team as "balanced." Now after further success in recent tournaments and dominating the duel meets, Wachter has a new name to describe his team. Deep...
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Wrestling: Dexter vs. Cape Central (1/4/24)Dexter defeated Cape Central 33-25 during a duel meet on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Cape Central High School.
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Wrestling: Dexter vs. Jackson (1/4/24)Jackson defeated Dexter 81-0 during a duel meet on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Cape Central High School.
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Wrestling: Jackson vs. Cape Central (1/4/24)Jackson defeated Cape Central 72-6 during a duel meet on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at Cape Central High School.
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Wrestling: Poplar Bluff vs. Sikeston & Anna-Jonesboro (1/3/24)The Poplar Bluff Mules hosted their triangular wrestling meet against the Sikeston Bulldogs and Anna-Jonesboro (Illinois) Wildcats on Tuesday.
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Mules split with Sikeston, A-J to open new year (1/3/24)
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Wrestling: JV Tiger Classic (12/23/23)Junior varsity wrestlers from Jackson, Cape Central, Kennett, Dexter, Sikeston, and Poplar Bluff competed in the JV Tiger Classic on Thursday, Dec. 21, at the Tiger Field House in Cape Girardeau.
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Wrestling: Tiger Classic (12/20/23)Local wrestlers compete in the Tiger Classic on Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Tiger Field House in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
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Hite and Freeman dominate mat at Bring The Hammer Tournament (12/18/23)Two Poplar Bluff High School wrestling standouts took down all the competition in their respective weight classes in the 2023 Bring The Hammer Tournament. Senior Logan Hite and junior Zoe Freeman kept their undefeated streaks alive as they both returned home with the ultimate prize. Hite snagged first place and went 9-0 in the 190-lb weight class against 23 other teams...
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Tough matchups test Sikeston and NMCC at triangular meet (12/14/23)SIKESTON — The Sikeston boys’ wrestling team grappled to a split decision at a triangular meet at the Field House on Tuesday, Dec. 12. Building momentum for the season ahead, the Bulldogs put on a strong performance on Senior Night, defeating North County 44-19 while falling to New Madrid County Central 42-30...
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Wrestling: Sikeston (Senior Night), NMCC and North County (12/14/23)Photos from Sikeston wrestling Senior Night and a triangular meet with NMCC and North County at the Field House on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023.
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Physical, mental transformation paying off for Kennett wrestler (12/13/23)Kennett wrestler Justin Brooks has had a new coaching staff for three straight seasons. Each coach had their own impact on the senior. "Coach [Andrew] Webster helped me find that this is my sport," Brooks said. "Coach [Jacob] Widdle helped me think of the mental part of it. ...
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Gavyn Colbert a warrior on the mat for New Madrid wrestling (12/13/23)There aren’t many high school wrestlers in Missouri that sport a tattoo quite like New Madrid County Central senior Gavyn Colbert. Like the hood of a cobra, Colbert’s tattoo of St. Michael covers his entire chest, with angel wings spanning from shoulder to shoulder and the sword of the archangel pointing down the sternum. ...
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Logan Hite ready for senior season on the mat (12/13/23)This year’s Derland Moore Defensive Player of the Year Award winner wants to keep the momen-tum going after a solid football season as he steps off the gridiron and onto the mat. Senior wrestler Logan Hite will return as the only state qualifier for the boys from the previous season, and he’s ready to leave everything on the mat for his final year with the Poplar Bluff Mules...
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Wrestling: Cape Central and Sikeston duel meet (12/12/23)Cape Central and Sikeston competed against Carbondale in a tri-meet on Dec. 5, at Cape Central High School.
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Poplar Bluff downs Park Hills at home (12/12/23)After bringing home some hardware from the Union Boys Wrestling Tournament over the weekend, the Poplar Bluff Mules returned home on Monday to defend their turf. The Mules got off to a slow start but quickly rallied back to get a 46-30 over the Park Hills Rebels. The junior varsity also added a victory to the win column with a 12-0 sweep. The Mules improved to 1-2 on the season...
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Jackson wrestling wins Farmington Scramble (12/11/23)The Jackson wrestling team took first place in the Farmington scramble on Saturday, Dec. 9, in Farmington, Mo. The Indians scored 349 points in the six-team tournament, edging the hosting Knights (335.5) by 13.5 points. With a small number of participating teams, the tournament format had each wrestler face each other in a round-robin style...
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Wrestling: Poplar Bluff vs. Park Hills (12/11/23)The Poplar Bluff Mules' wrestling team defeated Park Hills on Monday.
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Wrestling: Jackson wins Farmington Scramble (12/11/23)The Jackson wrestling team took first place in the Farmington scramble on Saturday, Dec. 9, in Farmington, Mo.
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Dexter senior Ryan Young leads young Bearcats through duel gaunlet (12/8/23)While most area teams spend much of the first month of the season traveling to compete in tournaments, the Dexter Bearcats are spending it taking on SEMO Conference opponents in duel meets. The Bearcats went 0-2 against DeSoto and Sikeston at their home opener on Nov. 28, split the tri-meet with Kennett at New Madrid, and won both matches at Notre Dame with Herculaneum...
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Notre Dame wrestling finally playing with a full deck (12/8/23)The Notre Dame wrestling team hosted their first meet of the season. Notre Dame lost to Dexter 49-34 but tied with Herculaneum 36-36 on Thursday, Dec. 6. Historically, these meets would go by quickly due to the team being small in numbers. They would lose every meet due to numerous forfeits but would win their matches more often than not...
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Wrestling: Dexter and Herculaneum at Notre Dame (12/8/23)
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Caruthersville leader finds disciplinary action for his student-athletes 'hard to swallow' (12/7/23)One week following a “physical confrontation” at the Bulldog Classic basketball tournament at Gideon High School, which resulted in all Caruthersville Junior High and High School athletic teams being suspended from competition within the Bootheel Athletic Conference throughout the remainder of the 2023-24 academic year, the conference issued information regarding the matter.
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Freeman feels no pressure heading into wrestling season (12/5/23)One Poplar Bluff High School athlete won’t allow the high expectations to hold her back as she prepares for the upcoming wrestling season. Making it to the state wrestling tournament has become the norm for junior wrestler Zoe Freeman, but rather than focusing on making it back to the big show, her only concern is getting better...
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Wrestling: Dexter and Kennett at New Madrid (12/5/23)Dexter, Kennett, and New Madrid County Central competed against each other in a tri-meet on Tuesday, Dec. 5, in New Madrid, Mo. Each team won one meet against each other.
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Sikeston wrestling leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence (12/4/23)The leaves have all fallen, the wind chill has begun to drop and the lines painted onto the field at Sikeston Public School stadium have all but faded. For some, that means winter sports are digging in for the long season ahead for the Bulldogs’ wrestlers, it means the hunt for Columbia is officially underway...
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Mules wrestling to open season at Bolivar (12/2/23)The grind towards the state tournament starts now as the Poplar Bluff High School Mules wrestling team returns to the mat for the upcoming season. The Mules will begin their quest for a shot at state by competing in the Bolivar Wrestling Tournament on Saturday. After sending five wrestlers to state last season, the Mules are eager to jumpstart the season with the hopes of ascending the previous numbers...
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Former Mules give back on the wrestling mat (11/27/23)Two former Poplar Bluff High School wrestling standouts exemplify the true meaning of giving back. Senior wrestler Kendric Gordon and sophomore wrestler Gatlin Taylor of Williams Baptist University returned home for the holidays. Instead of getting some relaxation away from the mat, both returned to their old stomping grounds to workout with the Mules wrestling team...
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Registration opens for PB youth wrestling program (10/5/23)The legacy of Poplar Bluff wrestling looks for growth through the youth as a local program prepares to groom future wrestling athletes. Registration for the Poplar Bluff boys and girls wrestling program is underway and is scheduled to kick off next Monday...
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Liliana Knoeppel Commits to Westminster University (9/2/23)SIKESTON — This summer Sikeston graduate and state qualifier Liliana Knoepel signed her letter of intent to continue her wrestling career at Westminster University in St. Louis, Missouri. Surrounded by close family and Sikeston’s Wrestling staff Knoeppel inked her commitment with joy. A late arrival to the sport of wrestling, Sikeston’s head coach Blake Angle emphasized his pleasure with Knoeppel...
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Alayna Ray victorious as Girls’ Wrestler of the Year (8/1/23)CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — In the world of high school wrestling, where the mat becomes a canvas for dreams to be painted, Alayna Ray’s brushstrokes have left an unforgettable mark. Ray claimed the coveted title of the Girls Wrestler of the Year at the 2023 Semoball Awards on Friday, July 14, 2023, at La Croix Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri...
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FCA 'Power Camp' to get underway in Cape today (8/1/23)For children throughout Southeast Missouri, who have a devotion to athletics, and an even stronger pull to Jesus Christ, today’s “Power Camp” at the Cape SportsPlex, which is conducted by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Southeast Missouri, may be as great of an experience as you can combine. “FCA’s goal is,” FCA Area Director Darrin Scott explained, “can we bring every athlete and every coach to know Jesus and get them into a church where they can grow?
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Kennett's Gavin Patterson becomes school's first to wrestle at next level (4/19/23)KENNETT – Kennett's Gavin Patterson has committed to continue his wrestling career at Fontbonne University in St. Louis next year. In doing so, Patterson becomes the first Kennett High School student to ever go on to wrestle at the collegiate level...
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MEMORABLE CAREER: Robertson finishes high school run with 153 wins, two state medals (3/9/23)Senior Luscas Robertson has closed his chapter at Poplar Bluff High School as he recently wrestled his final match for the Mules. Robertson ends his career with 153 wins, two state medals, a SEMO Conference championship, a district championship, a three-time state qualifier and two-time state medalist. He is also in rare company as he is only the second male in 50 years of Poplar Bluff wrestling to be a two-time state medalist...
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Tyler Beyatte earns place in Jackson wrestling lore with state silver (2/28/23)The wrestling room at Jackson High School also serves as its hall of fame, a symbol of the Indians’ tradition of excellence. Every Jackson wrestler who places in the state tournament gets their picture on the wall of the wrestling room. There have been so many wrestlers to accomplish that feat that the row extends outside of the room and down the hall...
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Sikeston welcomes home state champ (2/27/23)Friends, family and other community members gathered at the Sikeston Fieldhouse on Saturday, Feb. 25 to welcome back state champion Alayna Ray and sixth-place finisher Jasmynne Green.
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Missourian prep wrestling roundup Feb. 25: Jackson's Beyatte places 2nd in state (2/26/23)Jackson senior Tyler Beyatte finished second place in the 215-pound weight class in the Class 4 State Tournament on Saturday in Columbia. Beyatte (40-4) won by a 2-1 decision over Jacob Stockard of Liberty North in the first round. He defeated Hank Natali of Lee`s Summit North 4-2 in sudden victory in the quarterfinal round. ...
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Two Poplar Bluff wrestlers advance to state semis; Sikeston beats Mules (2/25/23)COLUMBIA, Missouri — It was a big day for the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules wrestling team as one sophomore landed a spot in the MSHSAA girls state wrestling semifinals. With high expectations of making a run at state, Zoë Freeman continues to rise for the occasion by getting one step closer to winning it all...
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Sikeston’s Alayna Ray makes history, captures Class 1 State Championship in wrestling (2/24/23)COLUMBIA, Mo. — Sikeston’s Alayna Ray (37-4) won the MSHSAA Class 1 State Championship in the 235-pound weight class at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri on Thursday, Feb. 23. Ray claimed gold with a pinfall victory over Hollie Hedgpeth (44-4) of Cameron in four minutes and 35 seconds...
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Mules, Dexter sending 10 wrestlers to state (2/24/23)The stage is set for the MSHSAA Class 4 state wrestling tournament, and 10 local wrestlers are headed to Mizzou Arena Friday and Saturday for an opportunity to bring home the gold. The Poplar Bluff Mules are sending five of their athletes to the big finale...
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SUPER SOPHOMORE: Lady Mule set to make debut appearance at state (2/24/23)After an early exit from last season’s district tournament, a sophomore wrestler from Poplar Bluff High is preparing for her shot at state. Kayleigh Dazey finished third in the District 1 tournament and punched her ticket to the big dance. “It’s a really good feeling to make it to state,” Dazey said. “Last year, I wasn’t in the right zone and was put out the first day, so it’s really rewarding to make it to this point.”...
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Sikeston's Alayna Ray advances to state championship match (2/23/23)COLUMBIA, Mo. — Sikeston’s Alayna Ray (36-4) will wrestle for a MSHSAA Class 1 State Championship at the 235-pound weight class on Thursday, Feb. 23 at approximately 5 p.m. Ray won by a 30-second fall over Destynee Small of Kirksville (16-15) and won by fall over Selena Snell of University Academy Charter (21-10) in the quarterfinal round. She defeated Versailles’ Sarah Huffman (35-9) in the semifinals with a pin at two minutes and 44 seconds to advance to the championship...
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Jackson girls wrestling sends record-setting trio to state (2/23/23)The early years of the Jackson girls' wrestling program have been a family affair. The Hodges and Metzger sisters have carried the flag as the backbone of the program. Kayla Hodges was the first Indian wrestler to appear in the state tournament in 2021 and now her younger sister, Kassie Hodges, gets to finish her career in Columbia...
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Girls wrestling roundup: Notre Dame's Emma Steimle, Sikeston duo advance (2/23/23)Notre Dame senior wrestler Emma Steimle (21-4) advanced to Thursday’s bouts after a pair of wins in the Class 1 State Tournament on Wednesday in Columbia. Steimle won by fall over Taylor Glidewell of Cassville (31-12) in the first round of the championship bracket in the 190-pound weight class. ...
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Jackson wrestling sends eight to state (2/22/23)The Jackson boys wrestling team will be sending eight grapplers to the Class 4 State Tournament on Thursday in Columbia. Half of the squad will be looking to finish their careers on the podium. “It would mean a lot to me, because I haven't yet, and honestly, I've never even considered placing at state, said senior Gavin Hicks, who qualified for his third state tournament. “Each year, I've qualified but this year I am so excited about it.”...
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COLUMN: The unique beauty of postseason wrestling (2/20/23)Postseason wrestling is one of my favorite high school events to cover for Semoball. I usually go to more than one of these tournaments on a single day. This past Saturday, I started the Class 3 District 1 tourney in Farmington and finished at the Class 2 District 1 tourney in Ste. Genevieve...
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Semoball wrestling roundup, Feb. 18-19: New Madrid wins big at districts (2/20/23)New Madrid County Central took home the Class 1 District 1 title, finishing with 181.0 points, firmly defeating Valle Catholic in second place at 152.5. The Eagles got first-place wins from Caleb Moore (106), Devin Rowe (144), Gavyn Colbert (150), Connor Henderson (175) and Ty Blakey (190), while Tharon Harper (third, 113) and Christian Williams (third, 157) both advanced to the state championships after finishing on the podium in their respective weight classes...
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Area schools compete in postseason wrestling (2/18/23)Wrestlers from Kennett, Dexter, Cape Central, Jackson, Poplar Bluff, and Sikeston competes in district tournaments this weekend.
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Mules, Dexter advance at wrestling districts (2/18/23)Day one of the MSHSAA Boys wrestling district tournament is in the books, and both Poplar Bluff and Dexter wrestling teams look to punch their ticket to state. Members of the Poplar Bluff Mules did not disappoint Friday as three standout wrestlers landed a spot in the district semifinals...
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Jackson’s Noah Gibson ready for only shot at state (2/17/23)Jackson senior Noah Gibson has spent much of his high school career as Liam Bryant’s understudy. Through the years of Bryant reaching the state tournament, placing among the top four, and winning a Semoball award, Gibson was his practice partner. “I owe pretty much everything I know to him and coach [Jerry] Garland teaching me last year,” Gibson said. I was his practice partner for his state run and it helped me a lot.”...
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Run to state begins as Mules, Dexter begin postseason (2/17/23)The state wrestling tournament kicks off next week, but for both Poplar Bluff and Dexter boys wrestling teams, the first stop is the district tournament, which begins Friday and wraps up Saturday. One team is ready to prove their hard work this past season has paid off, and the other is finally healthy just in time to make a run at a state title...
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'Small but mighty' Bulldogs send six to district tournament (2/16/23)When it comes to Notre Dame wrestling, the theme has always been quality over quantity. The Bulldogs are sending six wrestlers (Ethan Jackson, Charlie West, Sam Criddle, Caleb Klipfel, Parker Lemmons, and Adam Cork) to the Class 1 District 1 Tournament on Friday at New Madrid County Central, with the hopes of sending the same number to Columbia the week after...
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PBHS wrestler focused on defying the odds (2/10/23)Poplar Bluff wrestler Zoe Freeman is defying the odds and setting her sights on becoming the best in the state. Freeman is a sophomore wrestler for the Lady Mules, but before girls wrestling was even a thing, she got her start as a seventh grader competing against the boys...
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Postseason has arrived for girls wrestling (2/10/23)It’s time for local ladies wrestlers to make their case for a trip to state. Both Poplar Bluff and Dexter are sending a small contingent of girls grapplers to their individual district meets beginning today and both squads are heavy with optimism. ...
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Sikeston grappler looks to ‘Dom’inate at William Woods (2/9/23)SIKESTON — Sikeston High School senior Dominic Mullin signed to continue his wrestling career and collegiate education at William Woods University during a ceremony at the Field House on Jan. 20. Mullin, a 2022 MSHSAA State Tournament qualifier, has registered 117 wins during his high school record. He also recently set the Bulldogs’ record for most pins in a career with 86...
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Cape Central wrestling concludes season of progress (2/9/23)The Cape Central wrestling team closed out the season by going 2-1 in the quad meet with wins against Notre Dame and Dexter, and a loss to Kennett on Tuesday in Cape Central High School. Head coach Clayton Collier has been tasked with building the young program both in numbers and in skill. ...
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A stronger, healthy Eric Harmon ready to attack the postseason (2/9/23)DEXTER – If Wednesday’s practice was any indication of the health of Dexter High School senior wrestler Eric Harmon, then the three-time MSHSAA Class 2 state qualifier is ready to go for the upcoming Class 2 District 1 Tournament at Ste. Genevieve High School on Feb. 17.
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POWER 8: OFC top hoops seeds take 1-2 spots (2/9/23)Editor's note: This poll was based on results through Wednesday. All rankings are performance-based per level and sport and not a head-to-head potential barometer. The regular season for basketball, swimming and wrestling are just about over with hoops still having a week or so remaining before the games that matter most tip off...
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Kennett wrestling sets duel record with quad sweep (2/8/23)The Kennett wrestling team came to the Cape Central quad on Tuesday and swept the final three duel meets of the season to set a new school record with 13 duel wins. “Coming into this meet we were three away and we had three duels left,” Kennett head coach Jacob Whittle said,” So I told them if we sweep today we break our school record, and they came out and got it done.”...
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Lady Mules swim to second at SEMO Conference meet (2/8/23)CAPE GIRARDEAU — The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules swimming and diving team competed Tuesday at the SEMO Aquatic Center for the 2023 SEMO Conference championships. After 12 events, the Lady Mules finished second overall with a score of 362.5 points. Two of Poplar Bluff’s relay teams brought home third place — the 200-yard medley relay team of Gracie Brown, Ava Richardson, Reece Prenger and Lilly Wilson and also the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Keira Willis, Lily Gregory, Kinsley Gibbs and Kate Scott. ...
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Dexter wrestles to mixed results in Cape quad (2/8/23)CAPE GIRARDEAU — The Dexter wrestling team went 1-2 in the Cape Central quad meet on Tuesday with a win over Notre Dame and losses against Cape Central and Kennett. Despite the results, head coach Cody Boyer was pleased with how the Bearcats competed overall...
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Mules defend home mats on senior night (2/8/23)Regional rival Dexter made the short trip to Poplar Bluff late Monday to finally get to work on a dual that was suspended a week due to winter storms at the beginning of the month. However, the host Mules were celebrating senior night and that would be all they needed for motivation, plus a shorthanded Dexter lineup, to cruise to a 54-15 win over the Bearcats on Monday night. ...
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POWER 8: The worst kind of snow job (2/2/23)Editor’s note: this poll was based on results through Wednesday. All rankings are performance-based per level and sport and not a head-to-head potential barometer. The poll this week is a little special for lovers of winter storms, hard, icy roads and needing ice skates to go to your mailbox...