Area wrestler keeps title hopes alive

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Jackson's Matt Kahle will wrestle for a state championship today.

Kahle, the Indians' 189-pound senior, won both his quarterfinal and semifinal matches Friday at the Hearnes Center. He defeated Sean Miller of Park Hill 7-1 in the quarterfinals and Steve Price of Lindbergh 3-1 in overtime in the semifinals. Kahle is 42-8.

Also still alive for Jackson is 140-pound sophomore Cody Rouse (44-4), who after losing in Thursday's first round and winning a consolation match, claimed two more consolation victories Friday, pinning Ryan Griffin of Francis Howell in 2:23 and defeating Jeremy Epperson of House Springs-Northwest 10-3.

For Central, which competes in Class 2, 160-pound senior Trever Duncan (43-4) also bounced back with two more consolation victories after losing Thursday's first-round match and then posting a consolation win. Friday, Duncan major-decisioned D.J. Anderson of Sedalia Smith-Cotton 11-1 and downed Andrew Kuhlman of Wentzville Holt 5-0.

Rouse and Duncan can all finish as high as third place and no worse than sixth depending on what they do today. They, along with Kahle, have already locked up all-state honors.

The other local wrestlers who advanced to compete Friday were all eliminated.

Jackson 125-pound junior Brock Howard (44-3) lost in the quarterfinals to Andrew Lammert of Troy-Buchanan 6-2, then fell in the consolation round to Nathan Applegate of Liberty 4-2 in overtime.

Jackson 145-pound junior Kremer Rampley (42-7) lost in the quarterfinals to James Williamson of Blue Springs 7-2, then dropped a consolation match to Greg Ford of Rockhurst 4-1.

Central 152-pound sophomore Corey Huskey (28-20), after losing in the first round Thursday, fell Friday in consolation action to Chris Hulsey of North County, who posted a 10-2 major decision.