JACKSON WRESTLERS SEE LONG STREAK END

STE. GENEVIEVE -- When it comes to winning streaks, the Jackson High wrestling team needs to avoid Ste. Genevieve.

In 1988, the Dragons snapped Jackson's 51-match win streak in their gymnasium. Wednesday night, the Dragons were at it again. The Indians brought a 48 dual-match win streak into Ste. Genevieve, but the Dragons sent the Indians home with a 34-22 loss.

"The last big string (Jackson) had we gladly broke," said Ste. Genevieve coach Bill Howren with a smile. "We've had a good run with Jackson over the years; it's great competition. I can't say enough good things about Jackson. They make us want to be as good as they are."

The dual defeat was Jackson's first since a 1992 loss to Sikeston. Ste. Genevieve, winners of last month's Tiger Classic, improved to 4-0. The Indians fell to 2-1 in dual matches this season.

"I think we wrestled probably the best we could as a team," said Jackson coach Steve Wachter. "It was a great effort by our team, but Ste. Genevieve is just outstanding."

After watching Ste. Genevieve's record-breaking performance in the Tiger Classic, the Indians knew they would have their hands full with the Dragons. Seven Ste. Genevieve wrestlers won Tiger Classic titles. The Indian, who finished second the Dragons, had two.

"We needed to have a couple of real big upsets," Wachter said. "We would have had to wrestle over our heads in order to have a chance."

Jackson took an early lead in the match, winning four of the first five matches, but then the Dragons took over. Ste. Genevieve won seven of the final nine matches to out-point the Indians.

"Jackson was extremely well prepared," Howren said. "We're just proud to get out of this thing with a win."

With Jackson needing two pins in the final two matches, Ste. Genevieve clinched the dual when Jackson's Kent Langston earned an 8-2 decision over the Dragons' Jerrod Wolk in the 215-pound match. The loss was only Wolk's second of the year.

"That was a big win for Kent," said Wachter. "Wolk pinned (Langston) at the Tiger Classic. Wolk's really an outstanding wrestler."

Brett Stroud started the Indians with a 4-3 decision over Nick Vogt at 103 pounds. Eric Rhodes (119 pounds), Lance Schlick (125) and Kyle Watson (130) followed with victories for the Indians. Rhodes won a 14-2 major decision, Schlick got a pin and Watson held of for a 4-3 decision.

Mark Wade was the only other Indian to come out victorious, winning at 145 pounds with a 5-2 decision.

Kyle Huck (135), Dustin Baker (171) and heavyweight Aaron Ross lost close decisions.

Despite the streak ending, Wachter was hardly disappointed in his team.

"We're not disappointed, we were prepared," Wachter said. "We knew how good Ste. Genevieve is. We're realistic about things.

"We trained real hard over the Christmas break and they might be disappointed they lost, but they're not disappointed with their effort. I'm not disappointed in their effort."

Ste. Genevieve 34, Jackson 22

103 - Brett Stroud (J) dec. Nick Vogt, 4-3

112 - Clint Wolk (SG) major dec. Kiel Johnson, 12-0

119 - Eric Rhodes (J) major dec. Chris Rosenquist, 14-2

125 - Lnace Schlick (J) pinned Zach Stackle, 3:58

130 - Kyle Watson (J) dec. Phil Cormier, 4-3

135 - Jason Worley (SG) dec. Kyle Huck, 13-9

140 - Ben Bauman (SG) pinned Jason Goben, 1:03

145 - Mark Wade (J) dec. Andy Beyatte

152 - Pat Naeger (SG) major dec. Hance Bartels, 15-0

160 - Ryan Gegg (SG) major dec. Paul Finley, 13-0

171 - Tim Thomure (SG) dec. Dustin Baker, 7-4

189 - Roy Bauman (SG) pinned Spencer Hobeck, :45

215 - Kent Langston (J) dec. Jerrod Wolk, 8-2

Hwt - Craig Olkenfuss (SG) dec. Aaron Ross, 9-7