AREA WRESTLERS FALTER IN 1ST ROUND AT STATE

COLUMBIA -- Jackson High and Cape Girardeau Central did not fare well in first-round matches in the Missouri Wrestling Championships at the Hearnes Center on Thursday.

Five of Jackson's six entrants lost, as did Central's lone qualifier.

At 125 pounds, Lance Schlick beat Wentzville's Erik Stites by major decision, 12-2.

Jackson's Brett Stroud (103) lost 10-6 to Tim Dames of Fort Zumwalt North, Eric Rhodes (119) lost to Pattonville's Greg Brown 20-9 and Kyle Watson (130) was defeated by Blue Springs' Jeremy Baker 9-4.

The Indians' Dustin Baker (171) lost to David Delafuente of Liberty 11-2 and Kent Langston (189) was pinned by Hazelwood Central's Randy Orton in 3:59.

Central's participant, Matt Strickland, lost his 189-pound match 4-3 to McCluer's Lee Weeden.

Twelve of Oakville's 14 wrestlers won their first-round matches, and the team is in first place with 38.5 points. Blue Springs is in second (23.5) and Fort Zumwalt South and Oak Park are tied for third (21).

Jackson has three points and is tied for 33rd place.