GET A GRIP: IT'S TIGER CLASSIC TIME

With Christmas less than a week away, over 200 high school wrestlers will be converging at the Cape Girardeau Central Gymnasium this weekend for the 23rd Annual Tiger Classic.

And most of them -- when they take to the mat -- will be trying to be naughty, not nice.

A total of 16 teams from four states -- Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee -- will be competing for the coveted Tiger Classic team championship beginning tonight and ending Saturday.

"This is a well-rounded competition," said Central coach Drew Lilledahl. "You've got guys you've never seen before and the wrestling from state-to-state differs."

Opening ceremonies begin at 5:45 p.m. today with first-round matches starting in the Tiger Fieldhouse at 6. Wrestling resumes Saturday at 11 a.m. Following the Parade of Champions at 6 p.m., the championship matches begin in each of the 14 classes.

"Wrestling is an individual sport, but if you do your best as an individual, it helps the team," Lilledahl said. "I expect to see a lot of different schools with individual champions."

Action wil be non-stop, with six mats spread out across the Tiger Fieldhouse.

"This is probably the biggest meet they'll be in besides the state tournament," said Lilledahl. "If you're a Tiger Classic champion, it's a good indication of how you'll do at the state meet."

Fox, the defending Tiger Classic Champion, will not be competing in this year's field. But a few wrestlers from that strong program have been switched to Seckman and should make that squad formidable.

Ste. Genevieve is also an early favorite for the team title, but Germantown (Tenn.) and Jackson should also place near the top of the standings.

Jackson, with 48 consecutive dual victories, returns two Tiger Classic individual champions from last year in Lance Schlick and Kyle Watson. Schlick won at 103 pounds and Watson at 119. Both will wrestle at heavier weights this year.

Cape Central is led by a couple of No. 1 classic seeds -- Keith Benton at 103 pounds and heavyweight Craig Knoth.

"We'd like to finish in the top ten," said Lilledahl, coming off an 11th-place finish last year. "We're dropping about six guys in weight, so this is kind of a turning point for our season."

Lilledahl, in his second season as the Tigers' coach, is hoping for a large turnout this weekend for this wrestling showcase.

"We want to have a good turnout because it's our tournament," said Lilledahl. "We'd like to have some good crowds this weekend to let people know how hard we've been working."

1996 TIGER CLASSIC

Last year's order of finish

*1. Fox

2. Ste. Genevieve

3. Jackson

4. Germantown (Tenn.)

5. St. Charles

6. Marion (Ill.)

7. Hopkinsville (Ky.)

8. Murphysboro (Ill.)

9. Pattonville

10. Poplar Bluff

11. Cape Central

12. De Soto

13. Dexter

14. Clayton

15. Sikeston

16. Millington (Tenn.)

* Seckman of Arnold is taking Fox's place in this year's field.