Menu
Bulldogs preparing for districts
SIKESTON -- This weekend the Sikeston wrestling team will descend upon Farmington with hopes of building on the success the program has attained the past two seasons.
Once there, Sikeston will take part in the Class 3, District 1 Tournament -- their final stop before reaching the state wrestling meet.
"We trying to be healthy," Sikeston head coach Chris Lowe said of preparing for the tournament. "That's been one of the big issues since Christmas, but I think the kids are pretty focused right now and for the most part we're healthy.
"We have our normal lineup back right now."
Last season the Bulldogs finished fourth place as team at districts while sending an impressive seven wrestlers on to state. That was up from five Bulldogs reaching state the year before.
Another major improvement last year was Sikeston's 4-3 record in medal rounds after finishing 0-5 the year prior.
Of those seven state finalists from last season, three are back this season looking for one final shot at making a run at a state championship.
Those three include senior Nick Nichols, competing in the 195-pound division, Jacob Stinnett in the 138-pound division and Clay Porter in the 170-pound division.
All three have enjoyed successful senior seasons that have included Nichols winning his division at the Tiger Classic, while Stinnett and Porter finished third at their respective weight classes.
"I feel confident," Stinnett said of competing at districts. "I just want to finish better than I've ever finished before. I took third last year and I'd like to be in the championship this year."
"I'm wrestling well and I feel like my technique and conditioning are good."
One obstacle Stinnett will face this year in districts is his recent decision to move up to the 138-pound weight class from his usual 132.
Stinnett has been preparing by wrestling in his new class as of late and Lowe feels confident with the switch.
"We talked about that a little bit and he feels that's where he wants to be," Lowe said. "He feels like he's strong there."
Of those looking to return to state, Stinnett has the most experience with two prior trips already under his belt while both Nichols and Porter will be be gunning for their second-straight visit.
Along with those three will be several Bulldog wrestlers who just missed out on advancing past districts last season. That includes Cody Middleton (126), Garrett Middleton (106) and Garrick Maddison (113).
"I made it to the bubble round last year so it could be my first time going to state," Middleton, a senior, said. "I've been doing pretty good coming back in to it (from an injury). I missed two or three tournaments, but came back and got second.
"I feel like I'm wrestling pretty well now."
While Middleton and Stinnett would both be welcomed additions to Sikeston's state-bound roster, Lowe said if everything goes right those two should have plenty of company.
"We have a good possibility that if everything falls right and we wrestle right we could get a lot of people through," Lowe said. "If we don't we'll only get a handful through. We have a lot of young guys last year that were on the bubble who didn't quite make it that we're hoping they'll make it this year.
"We're all where we need to be. We just have to wrestle up to our ability and I think we'll be okay."