The Jefferson City Jays advanced nine wrestlers out of the first day of the Class 3 state wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena. Jefferson City is fourth in the team standings after Thursday night’s action with 27 points. Hillsboro is first with 34, followed by Whitfield with 32 and Neosho with 31.5.
The Jefferson City Jays have the numbers. The Jays will send 11 qualifiers to the mat today in the Class 3 wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena. That total should give Jefferson City a shot at winning its second straight state trophy after tying for third in Class 4 last season.
After suffering a 21-point loss Friday night to the Jefferson City Jays, Helias coach Joe Rothweiler badly wanted to get his players into the gym for a practice. So even though the Crusaders were scheduled to turn around and host the Kirkwood Pioneers on Saturday night in the Central Bank Shootout, Rothweiler got his team to practice in the morning. And it paid off.
The previous two times the Jefferson City Jays and the Helias Crusaders met on the basketball court, the Jays fell behind early before storming back in the second half. On Friday night, Jefferson City didn’t wait until the second half before making its run. The Jays took control of the game in the second quarter, then put it out of reach in the third, cruising to a 74-53 Central Missouri Activities Conference victory at Rackers Fieldhouse.
A total of six games are on the schedule today in the Central Bank Shootout at Rackers Fieldhouse. The Helias Crusaders and Lady Crusaders, the Jefferson City Jays and Lady Jays and the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons are among the area teams taking part in the one-day event.