Joe Kuster News Today

ST. LOUIS -- The Westminster College mens wrestling team kicked off its season on Saturday in St. Louis as it competed in the Maryville Open.

It was a familiar finish for Joe Kuster. Familiarity isn’t always welcome. The Jefferson City senior finished fourth at 150 pounds in the Class 3 state tournament Saturday afternoon to earn his third state medal. All three are for fourth.

Joe Kuster was prepared for the moment. After posting a quick win by fall in the opening round of the Class 3 state wrestling championships Friday at Mizzou Arena, the Jefferson City senior was in a battle in his quarterfinal match.

The Jefferson City Jays took a chance. It paid off win a winning way. “We had a plan and the kids executed the plan,” Jays coach Nathan Redcay said Wednesday night after Jefferson City defeated the Helias Crusaders 42-21 in a Central Missouri Activities Conference dual at Fleming Fieldhouse. “They really wanted this win and it showed.”

The numbers just didn’t add up for the Helias Crusaders. “We just gave up too many bonus points, that was a big factor,” Helias coach Weston Keleher said after the Crusaders dropped a 51-19 decision to the Neosho Tigers in the final match Saturday afternoon in the Missouri Duals at Rackers Fieldhouse. “When you give up six falls, that’s an extra 18 points there.

The Jefferson City Jays have been fortunate to have some strong senior classes in recent wrestling seasons, with many featuring four-year starters. This year will be a little different, with just two seniors among the 30-plus wrestlers.

One side left Monday night celebrating a strong come-from-behind victory. The other left wondering what else could go wrong this season. Missing three key seniors, the Jefferson City Jays scored two second-half goals to rally for a 2-1 victory against the Helias Crusaders in Central Missouri Activities Conference action at the Crusader Athletic Complex.

The second half was all Capital City. The Cavaliers scored every time they touched the ball in the second half to lead to 28 unanswered points in a 28-7 Central Missouri Activities Conference win Friday night against the Jefferson City Jays at Adkins Stadium. The Jays went into halftime up 7-0, then the Cavaliers got moving.

The Sedalia Smith-Cotton Tigers gave the Jefferson City Jays a good fight Friday night at Adkins Stadium, but the Jays were the ones that came out on top with a 42-27 victory in a Central Missouri Activities Conference contest on Homecoming.

Just making it to Saturday night meant everything to Isaac Enloe. Last year, the Jefferson City senior was the lone Jay qualifier not to medal at the Class 3 state tournament. This year, he was the best finisher on his team.