2015 Winter Sports Preview: Dexter High School Wrestling

DEXTER, Mo. - The Dexter Bearcats wrestling program enters the 2015-16 season looking to build on last season's success after sending 11 wrestlers to the 2015 state wrestling tournament in February.

"We are returning seven state qualifiers from last year," Dexter coach James Sneed said. "We had two state qualifiers move away - Jared Deal and Seth Rush. Losing them will hurt us a little bit, but I am expecting good things from the wrestlers we have coming back."

The 2015-16 Dexter wrestling squad is composed of seniors Michael Hurst, James Mullins, Brandon Twomey, Ethan Stevens, Gaven White and Storm Massey; juniors Dalton Green and Cory Holland; sophomores Austin Adams, Blake Bolin, Jacob Chamness, Seth Harris, Matt Stone and Christian Yarber; and freshmen Wyatt Chastain, Jett Featherston, Colten Gibson, Dawson Jones, Taylor Kallio, John Tucker and Landin Wood.

"We've been working on getting in shape and the basics so far," Sneed said. "That's how we win here is with basic moves and being in shape. Attendance has been good so far and they have been working hard."

All six Dexter seniors and sophomore Harris qualified for the state wrestling tournament last season.

Hurst lost by fall (1:08) against McCluer South-Berkeley 2015 graduate Jamal White (32-8) in his Round of 16 match of the 182-pound weight class. Hurst also lost his first wrestleback match by major decision (15-5) against Pleasant Hill junior Lane Jellison (35-18). Hurst finished last season with a record of 28-11.

Mullins lost by fall (0:48) against 2015 Oak Grove graduate Skyler Jackson (27-8) is his Round of 16 match of the 138-pound weight class. Mullins also lost his first wrestleback match by major decision (12-4) to Clinton senior Sam Bayless (37-10). Mullins finished last season with a record of 15-12.

Twomey lost by fall (0:51) against McCluer South-Berkeley senior Lawrence Woods (29-8) in his Round of 16 match of the 132-pound weight class. Twomey also lost by fall (1:35) against Oak Grove senior Brock Mercer (35-15) in his first wrestleback match. Twomey finished last season with a record of 26-21.

White lost by fall (2:19) against Oak Grove junior Shawn Kavadas in his Round of 16 match of the 126-pound weight class. White also lost by fall (3:00) against Buffalo junior Trenton Houston (38-11) in his first wrestleback match. White finished last season with a record of 24-14.

Harris lost by fall (0:54) against Marshall sophomore Dalton Landreth (39-3) in his Round of 16 match of the 106-pound weight class. Harris rebounded with a win by fall (2:59) against University City junior Elagbe Dorvio in his first wrestleback match. Harris lost by fall (0:55) to 2015 Sullivan graduate Jacob Dixon (48-7) in his second-round wrestleback match. Harris finished last season with a record of 31-13.

Massey lost by fall (1:47) against 2015 Moberly graduate Dominick Guthrie (41-4) in his Round of 16 match of the 152-pound weight class. Massey rebounded with a win by decision (8-1) against 2015 St. James graduate Seth Thompson (35-22) in his first wrestleback match. Massey lost by decision (9-8) in his second-round wrestleback match to Ste. Genevieve senior Austin Brewer. Massey finished last season with a record of 37-10.

Stevens won his Round of 16 match of the 170-pound weight class by decision (8-3) against Savannah junior Jeremiah Glise (35-13). Stevens lost by fall (1:12) to Reed Springs senior Broden Lemaster (38-3) in a championship quarterfinal, but followed with a win by decision (6-4) against 2015 Owensville graduate Christopher Dolles (49-3) in a second-round wrestleback.

Stevens won by decision (5-2) against Ste. Genevieve senior Wyatt Hahn (31-9) in his third-round wrestleback match. Stevens then lost the Class 2 third-place match of the 170-pound weight class to Lemaster by decision (8-3). Stevens finishes last season with a record of 35-2.

"He has his sights set on a state title," Sneed said of Stevens, who was Dexter's top qualifier at state last season. "He lost two matches last year, and they were both at state to the same guy. We are hoping to revenge those this year. That's been our goal all summer and will continue to be our goal moving forward."

Sneed said he has altered the schedule significantly this season to help prepare his wrestlers for playoff competition.

"We are searching for competition," Sneed said. "We got back in the Tiger Classic this year instead of traveling to Kansas City for the Harrisonville Christmas Tournament. But we go out to Kansas City later in the year to compete in Coach Schwab's Tournament. We are also competing in a tournament at Springfield this year for the first time. We will compete in tournaments at Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield so we should have all four corners of the state covered. It's all about seeing the best competition in all four regions."

Dexter's home meets are Dec. 10 and Jan. 14. Both meets starts at 6 p.m.

Dexter is slated to compete in Class 2, District 1 at Ste. Genevieve with Affton, Park Hills Central, Kennett, Lutheran South, Miller Career Academy, Notre Dame, Owensville, Potosi, Roosevelt, St. Clair, St. Francis Borgia, Ste. Genevieve, Sullivan and Sumner. Dexter finished second to Ste. Genevieve in the district last season.

"Ste. Genevieve is the team to beat," Sneed said. "We've came in second the last two years. Ste. Genevieve returns a great deal, and we've lost some wrestlers, but I'd like to think we can challenge them, and I hope we can at least finish in the top two."

Dexter High School Wrestling Schedule

Date Opponents Location Time

12/3 Sikeston/Notre Dame Sikeston 5 p.m.

12/5 Sikeston Tournament Sikeston 10 a.m.

12/8 NMCC NMCC 5 p.m.

12/10 Notre Dame/Poplar Bluff Dexter 6 p.m.

12/18-19 Cape Central Tiger Classic Cape Central 5 p.m.

12/21 Cape Central JV Tournament Cape Central TBA

1/9 Excelsior Springs Tournament Excelsior 10 a.m.

1/9 Jackson JV Tournament Jackson TBA

1/14 Kennett, Potosi, Park Hills Dexter 6 p.m.

1/15 Sullivan Sullivan 6 p.m.

1/16 Owensville Tournament Owensville 9 a.m.

1/19 Notre Dame/Potosi/ North County Potosi 5 p.m.

1/22-23 SEMO Conf. Tournament Cape Girardeau 6 p.m.

1/28 Jackson/Poplar Bluff Poplar Bluff 5 p.m.

1/30 JV SEMO Conf. Tournament Jackson TBA

2/6 Marshfield Tournament Marshfield 9 a.m.

2/9 Kennett/Cape Central Kennett 6 p.m.

12/12-13 District Tournament Ste. Genevieve TBA

12/28-20 State Tournament Columbia TBA