With just over a couple of weeks remaining in the regular season before state qualifying will be held at the Missouri Class 3 District Tournament, the McDonald County Mustangs have a pair of wrestlers who will head into districts with a big "X" on their back.
Senior Josh Kinser is currently ranked eighth in the state at 145 pounds while freshman Jakob Gerow is ranked fifth at 106 pounds.
Kinser has a record of 29-5 for the year and was once ranked as high as fourth. A recent third place at the Branson Tournament cost Kinser several spots in the state rankings.
Kinser has wins at the Neosho and Monett tournaments, a second at the Kinloch classic and third places at the Carl Junction and Branson tournaments.
Kinser is a three-time state qualifier heading into districts as a senior. He went 1-2 in both his freshman and sophomore years and was 2-2 last year.
His best finish at districts was a third place as a freshman, having finished fourth the past two years. He said a better result at districts would help at state with a better draw.
"It's important to finish higher at districts to get a better seed at state," Kinser said. "I am looking forward to districts and state. I have been working my butt off. I have high expectations and want to win state. I would love to the first wrestler from McDonald County to bring back a state title."
Kinser will not have an easy road to state. Coach Josh Factor said his weight class at districts will be one of the most competitive.
"I don't believe he has had as competitive of a weight class at the district tournament as he will have this year," Factor said. "If every wrestler in his weight class remains at the same weight, Josh will have to get through four state ranked opponents, plus an additional opponent that is a former state qualifier that handed Josh a one point loss earlier in the season."
Factor said despite the competition, he thinks Kinser will be able to earn his way to state.
"Josh always seems to be clutch at the district tournament and this year should mean a little more to him, knowing this is his final shot a bringing home a state medal," Factor said. "I believe that Josh's toughest matches this season will be at the district tournament. It's going to come down to attitude and being clutch when it all matters."
While Kinser is at one end of the experience meter, freshman Jakob Gerow is at the other.
Obviously as a freshman this year's district tournament will be Gerow's first at the high school level.
Highlights of his season include a first at the Carl Junction tournament, second places at Neosho, Branson and the Kinloch Classic and a third place at Monett. His overall record is 28-7.
"Jakob is perhaps one the most talented freshmen that I have seen come into this program," Factor said. "He has shown a lot of potential so far this season. When it comes to how well I believe he'll do in the post-season, it depends on his part. I truly believe if Jakob goes into the district tournament healthy with the right attitude, he can beat anyone at his weight. On the other hand, we have the toughest district in the state, so getting out of the district tournament as a top four finisher with six of the top eight ranked 106 pound wrestlers in the state will be a challenge in itself. The good part about this is, when Jakob qualifies to the state tournament, his odds of winning a state medal will be in his favor. Not since 2004 has our wrestling program had a freshmen medal at the state wrestling tournament and never before in Class 3."
Gerow doesn't let his lack of experience or the toughness of the competition temper his expectations for the post-season.
"I want to place at state (top six finishers)," Gerow said.
The district tournament is set for Feb. 13-14 in Branson. The top four finishers advance to state which will be held Feb. 19-21 in Columbia.
Sports on 01/29/2015