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McCluer North Wrestling Stars Win DeSmet Spartan Holiday Tournament
By Jim Wieners
For many years McCluer North Wrestling have spent the Christmas holidays in Granite City, Ill., to compete in the prestigious William “Red” Schmitt Tournament.
But, after struggling to compete in Granite City, McCluer North has decided to head to Creve Coeur, to DeSmet Jesuit High to compete in the Spartan Holiday Tournament.
DeSmet’s existence is shorter than the existence of the Red Schmitt Holiday Tournament, 56 years, but is just as prestigious. And the move benefited McCluer North as the Stars won the Spartan Holiday tournament Dec. 27-28.
McCluer North scored 193.5 points and finished 17.5 points ahead of runner up and tourney host DeSmet (176). Fox was third with 164.5, Webb City was fourth with 159.5 and Hazelwood Central was ninth (85).
Junior Jacob Roberson (120 pounds), senior Ethan Simpson (170) and senior Mathew Wilke (285) each took home championship medals. Freshman Issac Roberson (113) and senior Cameron Young (182) each had second-place finishes. Sophomores David Vance (106), Micah Dennis (132) and Julian Hayes (138) each finished third.
GIRLS BASKETBALL: McCluer North took second place in the Ninth Jerseyville, Ill., Holiday Tournament losing 65-52 Dec. 29 to 15-0 Bethalto-Civic Memorial. Seven of the eight teams are from Illinois. McCluer North (6-6 prior to Jan. 3) the only Missouri team in the Jerseyville Tournament, was led by Kortini Collins (20 points), Anasha Hurst (12) and Eriyanna Simmons (10).
McCluer North got to the championship game by going 3-0 in Pool A as the Stars opened Dec. 27 with a 62-51 win over Taylorville then went 2-0 Dec. 28 over Calhoun County High Schools, 53-44 over Hardin-Calhoun and 52-32 over Brussels. Against Taylorville Collins scored 20 points while Alyssa Walbridge added 11. Against Hardin Calhoun (149 students enrolled) Collins, with four assists and four steals, and Hurst scored 12 points each while Jasmine Pinkston added 11. Against Brussels (66 students, 10-3 prior to Jan. 2) Simmons was the only double-figure scorer with 11 points.
Trinity Catholic (6-4 prior to Jan. 4) went 2-1 in the Lake St. Louis-Liberty Tournament defeating two Archdiocesan Athletic Association teams, Rosati-Kain 35-26 Dec. 27 and John F. Kennedy 49-30 Dec. 28 before losing 43-42 Dec. 29 to Liberty. Against Rosati-Kain freshman Ashanti Davis, 15 rebounds, and senior Kayleigh Fite, 10 rebounds, each scored 12 points. Against Kennedy junior Lauren Smith scored 17 points while Fite (10 points) and seniors Abby Grumich and Maia Umana each had 11 rebounds. Against Liberty Fite scored 16 points while Smith had 14 points and 14 rebounds.
