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Wins At MICDS, Howell North Help McCluer North Wrestling At Districts
By Jim Wieners
It has been a while since North St. Louis County, especially the Florissant Valley area, had a wrestling team that could challenge in the upcoming district meet, which could be a step closer to serious competition to a state title.
McCluer North, Suburban North Conference dual meet champions, is one team that could challenge for a district title and “That would be nice to win districts,” said head coach Jake Lapinski but “It’s going to take a total team effort.” The season is long and it comes down to districts and state.
District wrestling will take place Feb. 10-11 and McCluer North will be in Class Four, District Two at Ritenour High School and the tournament will take place in Costilow Field House and, maybe, the North Gym, if it is needed. North, Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood West, Pattonville and Riverview Gardens are the Suburban North Conference Schools visiting Ritenour. Also competing are CBC, DeSmet, Normandy, Fort Zumwalt West and the three Francis Howell District high schools — Francis Howell Central, Francis Howell North and Francis Howell High.
Meanwhile, Chaminade, Hazelwood East and McCluer will be in Hannibal to compete in Class Three, District Two and McCluer South-Berkeley will be in Class Two, District Two in Mexico, Mo. The top four wrestlers from each of the 14 weight classes will advance to the state championships, Feb. 16-18, at Mizzou Arena, University of Missouri in Columbia.
McCluer North, in tournament wrestling, started with second-place finishes at Ritenour (Ray Doney Invitational) Dec. 11, at Fort Zumwalt East, Dec. 17-18, and at Hazelwood Central (all St, Louis Suburban Conference Championships) Jan. 6-7.
The finish at Hazelwood Central boosted the Stars as they won the Eric Lewis Invitational Jan. 20-21, and the Francis Howell North Invitational, Jan.28.
Tournament winners for McCluer North were Darrell Pampkin (at Hazelwood Central, Ritenour, Fort Zumwalt East and MICDS), Jamarcus Carter (at Ritenour), Anthony Nichols (at Fort Zumwalt East), Josh Taylor (at Fort Zumwalt East) and Delvin Hutson (at Francis Howell North).
