Sikeston split triangular meet, falling to DeSoto and defeating Dexter

Sikeston's Tristan Leavitt secures a pin against DeSoto's Braxton Drummond at the Field House on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

SIKESTON — A mixed bag of results greeted the Sikeston wrestling teams as they squared off against DeSoto and Dexter on Tuesday at the Field House in a triangular meet that would ultimately reveal strengths and weaknesses. 

While a dominant early surge by the Dragons (2-0) threatened to derail the evening, the Bulldogs (1-1) ultimately clawed way back, securing victories over the Bearcats (0-2) and splitting the duals.

“I’m proud of the team,” said first-year Sikeston head coach Charles Michael. “We’re going to continue to grow, move forward and get better. That’s the bottom line.”

Michael, who spent the past 15 years as an assistant coach, took the reins of the program this season.

"It was the right time to do so," he said. "I felt ready for the challenge. This is my home and family, and I wanted to step up."

The Bulldogs faced a stern test in their season opener against the Dragons, ultimately falling 53-22. DeSoto quickly seized control, dominating the early matches and building a commanding 42-0 lead after winning the first eight matches of the meet, although half of those wins were by forfeit.

“We learned a lot,” Michael said. “DeSoto came out and hit us in the mouth pretty hard. They sort of shocked us with how hard and heavy they came out. But we have to be ready for that.”

Sikeston finally got on the board when Tristan Leavitt secured a pinfall victory at the 157-pound weight class. Leavitt found himself in some tough spots during the first period but was able to secure the pin shortly into the second period.

“The light switch flipped,” Michael said. “[Leavitt] knew exactly what he wanted to and the position we wanted to be in. He went out and executed.”

The Bulldogs picked up another victory at 190 pounds with Sam McGill winning by pinfall in just 20 seconds.

“[McGill] did everything I expected out of him,” Michael said. “I saw him on the football this year as a sophomore being aggressive and taking it to people.”

Sikeston's other wins against DeSoto came from Ben McDermott by pinfall at 215 and Wesley Patterson by a 10-1 major decision at heavyweight.

“They did their jobs,” Michael said of the team’s winning grapplers. 

The Bulldogs went on to rally back with impressive resolve during a 45-36 win over the Dexter Bearcats.

Leavitt and McGill each earned their second pinfall victory of the night. 

“[Leavitt] is a man on a mission,” Michael said. “He’s been in the wrestling and weight room all summer. He’s come out guns blazing and ready to roll.

He was the spark plug for us.”

Sikeston's other victories included Connor Michael with a pinfall victory at 138 pounds; Gus Adams with a pinfall victory at 144; Colin Scott with a pinfall victory at 150; Quentin Wilkins with a pinfall victory at 175; and Patterson with a 5-0 decision at heavyweight.

“We responded well against Dexter,” Michael said. “We came out there on fire. We were the aggressors. We took shots and finished matches with pins. I was like we had something to prove like we had something to prove. We pushed the pace, got in their face, and didn’t let up. We wrestled exactly how I expected and knew we could.”

The Lady Bulldogs followed suit, losing 36-24 to DeSoto before defeating Dexter 36-18. Sikeston's only wins against DeSoto came by forfeit, but Shanell Williams (155) and Dayten Owens (235) each secured pinfall wins against the Lady Bearcats.

“DeSoto really did shock us,” Michael said. “I’ll have to figure out on why we came out so timid.”

Both Sikeston teams will compete in the Fort Zumwalt North Tournament this weekend. 

“It will be another test for us,” Michael said. “Everything is a learning opportunity to get us ready for February.”

BOYS RESULTS

__DESOTO 53, SIKESTON 22

106-pound weight class: Jacob Odell (D) by forfeit. 113: Landon Tomlinson (D) by forfeit. 120: Sullivan Pinkley (D) by forfeit. 126: Brenton Drummond (D) by forfeit. 132: Clayton Huck (D) over Jesse Haley by technical fall, 16-0. 138: Davis Miller (D) over Conner Michael by decision, 1-0. 144: Dominic Eakins (D) over Gus Adams by pinfall, 1:24. 150: Hunter Adams (D) over Colin Scott by major decision 16-5. 157: Tristan Leavitt (S) over Braxton Drummond by pinfall, 3:47. 165: Landon Lawson (D) over Bob Katsantonis by pinfall, 2:41. 175: Levi Huck (D) over Quentin Wilkins by technical fall, 15-0. 190: Sam McGill (S) over Hunter Pullen by pinfall, 0:11. 215: Ben McDermott (S) over Elijah Hessler by pinfall, 1:06. 285: Welsey Patterson (S) over Eddy Moore by major decision, 10-1.

SIKESTON 45, DEXTER 36

120: Hunter McCollough (D) by forfeit. 126: Brenner Davis (D) by forfeit. 132: Jeese Haley (S) by forfeit. 138: Conner Michael (S) over Clayton Gilkey by pinfall, 0:36. 144: Gus Adams (S) over Landon Lacy by pinfall, 1:06. 150: Colin Scott (S) over Daryl Conn-Harris by pinfall, 2:40. 157: Tristen Leavitt (S) over Wyatt Hockersmith by pinfall, 0:56. 165: Kodi Lynn (D) over Bob Katsantonis by pinfall, 1:00. 175: Quentin Wilkins (S) over Ryder Dowdy by pinfall, 0:38. 190: Sam McGill (S) over Simon Bruyette by pinfall, 0:20. 215: Carson Mullins (D) over Ben McDermott by pinfall, 2:33. 285: Welsey Patterson (S) over Gabe Bordon by decision, 5-0.

GIRLS RESULTS

DESOTO 36, SIKESTON 24

105-pound weight class: Milayna Drummond (D)over Ellie Douglass by pinfall, 0:49. 115: Cheyenne Kincade (D) by forfeit. 120: Emma Taylor (D) over Demi Wren by pinfall, 1:18. 125: Skyler Hunt (D) by forfeit. 130: Dayton Rulo (D) over Mackenzie Mason by pinfall, 0:27. 135: Judith Wolfe (D) by forfeit. 140: McKenzie Mullin (S) by forfeit. 155: Shanell Williams (S) by forfeit. 170: Emma Franco (S) by forfeit. 235: Dayten Owens (S) by forfeit. 

SIKESTON 36, DEXTER 18

105-pound weight class: Ellie Douglass (S) by forfeit. 110: McKenzie Wynn (D) by forfeit. 120: Demi Wren (S) by forfeit. 130: Mackenzie Mason (D) by forfeit. 140: Mackenzie Mullin (S) by forfeit. 155: Shanell Williams (S) over Fatmina Goza by pinfall, 2:53. 170: Taylynn Conn-Harris (D) over Emma Franco by pinfall, 0:31. 190: Autumn Bunton (D) by forfeit. 235: Dayten Owens (S) over Izzy Brunette by pinfall, 1:19.