While Seckman swept to championships in the first five weight classes at the Class 4 District 1 tournament at Lindbergh, the Jaguars had been dreaming about stretching their opening run to six quick titles.
Blake Pepper, a returning state medalist at 140 pounds, missed the entire season after undergoing knee and hamstring surgery on his right leg. While his doctor and the Seckman coaches insisted there would be no wrestling this winter for Pepper -- "There's zero chance he'll wrestle this year," coach Cody Greene said in December -- Pepper and some of his teammates thought ... well, maybe, he could do the impossible.
Pepper made a late-January pitch to his doctor for a release to compete. "I wanted to come back, but he wouldn't let me," he said.
This is the third time in four seasons Pepper has been derailed by injury. His missed the finish of his freshman season with an elbow injury and was sidelined for the first half of last year after undergoing surgery on his left knee.
"He's one of the most unlucky guys ever," Seckman's two-time state champ Matt Kraus said. "I have no doubt that if he had been healthy he'd have two or three state championships."
Losing Pepper changes Seckman's standing as a contender for a state title. Without him, the Jaguars likely don't have the star power to challenge. But with him ...
"If we had Blake, I think I'd put money on us winning the state title," Kraus said.
A fourth-place finisher in the Class 4 meet last year, Seckman is expected to be among the front runners again this weekend. Park Hill and defending champ Blue Springs from Kansas City are considered the teams to beat.
Paced by district champs Weston Basler (106), Luke Weiland (113), Brock Wingbermuehle (120), Danny Farrell (126) and Kraus (132), Seckman will take 10 qualifiers to Mizzou Arena, where the state championships will run Thursday through Saturday.
"I think we've put ourselves in a pretty good spot," Greene said.
WHITFIELD THE CLASS 1 FAVORITE?
With 12 qualifiers and seven district champs, Whitfield is in prime position to compete for the Class 1 title along with Lathrop, Blair Oaks, Trenton and Brookfield.
“We've put ourselves in a great spot, but we still have to go out and wrestle,'' Whitfield coach Charlie Sherertz said. “I still think there are three or four teams in the mix.''
The Warriors, who won state in 2008 and 2009, finished as runners-up to Brookfield a year ago. Whitfield figures to be led by returning state champion Rodney Hahn (42-3 at 145), two-time medalists Chris Wilkes (45-1 at 126) and Austin Smith (42-6 at 132), 2011 medalist Ethan Sherertz (38-3 at 182) and Will Hahn (46-5 at 152), who came back strong this season after sitting out more than a year due to injury.
In Class 4, McCluer North advanced 11 but probably does not have enough elite talent to contend with Kansas City powers Blue Springs and Park Hill.
No area squads are expected to challenge in the Class 2 or Class 3 team races.
AIMING FOR PERFECTION
Eighteen wrestlers will enter the competition at Mizzou Arena with no losses. And three of those wrestlers are from area schools -- Lindbergh's Michael Slyman (40-0) in Class 4, Fort Zumwalt North's Zach Nelson (41-0) in Class 3 and McCluer South-Berkeley's John Williams (15-0) in Class 2.
RETURNING MEDALISTS
Cory Lester of John Burroughs and Zach Nelson of Fort Zumwalt North can wrap up their careers as four-time medalists this weekend.
Lester (51-2) was third in 2009, won state in 2010 and finished second a year ago. Nelson placed fourth as a freshman, fifth as a sophomore and second a year ago.
Seckman's Kraus (43-3) is gunning for a third straight state title. Lindbergh's Slyman, who also placed fourth in 2010, and Whitfield's Hahn are the area's other returning state champions.
Others from the area looking to add to their state medal collection this weekend are:
Two-time medalists
• Missouri Class 4: Fort Zumwalt West's James Krischke (fourth in 2010, fourth in 2011); Holt's Clayton Ream (third in 2010, fourth in 2011); Parkway South's Donnell Walker (fifth in 2010, sixth in 2011); Howell Central's John Wood (second in 2010, fourth in 2011).
• Missouri Class 1: Whitfield's Smith (sixth in 2009, third in 2010); Whitfield's Wilkes (third in 2010, third in 2011).
• Illinois Class 3A: Belleville West's Mech Spraggins (second in 2010, second in 2011).
• Illinois Class 2A: Civic Memorial's David Pearce (second in 2009, second in 2011).
One-time medalists
• Missouri Class 4: Ritenour's Eric Bowman (fourth in 2011); Seckman's Danny Farrell (fourth in 2011); Timberland's Jake Hawks (sixth in 2011), Lindbergh's Tom Korenak (sixth in 2011), Eureka's Matt McClimens (fourth in 2011); Lafayette's Nick Olejnik (third in 2011), Timberland's Colton Orlando (third in 2011); McCluer North's Darrell Pampkin (sixth in 2011); Timberland's Devan Richter (fifth in 2011); Troy's Skylar Weber (third in 2011).
• Missouri Class 3: St. Charles West's Casey Bartee (fifth in 2011); Washington's Cole Hamai (fourth in 2011); Summit's Ian McIntosh (fifth in 2011), Hillsboro's Luke Reeves (sixth in 2010), St. Charles West's Austin Rugraff (second in 2011); Warrenton's Ryan Sherry (fourth in 2011).
• Missouri Class 2: Winfield's John Bobeen (third in 2011).
• Missouri Class 1: Herculaneum's Brian Duncan (fourth in 2011); Herculaneum's Kyle Kunz (fourth in 2011); Whitfield's Ethan Sherertz (fourth in 2011).
• Illinois Class 3A: Alton's Taylor McGiffen (third in 2011).
• Illinois Class 2A: Triad's Kyle Graumenz (second in 2010); Mascoutah's Lavion Mayes (third in 2011); Triad's Jake Tindle (fourth in 2011).
