Defending six-time Jefferson County Activities Association wrestling champion De Soto opened up its season Thursday night at home against St. Clair and won the dual match 66-12.
The bouts between 106 and 138 pounds were all forfeits, with the Dragons earning points in five of the six matches.
Staked to 30-6 lead when the wrestling began, De Soto won the next six matches. Connor Zimmermann pinned Seth Banks in 1:34 at 145 pounds to start the Dragons’ streak of victories. Luke Bradley (152) won by fall. Brad Hunt (160) beat Colin Thacker in an 8-4 decision. Logan Zimmermann (170) stuck Caleb Hooks in 35 seconds. And Lucas Watson (182) and newcomer Chase Greenlee (195) both pinned Bulldogs in the second period.
Ryan Herman, who finished third in the state in Class 2 at 152 for St. Clair last season, won the Bulldogs’ only match with a fall at 1:36 over Shaun Brooks at 220.
The final match of the night was between two returning state medalists. De Soto junior Landon Porter was second in the state in Class 3 at 285, and St. Clair senior Aaron Herman was fifth in Class 2. Porter scored two points on a reversal with six seconds left in the match to beat Aaron Herman 6-5.
De Soto’s Hunter Bullock and St. Clair’s Morgan Juergens wrestled the only girls match at 143. Juergens won by fall at 2:47. It was the first official match in the girls only division for both teams.