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Sports

Taking Stock Of Pattonville Grapplers

Returning state qualifiers offer reasons for optimism

wrestling coach Brent Mueller, now in his 10th year as head coach of
the Pirates, believes that hard work as much as anything else is what makes a great
wrestler.

With a pair of state qualifiers back from last year, Mueller and the Pirates are
hopeful that this season brings the same type of success they had in 2010, when
they tied for the Suburban North Conference championship with McCluer North.

"We have a couple of seniors – Jesse Farmer and Nicholas Fiquette – who are having great seasons so far," Mueller said. "They are really hard workers and never miss a thing. They're the kind of kids you want to coach."

While none of the wrestlers are necessarily married to any particular weight class,
Figuette is spending the majority of his time wrestling at 112 while Farmer is
competing at 215.

"The goal is for both of them to get back to state," Mueller said, adding that there are more kids that also have a chance to get there, too. "There are some kids that have an outside chance depending on how the weight classes work out. Some of them could do a little something."

Going into this past weekend's Zumwalt East Tournament, the Pirates were 2-2. On Dec. 8 they defeated McCluer, 56-20, while falling to McCluer North, 39-33, then on Dec. 15 handled Hazelwood Central, 43-31, and lost to Ritenour, 36-34.

While the lineup is still somewhat in flux, Mueller says the team is coming together.

"Our lineup had some issues early on – we lost some kids for different reasons – but
we're hoping to get everyone back soon," he said. "We're not back at full strength,
but we're working hard. We want every one of the kids to earn their spot."

Mueller added that right now, the lineup on any given night would include
sophomore Wesley Raiche at 103, Figuette at 112, junior Steven Crain at 125 (the
119 spot is open), junior Kyle Hayes at 130, junior Bryan Lopez at 135, freshman
Robert Zimmerman at 140, freshman Patrick Ziemer at 152 (145 is open), senior
Matt Peniston at 160, junior Matt Murphy at 189 (171 is open), Farmer at 215 and
junior Peddrick Bonds at 285. Senior Ethan Beard also figures to work his way into
one of the mid-weight classes (around 135) as the season progresses.

Up next, the Pirates are competing at the Spartan Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 28.

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